DC_Mag_June2018

How sweet it is The Confectionary brings a dose of candy-coated nostalgia to downtown DeKalb and Sycamore

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DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 3

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INSIDE 6 HOW SWEET IT IS The Confectionary brings a dose of candy-coated nostalgia to downtown DeKalb and Sycamore 10 DNA HOLISTIC CENTER Treating Mind, Body, and Spirit

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DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 5

How sweet it is The Confectionary brings a dose of candy-coated nostalgia to downtown DeKalb and Sycamore

By DM Herra

Todd and Betsy Hendry are collectors of chocolate.

“When we go on vacation we have to buy chocolate,” Betsy said, laughing. “I mean, you have to see what other people are doing, but really, Todd just really likes chocolate.”

You could call the candy purchases market research, of course. The Hendrys are the owners of the Confectionary, an old-fashioned candy store that has been a pillar of downtown DeKalb since 1982 and downtown Sycamore since 1994.

Entering the stores is a little like stepping into the world of Willy Wonka.

Rows of glass jars hold confections like chocolate-dipped gummy bears, Swedish Fish and root beer barrels. Behind a glass case lie rows and rows of handmade chocolates in every flavor. And from the moment you walk in the door, you are immersed in the intoxicating fragrance of sugar and cocoa.

Sweet Beginnings

Todd Hendry’s mother and stepfather, Sharon and Tom Smith, started the DeKalb Confectionary in 1982. Tom had recently retired from a newspaper

6 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

career and the couple wanted to start a business together. In a 2006 interview with the Daily Chronicle, Tom said he wanted to open a store selling high-end cookware and Sharon wanted to make and sell chocolates.

Sharon won and the rest, as they say, is history.

Todd Hendry grew up in the business, learning the intricacies of his mother’s recipes. In his 20s, eager to strike out on his own, he launched the Confectionary’s second location, in downtown Sycamore.

“His first few weeks at the store he would spend his days standing at the front window and waving to people as they walked by,” Betsy Hendry said. “It worked and they came in. From there, Todd built relationships, and that is what we love about our small-town community.”

In 2011, the Smiths retired and turned the DeKalb location over to the Hendrys. While it was nerve wracking taking over such a successful business, Betsy said the couple was able to pick it up smoothly thanks to Todd’s years of working at the stores.

“Luckily, he inherited his mother’s knack for recipes and precision and we were able to not miss a beat,” Betsy said. “The recipes are the key to our success; a source of pride in our family.”

Honoring Tradition

Betsy said the Confectionary is reminiscent of 1940s candy stores. In addition to the homemade creams, clusters and caramels the store carries hard-to-find old-fashioned sweets like divinity and sponge candy. The family has not yielded to the siren song of automation.

“What sets us apart is that we make our chocolates the old-fashioned way, by hand,” she said. “We do not rely on fancy machines or conveyor belts. It’s tempting sometimes to think in those terms, but we always come back to our core values as a company. When you open a box of our chocolates, not everything is uniform in size or shape. It’s beautifully unique in that we make everything by hand.”

Customers flock to the stores for their seasonal specials, like chocolate-dipped strawberries in the summer and buttery caramel apples in the fall. For many, trips to the candy store remain a family tradition even after they move away.

“One of the greatest joys is when we meet people who were customers as children and now they’re a grownup and bringing in their kids – or even

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 7

grandkids,” Betsy said. “It’s fun to experience a candy store through the eyes of children. It’s all so new and exciting for them.”

Smalltown Specialties

As the downtown communities evolve, they bring curious new customers through the stores’ doors. Events and developments that bring people downtown are a boon to everyone, Betsy said.

She is excited to see what impact DeKalb’s new downtown Cornerstone development has on business. The historic Egyptian Theatre also plays a key role in the success of downtown DeKalb, she said.

“It’s incredible how much one event can affect the whole downtown economy,” she said. “It’s not just restaurants that benefit from shows at the Egyptian. People come in before the show and say they’ve never been here. They come in to ask where they can go eat, where they can get a cup of coffee. The Egyptian hosts a lot of [dance recitals for local dance schools]. Between shows we’re filled with customers. The kids dance and their parents bring them here; it becomes a tradition.”

The chambers of commerce in both cities are also extremely supportive, Betsy said, assisting merchants behind the scenes with programs and initiatives to bring more people into the neighborhood.

The rise of online shopping and the closure of malls and brick-andmortar stores has caused seismic shifts in the retail landscape, but Betsy said the small-town feeling DeKalb and Sycamore foster in their downtowns can’t be mimicked online.

“I think people long for that feeling of community with their neighbors,” she said. “The communities have changed in size, but the people and the families have stayed the same. We still have kids riding their bikes to our stores and running inside to buy Jelly Bellys or chocolate-covered insects.”

8 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

Which begs the question – of the hundreds of confections available at the two stores, what is the most popular? Betsy says it’s the Sea Monsters, hands down. The Confectionary’s take on the classic turtle, a Sea Monster is an enormous rhapsody of homemade caramel, chocolate and pecans.

On the nondairy side of things, the stores’ homemade Italian ice is also quite popular, especially in the heat of summer. The Italian ice is made with real fruit, and Todd Hendry has also experimented with nontraditional flavors such as vanilla and root beer.

“My favorites are always changing,” Betsy said. “Right now I’m hooked on the acorns, which are made with peanut butter and chocolate. But last month I was addicted to the white chocolate pretzels and black licorice tire tracks. It’s really hard to pick a favorite.”

To complicate matters, while he continues to make his mother’s candy recipes with meticulous precision, Todd also likes to experiment. A few years ago, he tried dipping a homemade marshmallow in caramel and covering it in chocolate. The treat was an instant hit and was added to the stores’ expansive repertoire.

Behind the Scenes

Betsy knew when she joined the family that joining the family business was a given. Her background in marketing and finance made her the perfect person to handle the backoffice duties of running two successful businesses, allowing Todd to concentrate on making chocolates and making friends out of customers.

“He really prefers being out here with people, and I really like being in the background doing the paperwork,” Betsy said. “It makes us a good team. …It’s a nice balance, really.

It’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off. We keep each other in check and we talk everything through.”

If you would like to advertise in the September edition of DC Magazine contact Lisa Angel at 815-756-4841 ext. 2236 or email langel@shawmedia.com.

Advertising deadline August 10th DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 9

DNA Holistic Center

Treating Mind, Body, and Spirit By: Stephen Haberkorn

While most traditional medical services can be found in the DeKalb County medical district, a new center in Sycamore is hoping to become the area’s one-stop shop of choice for holistic treatments and services.

The DNA Holistic Center of Sycamore, located at 215 W Elm Street in the historic Sycamore Hospital Building, includes a functional wellness practitioner, a certified yoga instructor, a licensed massage therapist, Himalayan salt rooms, an organic juice bar and a store with items such as Himalayan salt lamps and essential oils. They also host weekly roundtable discussions on an array of health-related topics.

To those not familiar with the holistic health philosophy and practices, it differs from traditional medicine in its emphasis on treating the whole person—mind, body and spirit—rather than simply treating symptoms. The holistic health philosophy is that improving a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual well-being will allow the body to better heal itself. They also believe that the root cause of disease stems from things like unhealthy diet, exposure to environmental pollutants, and trapped emotions.

The DNA Holistic Center attempts to improve their clients’ personal wellness by encouraging a healthy organic diet, teaching meditation techniques to reduce the effects of stress on the body, and relieving muscle tension and increasing blood flow through yoga and massage therapy.

The two people responsible for the creation of the center are Jim Edwards and Dr. Kristy Lynn. Jim Edwards, a long-time resident and former mayor of Sycamore, is co-owner of the building on the corner of Somonauk and Elm Streets that houses the DNA Holistic Center. He has maintained an office there for many years for his consulting business, but has always been interested in health and fitness. Dr. Kristy, as she prefers to be called, has been a Functional Wellness Practitioner and Functional Nutrition Counselor since 2001. Besides her current location, she also ran two other clinics in holistic centers in the Chicago area, but decided to focus on and expand her Sycamore practice.

Edwards came up with the idea of creating a holistic health center in Sycamore because there wasn’t one in DeKalb County. “It’s just a unique set of circumstances that brought this whole thing together,” said Edwards.

“A lot of people are interested in health and fitness, and when Dr. Kristy decided to expand her practice in Sycamore, it made sense to capitalize on her expertise,” said Edwards. “We’re fortunate in a town like Sycamore to have someone like her here. It just was a good fit.”

The name of the center stems from the belief that better nutrition and physical and emotional therapy can actually change a person’s DNA. The center’s stated mission is to “teach, inspire and empower people to pursue holistic balance in order to attain peace, well- being and optimal health.” They opened in January of 2018.

The building is part of the Sycamore Historic District, which is in the National Register of Historic Places. Appropriately, the building where the Holistic Center now resides originally housed the first hospital in DeKalb County, The Sycamore Surgical Hospital, which was founded in 1899. It was funded and designed by Dr. Letitia Westgate, Sycamore’s first female physician. The hospital operated until 1917, when the building was purchased by the Elks Club.

10 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

Coincidentally, Dr. Kristy’s office on the main floor is also where Dr. Westgate’s office was located.

Holistic treatment attempts to get right to the source of the patient’s problem and correct it.

According to Dr. Kristy, one of those problems is the standard American diet, because many things that we regularly eat contain toxins and chemicals. “Diet is the foundation for any disease process,” said Dr. Kristy.

Emotions can also help produce physical anomalies. “If you constantly remain stressed, upset or angry, you are going to produce a disease process in your body,” said Dr. Kristy.

Edwards pointed out that the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) concluded that 85% of all diseases have an emotional element to them. He helps release patients’ trapped emotions. “Our subconscious mind is very powerful,” said Edwards.

Edwards learned how to release trapped emotions from Dr. Bradley Nelson, who wrote the book, “The Emotion Code.” Edwards also studied Dr. David Hawkins, who perfected the muscle testing technique. “It’s just another way to help people heal,” said Edwards.

Himalayan Salt Room The DNA Holistic Center has two salt rooms. One of them is for walk-ins and the other is for appointments. No electronics are allowed in the salt rooms; it’s a place to just completely relax and listen to some soothing “ocean music” while reclining in zero gravity lounge chairs.

They use Himalayan salt lamps that emit negatively-charged ions, which counteract the effects of positive ions in your body, claims Edwards. Positive ions are created by electromagnetic radiation from pollution, cell phones, flourescent lighting, computers, microwave ovens and other electrical equipment. The salt rooms also have granulated Himalayan salt on the floors.

The Himalayan salt from a distributor out of Pakistan and is from the Himalayan Mountains in northern Pakistan. The Himalayan pink salt is healthier and more therapeutic than common table salt because it is pure and unprocessed.

“The salt is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral,” said Edwards.

Other benefits of the Himalayan salt room, according to a poster at the center, include improvement of respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD, improved skin for people suffering from conditions like psoriasis and eczema, reduced headaches, and better sleep patterns.

“It’s good for depression, too,” said Dr. Kristy. “Forty-five minutes in the salt room is the equivalent of three days on an ocean beach.” The cost is only $25 per session.

“The salt room is amazing,” said Patty Pumfrey of DeKalb. “There are times when I get rundown and I feel like I’m getting sick. You come out and feel so invigorated. When you breathe it in, you can feel it penetrating your throat in a very good, energizing way.” In fact, Pumfrey and her friends enjoy the sessions so much they are going to start going to the salt room instead of going out for cocktails.

The holistic center sells salt lamps, Himalayan pink salt, essential oils, chakra lamps and other holistic wellness items.

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 11

Yoga/Meditation Another common form of holistic therapy is yoga and meditation. In their brochure, the DNA Holistic Center defines yoga as “a system for development of mind, body and spirit that leads to a sense of peace and well -being.” The center has an experienced yoga instructor on site, Anastasia Kocher, who has been teaching yoga for over a decade.

Kocher, a Sycamore resident, immigrated to the United States from Russia in 2002. She began doing yoga in Russia and became a registered yoga teacher in the United States through Yoga Alliance. She initially did taekwondo and running, and supplemented her participation in those sports with yoga. She used to run 10 kilometers a day, five days a week, until she hurt her hip and lower back. After incurring her injuries from running, she used yoga and meditation techniques to recover.

“I also used it to center my mind,” said Kocher. “When you stop doing something that you’re passionate about for several years, it hits your mind really hard.”

Last year, she found out that Jim Edwards was looking for someone for the center and she loved the space. She has had her studio, named “Now Yoga Bliss,” in the building since March of 2017. She teaches several classes in yoga throughout the week. The beginner classes are called restorative yoga and are really slow with not too much movement. They focus on breathing and relaxation techniques. She also does more advanced classes, called Vinyasa yoga. Vinyasa builds core strength and increases balance and flexibility. It is helpful for athletes.

All of her classes start with a controlled breathing technique called pranayama. It can be used as a warm up or a cool down. Then they go through asana, or yoga postures, while seated on the mat. These incorporate stretching and balancing techniques. At the end of the session, they always have guided meditation with essential oils (calming aromatherapy). Kocher said that people seem to enjoy this last part the most.

Kocher tries to get her yoga enthusiasts to focus on the present moment. She even has a clock in her studio that just has the word “Now” on its face.

“Yes, we might have worries about the future,” said Kocher. “The things in the past might visit us like ghosts and hunt us down. Really, every moment is now.

So as long as you focus on this breathing and the now it helps to quiet the mind down.”

Besides her regularly scheduled classes, people can drop in for a session. She also does yoga parties and corporate yoga. The cost is $12 per session and on Sundays, she leads a free community yoga class (check their calendar for times and availability). “Yoga really inspires me,” said Kocher. “It’s something that I love to do and I love to teach people.”

Patty Pumfrey has been going to Kocher’s yoga classes for about a year and a half. She suffers from Hyper Myalgia and Osteoarthritis. She used to run all the time and was a competitive swimmer, but she was not able to do those sports anymore because of her knee and shoulders. For years, Pumfrey’s doctors had been telling her to do yoga, but she was resistant because she couldn’t see the benefits of a low-intensity workout. She finally tried yoga at a couple 12 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

different places, but was not impressed and had given up. She was then given Kocher’s card by a woman at the Family Health Center in Sycamore. She first went to the free community yoga class on Sunday and liked it so much that she told her friends, who started coming with her as well. After a couple months, Kocher introduced them to Vinyasa yoga. She started out one day a week with Vinyasa yoga, but now she goes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“She is the real thing,” said Pumfrey. “Anastasia is continually studying and she’s continually broadening, and she lives everything that she teaches. And she is such a sweet, giving soul. When you have a new physical challenge, you let her know and she modifies everything for you. She is one of the most caring people I’ve ever met.”

After recently having total knee replacement surgery, Pumfrey said that the breathing techniques she learned in yoga have helped her substantially with her physical therapy, in addition to their everyday benefits.

“It helps me maintain my composure,” said Pumfrey. “It helps me lower my blood pressure … When I get anxious, when things aren’t going right, I can stop and breathe the way she’s taught us to in meditation. There are so many ways that it’s helped me. It’s not only changed my life, it’s actually given me my life back. I’m not lying around aching all the time.”

Eldon Sprague of Sycamore has been going to Kocher’s class for about five months. He usually goes twice a week and does mainly restorative yoga. Since he works a really demanding job that gets stressful at times, he is able to use yoga to relax, release muscle tension, and walk out a little more at peace.

“As a middle-aged man, I know if you have a sedentary job it’s going to cause tight hips and hip-flexors and glutes. And that tension causes back pain,” said Sprague. “It causes all kinds of problems. This helps restore some of that mobility and motion. Even If you just focus on the physical aspect of it, you’ll be very pleased with the results you get.”

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is used for a variety of health-related purposes, including to relieve pain, rehabilitate sports injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, address anxiety and depression, and aid general wellness. Jenny Seldal, a Malta resident, is the licensed massage therapist at the DNA Holistic Center.

She had worked in office management at two physical therapy clinics before completing the Therapeutic Massage program at Kishwaukee College in August of 2017 and earning her certification.

Seldal currently does two types of massage: Swedish Massage, which is lighter, more superficial and more for relaxation, and Deep Tissue Massage, which is usually used when you are trying to solve a physical problem.

Seldal pointed out that therapeutic massage is becoming more medically acceptable, and they now have programs for medical massage therapists.

“If you incorporate massage with physical therapy and a chiropractor, it’s great as an overall injury preventative by keeping your blood flowing and keeping your muscles loose,” said Seldal. “Athletes and anyone can benefit from massage.”

Evy LaCasse of Genoa met Seldal in the Therapeutic Massage program at

Kishwaukee College and the two exchange massages on each other. She visits the DNA Holistic Center and enjoys the friendly and welcoming environment.

“People should go check out the holistic center in general, but particularly Jenny, because she’s a wonderful massage therapist,” said LaCasse. “She will help you out with whatever you need. I would recommend her to anyone. Massages are $40 for a half hour, $60 for a one hour session and $90 for a 90 minute massage.

Organic Juice Bar

On the lower level of the holistic center is the new organic juice bar. It used to be the bar for the restaurant at the old Elk’s lodge. Jim’s son, Blaine Edwards, will be running the juice bar. He has restaurant experience after working at Jimmy John’s for three years as a delivery driver and then a manager.

The menu is still in development and will change according to the popularity of items. It will include organic juices, smoothies, detox juices, purified spring water, and specialty drinks. They will also carry commercial bottled juices, so people can grab and go. At least one of their current suppliers is a local organic farmer and

they are working on sourcing more local vendors. The juice bar will also use a cold press juicer, which retains more nutrition than a heat press juicer. Customers will have the option of choosing their own ingredients for juice and smoothies, thereby expanding the menu options.

Education

One of stated goals of the DNA Holistic Center is to “empower people to take responsibility for their health by providing classes, seminars, events, therapies and guidance in pursuit of holistic balance, optimal health & emotional well -being.”

Besides instruction and counseling by the center’s holistic practitioners, they are planning to have Tuesday night roundtables in the lower level of the building on health topics such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases and stress.

To learn more about the DNA Holistic Center or to schedule an appointment for the salt room, or with Dr. Kristy Lynn, Anastasia Kocher, or Jenny Seldal visit their website at www.dnaholisticcenter.com or call (779) 222-2362.

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CUBA A TRIP BACK IN TIME A

By: Stephen Haberkorn

s a travel professional and a former member of the United States Air Force band, Michael Embrey of FunME Events in DeKalb has traveled all over the world during his seventy-one years on this Earth. One country he had never visited until 2018, however, is one of the United States’ closest neighbors: Cuba.

Embrey had recently met some official organizers of Cuban tours at a national trade show in Louisville and was invited to visit Havana to see if there were opportunities for American school and church groups to go there and perform in competitions or as part of a musical exchange. They were primarily looking for vocal groups--concert choirs, show choirs, and specialty choirs--as well as jazz or show bands.

“Music is probably the highest part of their culture,” said Embrey. “They have very few movie theaters and the movies are American movies they’ve subtitled in Spanish. So music and dance is kind of their life.”

Cuba is a nation located primarily on the largest island (also named Cuba) in the Caribbean Sea. Even though it is only 93 miles from Key West, Florida, it has been isolated from the United States since its communist revolution in 1959. President John F. Kennedy installed a travel embargo in 1963 after the Cuban Missile Crisis, and only in the last several years has a change in U.S. policy allowed more visitors to the island.

Technically, you are only allowed to travel to Cuba from the United States in one of three ways: as part of a group that is involved in some kind of educational or cultural experience, as an individual under a special visa that fits into one of twelve categories, such as humanitarian or religious activities, or as part of a cruise with a company that has visitation rights to Cuba.

What Embrey discovered when he toured Cuba in April of 2018 was a place frozen in time, like the set of a 1940s or 1950s period movie. In addition to the absence of modern buildings, Cuban streets are filled with 60-year-old American cars and horse-drawn carriages, giving the entire nation a nostalgic vibe.

“Seeing all the old cars makes you feel like you’re in a time warp,” said Embrey.

14 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

Cuba is famous for their many old American cars. Most of the vehicles are from 1948-1959, yet are still running. They are often painted in bright colors. The cars owners keep lists of their famous passengers, so when the singer, Madonna, said that when she wanted to ride in a pink car when she performs in Cuba, many of drivers painted their cars pink.

They are really serious about their old cars in Cuba. In order to belong to the car club there you cannot alter your vehicle, so most of the cars have original or rebuilt parts that they import from Mexico. The drivers of the cars are constantly cleaning them to keep them looking nice. You can hail them for a short ride up and down the boulevard, or hire one to take you for a tour around the city.

Embrey loves old cars and owns a 1961 Corvette, himself. He is looking into the possibility of taking a group of people from DeKalb County car clubs to Cuba to see all of the old cars.

There are also a lot of horse-drawn carriages in Cuba. They have a wagon that goes around and waters the horses because it gets so hot there.

What most struck Embrey on his visit to the Caribbean island, though, besides the architecture and the antique cars, was the music.

“You couldn’t go into a club or restaurant or cantina where there wasn’t live music … even on the street corners. It was a cross between New Orleans and Nashville,” said Embrey. “For music lovers, you would be absolutely blown away.”

MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

The most popular tourist area in Cuba is Old Havana, with its beautiful old buildings, narrow cobblestone streets and little pubs, cantinas and shops. “If you go to Cuba, you have to go to Old Havana,” said Embrey. The streets in Old Havana are clean and busy with people walking around, street musicians, flea markets and fruit markets.

Old Havana is famous for its beautiful Spanish and European influenced architecture, such as the 18th-century Catedral de San Cristobal and the National Capitol building (El Capitolio), its many picturesque plazas, its two castle fortresses, the city museum (Museo de la Ciudad) and the many things to see and enjoy along the Calle Obispo. As you drive along the oceanfront, you can see all of the buildings painted in an array of bright colors.

Down by the beach is the grand old Hotel Nacional de Cuba. Opened in 1930, it was once the trendy nightclub of the Caribbean and accomodation for American celebrities like Errol Flynn, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Walt Disney and Mickey Mantle, as attested by the posters hanging in their guest hall of fame. It was also a popular hangout for American mobsters before the revolution.

At the hotel, you can enjoy entertainment, sip some good Cuban rum and have them roll you a cigar while you watch. (Contrary to popular belief, you can now bring back Cuban cigars and Cuban rum to the United States.)

Colon Cemetery is also a popular tourist attraction because of the many famous people who are buried there and the ornate mausoleums. There are over 800,000 graves, including those of well-known politicians, athletes, musicians and writers. The cemetery also contains a monument to firefighters who died in the great fire of 1890, as well as two monuments for Cuban baseball players.

“A GREAT PLACE TO PHOTOGRAPH”

Another person with DeKalb County connections who recently visited Cuba for the first time is NIU graduate and former 10-year DeKalb resident, Michelle Taylor. While on campus, she saw a photo exhibit titled “Cuba, Unexpected” by Patricia Richards, a professor of Photography who has been to the Island many times.

That exhibit motivated Taylor to enroll in photography classes. She ended up taking a portraiture class and going to Cuba with Professor Richards and a group of students for nine days in March of 2018. During the trip, Taylor took about 3000 photos, some of which you can see accompanying this article.

“It’s a great place to photograph, with the old buildings and the old cars and the beautiful people,” said Taylor. “And the people are just so kind and make it easy to take their photograph.” The thing that surprised Taylor the most about Cuba was how safe it was. Before the trip, Professor Richards said that they would never feel unsafe in Cuba, but Taylor was a little nervous. “I didn’t believe it, because it’s a pretty poor country and you think if you go to a poor country it’s going to be dangerous,” explained Taylor. “But she was right.

At first, Taylor would always stay with the group, but in the mornings and evenings they would have a lot of free time. A few mornings, she would get up early and go on walks with an older man from their group. By the end of the week, she was off walking by herself and never felt unsafe.

THE CUBAN PEOPLE

Cuba has a population of about 11 million residents, with over 2 million living in the city of Havana. Despite being an island nation, Cuba’s population is diverse.

It was inhabited by indigenous tribes for thousands of years before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. It then became a Spanish colony until the SpanishAmerican War in 1898. A large percentage of their population is descended from African slaves. Because of inter-marrying over the years, it is difficult to say what percentage of the Cuban population now is Indigenous, European or African.

“I think the thing I loved the most [about Cuban people] is that they give out of the little that they have,” Taylor said. She noticed that people would take care of each other and were very generous. She would see the hotel staff giving DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 15

people off the streets some of their tip money to help them out. And one time when Taylor was out for a walk, a fruit stand vendor gave her and her companion free bananas.

throughout the developing world, for example.

Uganda recently announced that they are importing 200 doctors to serve their rural areas, for instance.

Another noteworthy thing about the people of Cuba is that they are well-educated. Taylor pointed out that the taxi drivers spoke multiple languages and were extremely intelligent. The tour guide for one of their trips had a degree in marine biology, but was working in the tourism industry because it was more lucrative than government jobs.

A SIMPLER WAY OF LIFE

Appropriately, baseball is a national passion in Cuba. They do get the sports channels there so they watch American baseball. “They are

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Because of the strong education system, besides cigars and rum one of the biggest exports from Cuba is skilled labor. The Caribbean nation provides many medical personnel

Both Taylor and Embrey enjoyed the slower pace of life and low-tech lifestyle in Cuba. The people there have limited access to technology and modern luxury items, but that is in some ways a good trade off. “It’s a simpler world,” said Embrey. “There’s no rush. It was kind of nice to have that environment.”

16 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

probably more fanatical about baseball than we are in America,” said Embrey. Taylor described the idyllic scene she encountered on her daily strolls. “When you walk the streets, everybody’s outside,” said Taylor.

“People are sitting on their porches and they’re playing dominos or card games or just playing music and dancing.”

There is a sidewalk that runs all along El Malecón, which is the sea wall.

People spend their nights walking up and down the Malecón or sitting on the wall, talking and listening to music.

The artist community in Cuba is very active. According to Taylor, every few blocks you would come across an artist collective. The artists come together and sell their work in these stores that sometimes become clubs in the evening. They also teach children how to do art, free of charge. “The art is amazing,” Taylor exclaimed.

Although Embrey spent all of his time in the capital city of Havana, Taylor’s group did venture out to other parts of the island a little bit.

She said that her favorite day of the entire trip was when they visited Hershey.

The town, about 30 miles east of Havana, was founded by chocolate tycoon, Milton S. Hershey, in 1916. The official name is “Camilo Cienfuegos City,” but everyone just calls it Hershey. The town was built around what is now the ruins of a sugar mill. The little houses were built by the Hershey Chocolate Company and resemble the ones they built in Pennsylvania.

Taylor’s group took three convertible cars and drove all along the sea and past the beaches to the town. The countryside was really green, hilly, and “felt untouched,” according to Taylor.

“We drove all around the little town, and there were a few of us who were like, ‘Just leave us here. Can we just live here?’” said Taylor. “The landscaping was beautiful. They do a lot with very little.”

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They saw an old, abandoned-looking train station with an old train that didn’t think would run, but did. The Hershey train, built by the Hershey Company in the early 20th century, is the only electric railway in Cuba and runs all the way to Havana.

On the same trip, they also went to Cojímar, the beach town where Ernest Hemingway docked his boat. Hemingway wrote three of his novels in Cuba and he is one of their literary heroes. You can also visit the apartment where he lived and the pub he frequented in Havana.

FOOD

Their mainstay in Cuba is black beans and rice and they eat it at every meal, along with various meat, seafood and fruit.

Other local favorites include plantain chips and yuca (cassava). The Cuban coffee is also a favorite.

In the bigger hotels and tourist areas, you can find a wide variety of food, including Chinese food, sushi and calamari. Most of the food is very affordable, especially away from the tourist areas. For instance, while in Hershey, Taylor’s group was able to buy large omelette sandwiches and a Coke for $1.

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“GO SOON”

Many Cuban nationals from the United States fly back and forth to the Florida mainland. There are currently six flights a day going in and out of Havana from southern Florida. The flight is so short, they don’t even offer in-flight beverage service. Embrey joked that by the time you take off from Miami, you’re already in your decline pattern.

In November of 2017, the United States Government published a list of places, including 84 hotels, that are owned by the Cuban military and are off limits to US tourists. More restrictions are currently being proposed and considered by congress. Consequently, Cuba now has a travel alert, as the border could be shut down any time.

In February of 2019, FunME Events is planning to take a group on a cruise to Cuba on MSC Cruise Lines (Miami to Cancun, Grand Cayman, and two days, one night in Cuba). They are also looking at June of 2019 for student groups to go to Cuba.

“I just think Cuba is unlike any other place in this world. It’s still very much an old city,” said Taylor. “If you can go, go soon before it changes and becomes more modernized. I want to go back for sure.”

TAPA LA LUNA OFFERS UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE BY: Aimee Barrows

Every morning as he’s driving into work, Tapa La Luna chef Chad Warborg is thinking about what he’s going to put on the menu for that evening’s dinner.

He changes the specials every day, and creates his own dishes so diners can always find something new.

It’s that kind of innovative spontaneity that makes the downtown DeKalb restaurant such a unique and special place.

“I look at the weather and decide if I want a cream soup if it’s cold outside or a light soup if it’s warm,” he explains. “I never use recipes. Everything just comes to me. I love it here because every day is different, and I’ll even make things that aren’t on the menu.”

The restaurant opened years ago as a tapas restaurant, so the menu was comprised of mostly small plates that are meant to be shared among everyone at a table. But after DeKalb residents Nancy and Ron Proesel bought the building in 2012 and took over the restaurant, everything from the décor to the menu was changed. Warborg kept the small plates, but added entrees, sandwiches, gourmet sliders, specialty pizzas and sushi to the menu, making it more appealing to a wider audience.

“Our menu is eclectic, but that’s what people wanted. Not everyone likes to

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 19

share their food, and a lot of people want meat and potatoes,” Warborg says. “Everything here is made in-house. We don’t buy things in a bag.

It takes a lot of time and effort, but it’s what we do. Our kitchen doesn’t even have a microwave. We’re probably the only restaurant in DeKalb that doesn’t have one.”

The Proesels had been longtime customers of Tapa La Luna, and when they learned that the original owners were looking to sell, they decided they’d rather purchase the restaurant than see it close. Nancy Proesel says she always enjoyed Warborg’s dishes, and was excited about the opportunity to keep it open. The Proesels aren’t directly involved with the running the restaurant on a day-to-day basis, leaving that to General Manager Rob Deshazer and Warborg, but Nancy Proesel says she still loves to come in to decorate the dining room and enjoy a good meal.

“The idea was just to keep it in existence and keep it in DeKalb. We wanted to create a place where people can get a good, prepared dinner later at night, instead of fast food,” she explains. “We fill a void in DeKalb.

It’s a niche. The atmosphere here is just as important too. It’s very comfortable, and we’re always updating and changing. It’s got a different vibe.”

and learn more about each unique beverage. While enjoying their meal and drinks, guests are treated to live music several nights a week.

“Mixology has always been an interest, and you can really make someone’s day with a good cocktail and conversation,” he says. “We sell tons of cocktails every night. Our wine list is fantastic. We have between 100 and 150 wines here and at least 20 varietals. It’s a nice mix of everything.”

And unlike many DeKalb-area establishments, Tapa La Luna has an open kitchen, so diners are able to see how their food is prepared. Warborg says he enjoys the open atmosphere because it allows him to better interact with his patrons.

“I love the kitchen. I enjoy being a part of the customers’ experience.

They can talk to us while we’re cooking their food,” he says.

But despite the eclectic menu and open, urban atmosphere, Deshazer says the secret to running a successful business is the people. By keeping the staff happy and interacting with his customers, he says it’s all about making everyone feel welcome and at home at the restaurant.

Deshazer attributes the success of the restaurant in part to the delectable cuisine. One of Tapa La Luna’s best sellers is the bleu cheese tenderloin, which comes with roasted red potatoes and grilled asparagus.

He says the mango bourbon scallops are a big hit, while the Kobe beef burgers are always a popular choice.

“Our staff is passionate. I believe that if you have a happy staff, you have happy patrons,” he explains. “We treat them well. We have a lot of repeat customers. I love being in the service industry because I like people and genuinely care about them. I enjoy talking and listening to the customers.”

“Our cuisine is exquisite, and there’s a wide selection on our menu.

Not many tapas restaurants have sushi, but we appeal to everyone,” he explains. “[Warborg] is very passionate and experienced. He’s very knowledgeable. Our featured specials are big because they change all the time.”

The staff at Tapa La Luna prides themselves on being very active in the DeKalb community. Proesel is involved with several nonprofits and is always looking to give back to the community, whether by providing meals, hosting a fundraiser or sponsoring events.

And the original menu isn’t the only thing that’s created by Tapa La Luna staff members. Deshazer has perfected a series of signature cocktails, all with a “moon” theme. His favorite is the “Sea of Tranquility” which has vodka, pineapple juice and lime. He says that the cocktails, as well as the extensive beer and wine list, also make Tapa La Luna stand apart from other restaurants. Guests can use one of six iPads to view the drink menu

20 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

“We’re very community-oriented and involved with a lot of nonprofit groups. It’s about being a part of DeKalb and that comes from the heart.

We don’t do it to enhance our business. It’s who we are,” she says.

Folks may soon be able to learn how to cook just like Warborg, as Deshazer says he is thinking about hosting cooking classes at the restaurant. Tapa La Luna has offered them in the past, but stopped when

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the restaurant got too busy. Both the adults and kids cooking classes were very popular, and Deshazer says Warborg enjoys teaching people how to cook. The restaurant is also available to host private parties.

The inspiring cooking classes, distinct atmosphere and unconventional menu are all perks of being a small, family-owned business. Deshazer says that makes Tapa La Luna uniquely DeKalb.

“We’re privately owned and can do our own thing. There’s really nothing like us in the area.”

The restaurant is open for lunch on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and open for dinner Monday through Saturday at 4 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

Tapa La Luna is located at 226 East Lincoln Hwy. For more information, call (815) 217-0990 or visit Tapalaluna.com.

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DeKalb High School Enharmonic Fusion

Reaches National Status

By Stephen Haberkorn The closest thing to rock stars in DeKalb County might be found among the students at DeKalb High School. Through the a cappella competition made famous by the “Pitch Perfect” movies, DeKalb High School’s acclaimed vocal ensemble, Enharmonic Fusion, has achieved national notoriety.

A cappella means making music without the use of any instruments. The challenge for a cappella groups is to create a full and dynamic sound using just voices. This effect is achieved by perfectly blending the background vocals behind a soloist, and having a vocal bass and vocal percussionist (or beatboxer) create the rhythm section. Vocalists can also mimic the sounds of instruments.

Since its founding in 2010 by DeKalb High School choral director, Travis Erikson, the 18-member co-ed vocal group has advanced to the finals of the prestigious International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) in New York City five times. In 2017, they finished in second place, behind only 4-time champion Vocal Rush from Oakland School of the Arts.

Because of their success, members of Enharmonic Fusion have had the opportunity to perform at iconic venues like the Beacon Theatre in New York City, at the University of Chicago along with two-time International Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) runners-up, Voices in Your Head, and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the showcase for their group, Fundamentally Sound.

The 2016-17 iteration of the group from DeKalb made the most waves ever.

After their 2nd-place ICHSA finals performance in New York City, Mike Chin of the A Cappella Blog wrote: “2017 was the year when [Enharmonic Fusion] ascended from one of the best high school a cappella groups in the country to one of the best-focused, most unforgettable, and downright great high school groups I’ve ever experienced live.”

22 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

Because of their 2nd-place finish, the group was also asked to do a set at the ICCA finals at the Beacon Theatre the following night during the judges’ deliberation.

In addition to the group’s accolades, Grace Klonoski also won the individual award for Outstanding Soloist for the song, “The Light that Never Fails.” That was her second consecutive year winning the award for outstanding soloist at finals.

Amanda Newman, Executive Director of Varsity Vocals, the organization that sponsors the ICCA and ICHSA tournaments, wrote on Twitter about Klonoski’s performance that it was the most moved she’d ever been by any performance, and that the audience was “weeping and clutching each other.”

Newman said that Klonoski was “mauled” by agents after the show wanting to represent the talented singer. According to Newman, one of the agents wanted Klonoski to audition for the Broadway musical, “Waitress.” Coincidentally, two days later, Enharmonic Fusion had the opportunity to sing to Sara Bareilles, the writer and star of Waitress, outside her stage door on Broadway. The group had performed Bareilles’ song, “Seriously,” in their ICHSA set and they serenaded her with it while she was signing autographs. Bareilles sang and danced along with the group, producing an incredible moment for the high school students. (You can watch the video at the following link: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=HK37Csrkem8) Varsity Vocals has been working to promote talent that has come through their competitions and Klonoski was able to go to Los Angeles and perform at their “GlowUp” showcase. She also performed at this year’s ICHSA finals in New York as the encore/ judges deliberation act.

Ben Vance, another featured soloist with the group last year, is now in an a cappella group at Washington University in St. Louis called the Amateurs. He

also got accepted to a professional group for the summer called The Hyannis Sound, which is a ten-person all-male a cappella group located in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. “They’ve got a long-standing tradition of being a really great semi-professional group, so he’s got an all-summer paying gig,” said Erikson.

The third alumni soloist from last year, Destinee Feliciano, is in No Comment, which is the top a cappella group at the University of Illinois. They have competed at the ICCA national finals in recent years and were also featured in Sing It On, a reality docu-series by Executive Producer John Legend. (The show can currently be seen on Netflix). Jimmy Henry, another Enharmonic Fusion alumnus, is also a member of the group.

“We’ve had some of the most talent I’ve ever seen in this group the last few years,” said Erikson.

Current members of the group continue the tradition of excellence.

Junior, Emma Carpenter, has been in Enharmonic Fusion for all three years that she’s been in high school. She has lived in DeKalb her whole life and knew about the group for a long time. In fact, Carpenter was in choir with Mr. Erikson in middle school and he invited her to rehearse with the group when she was in 8th grade.

“That was obviously an awesome opportunity,” said Carpenter. “They had gone to New York City for finals that year as well. It’s pretty well known throughout the community, since it’s one of, if not the most successful program at our high school.”

Carpenter has been singing since she was really little. She literally has singing in her DNA, as her great aunt was Lapp-Lisa, a famous Swedish folk singer. Her grandmother and her great grandmother were also singers. She has been classically trained since she was nine years old by vocal coach Margaret Fox in Sycamore and now Batavia.

“She is unbelievably talented,” said Carpenter. “I am so lucky to have found her. I owe so much of my voice to her.”

Carpenter said that being in the group has been life changing—from the relationships they’ve built to the experiences they’ve had together—and that they are not only growing as performers but as people. According to Carpenter, it all starts with Mr. Erikson.

“We are just so incredibly lucky to have him,” said Carpenter. “We all have a really special relationship with Mr. Erikson, because of how devoted and committed he is and we all are together.”

Being a part of the group is a major commitment, especially for Carpenter.

Besides keeping up with her classes and practicing three hours a day, four-to-six days a week during competition season with Enharmonic Fusion, Carpenter is also a competitive golfer. She has already accepted a scholarship to play golf at the University of Minnesota, where she plans to major in vocal performance.

“I’m working all hours of the day,” said Carpenter. “I don’t have a day off, ever. It definitely prepares me for college and for the rest of my life. Sometimes things get really hard and my parents tell me I can quit something, but I don’t want to. Not sleeping and not having any free time is worth it to me because I love everything I do so much.”

Richard Spahn, a senior who sings bass and baritone in the group, is finishing his fourth year in Enharmonic Fusion. His freshman year, they made it to nationals for the first time in three years. He said competing in the ICHSA was unlike anything he had ever done before and performing in New York was a culture shock and a nerve-wracking experience for a lot of the group.

“Mr. E. likes to say every time before we compete that for any mistakes that you make you are forgiven before the mistakes are made, which helps us forgive ourselves and continue to be in the zone and the show must go on,” said Spahn.

He said a key to the group’s success is making sure that everyone feels included and important, because it’s crucial that they work together as one cohesive unit, since one person’s voice can affect the entire group.

“Just because somebody has a solo on a part doesn’t mean they’re more important than anyone else,” explained Spahn. “Having good blend, having good dynamics, can really make or break a show.”

Spahn also is a part of the marching band, sings with Madrigals, and performs in plays and musicals. He’s played french horn since 6th grade.

“Having an instrumental background can help with your sense of pitch and your sense of blend and dynamics [how loud or quiet the music is] as well,” Spahn said. “It also helps with reading music. It brings a different thing to the table that a lot of choir students might not always have. A lot of the people in a cappella play instruments as well.”

Spahn said that one of the most difficult things about a cappella is staying on pitch, since the more energy you have, the higher you’ll naturally go. It takes a lot of practice to be able to think of the key in your head and maintain that.

And if the song has a key change, that makes it even harder.

Next year, Spahn is planning to go to St. Olaf College in Minnesota for voice performance. He wants to be a professional singer, either opera or theater style. He is really appreciative of all of the support that Enharmonic Fusion has received from the community, because being a part of the group has been such an important part of his high school experience and he is really thankful for that.

“We have one of the best support systems throughout DeKalb,” Spahn said.

“We’ve always been thankful every year that we’ve been able to go to New York and we couldn’t have done it without different alumni and other groups like the Kiwanis group that have helped us.”

History of Enharmonic Fusion Travis Erikson earned his Bachelor’s Degree in piano from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and the Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate in piano from Northern Illinois University, where he studied with internationally-known pianist, Donald Walker. Erikson also did graduate work in music theory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

One of Erikson’s side jobs while he was a graduate student at NIU was to accompany the choirs at Sycamore High School and DeKalb High School. He also had prior experience working with some choirs before that. In 2002, the DeKalb High School choir director left in the middle of the semester and Erikson filled in for the rest of the year. He had planned to complete a doctorate in piano, but he enjoyed working with the choir so much that he decided to stick around.

During his time at Whitman College, Erikson sang in some a cappella groups.

The school has a long tradition (over 90 years) of hosting a campus-wide

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choral contest every spring, although Erikson claims that the Whitman College choral contest is not nearly as serious as the ICCA or ICHSA competitions.

In 2004, they formed a boys a cappella group at DeKalb High School called “Fly Check.”

They started doing competitions in 2006 and made the ICHSA finals in 2007 and 2008.

In 2007, they also began a girls a cappella group named “The Grace Notes.” According to Erikson, the boys and girls groups became really competitive with each other.

They eventually found that mixed (male and female) groups were doing better in the ICHSA competition and thought if they combined forces they might have a more successful group and they also wouldn’t have their own groups competing against each other.

Erikson further explained that having a mixed group also makes things easier, repertoirewise, because the girls groups don’t always have a bass and the boys groups have to have skilled falsetto singers. So in 2010, they merged the boys and the girls groups to form Enharmonic Fusion. In their first year as a combined group, Enharmonic Fusion made it to the ICHSA finals in New York City. They went back again in 2012, 2015, 2016 & 2017.

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Favorite A DeKalb 956 1 e c in S “We have high standards, in terms of musicianship, and the students work hard,” said Erikson. “There’s a lot of talent in this community and a lot of great resources with the strong music program at NIU. It’s a great place for music around here.”

“At that point in time [2010], people would stand around one microphone. It didn’t matter

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This year, DeKalb High School got some additional staff and they are now hoping to have multiple groups competing because there has been so much student interest. Last year, they had about 90 students audition for 18 available sports in Enharmonic Fusion.

Since 2010, the ICHSA tournament has changed a lot as more groups have been formed and it has become more competitive.

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how big your group was. You could sing just kind of fun songs,” said Erikson.

“Now it’s changed into this performance where there’s a theme, and outfits are important, and the choreography’s become a lot more important.”

quarterfinal event, but were eliminated by not placing in the top three at semifinals.

One of the other things that’s hard about competing is that they end up having to take three songs and just work them over and over and over, while also working on choreography; whereas, before they learned a lot more songs and didn’t have to worry as much about whether a song would be effective in competition.

Not making finals could have a silver lining for Enharmonic Fusion, though, as they will save a lot of time and resources that can be used toward other things.

“When we’ve been fortunate to go to New York, we’ve had incredible community support,” said Erikson. “We had to put in a lot of work raising money to go. Usually we have about a month to raise $20,000. To ask this community to support us every year is asking a lot.”

“The Midwest region is a very, very tough region,” explained Erikson. “Last year, the second and third place groups in the nation were from the Midwest. The year In addition, now every singer in the before, the first and the second place group holds his or her own microphone, [groups]. I thought our group was really which makes it harder to have a larger outstanding. They didn’t place that night, group and also means your microphone technique is really critical to the success which surprised me, but you never know what the judges are going to be looking of the sound. for. It was disappointing, but again we’ve been fortunate enough to have some “It’s gotten very complicated,” Erikson said. “Some of those aspects have sort of great success, so we couldn’t really be bitter about it.” taken some of the fun out of it.”

“Usually, it needs to be exciting,” said Erikson, “They want something that has some kind of emotional impact, more so than just what’s technically accurate.”

This past year, 2018, Enharmonic Fusion was not able to repeat last year’s ICHSA success. After three straight years of reaching the finals, they won their

Erikson said that there are some cool opportunities they haven’t had time for because they were competing, such as recording an album. He would like for the group to get on a cycle of competing

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every other year, which is what a lot of the top college groups do.

The group is available to perform (pending students’ schedules) for both community service and for hire. They like to support positive events, such as the Kishwaukee Kiwanis Club Talent Show. Ultimately, Erikson views the success of Enharmonic Fusion as a whole community effort.

“We’re very proud of our music program,” said Erikson. “I’m lucky to work with some amazing colleagues like our band director, Steve Lundin, and our Orchestra Director, Sheila Felder. We have great middle school directors who are developing students and giving them a start in band, orchestra and choir...And it goes all the way down to the elementary schools. A lot of these students got their start singing in productions with Jill McCormick, Jodeen Coulter, Hillary Taylor and other great elementary teachers. We have really dedicated staff who are passionate and also very knowledgeable in their field.”

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Footnote: Travis Erikson won the 2018 DeKalb Education Foundation Wirtz Award for Excellence in Education for “[his] ability to influence, inspire, and motivate students.”

Also, Band Director, Steve Lundin, was given the 2018 DeKalb County Excellence in Education Award.

1 1/4 miles East of Somonauk Rd. on Hwy. 38

(815) 756-6005

www.yaegersfarmmarket.com

Welcomes its New Clubhouse!

Join Kishwaukee Country Club:

• • • •

Great Golf Course – No Tee Times Full Practice Facilities Driving Range Short Game Practice Area

• • • •

Private Pool with Snack & Refreshment Service Tennis Court Family Friendly Events Holiday Events

Membership Options:

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Trial Golf Social Tennis Pool Social And Dining Family or Invidivual

1901 Sycamore Rd, DeKalb, IL • 815-758-6848 • kishwaukeecc.org DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 27

Kishwaukee Country Club

ENTERS A NEW ERA WITH THE OPENING OF MODERN CLUBHOUSE

By DM Herra embers of the Kishwaukee Country Club have a new place to call home-away-from-home, as their century-old clubhouse was replaced this spring with sleek and comfortable new digs.

The old clubhouse, built in 1912, was demolished over the winter and the new building constructed a bit farther up the hill. The new construction also allowed golf cart storage and the pro shop, previously in their own separate buildings, to join the clubhouse under one roof.

“The old building leaked and had antiquated mechanical systems,” club president Steve Irving said. “It had multiple furnaces and air conditioning units and a hodge-podge of electrical systems. For years we would just patch it up.”

The club had been debt-free for 25 years, Irving said, allowing it to build up enough cash reserves to cover more than half of the roughly $2 million cost of demolition, site work and construction.

Members chipped in nearly $650,000 in additional donations, leaving the club with a mortgage of less than half a million for its comfortable new headquarters. Irving said club leadership is looking forward to reduced repair, maintenance and utility costs in the new structure.

The clubhouse itself is 6,600 square feet, Irving said, plus another 6,600 square feet in the basement, where golf carts are stored.

“It took about nine months to design the building,” Irving said. “We came up with a very condensed plan – one story, no steps, facing the golf course.

The old building faced the parking lot.”

Today members enter from the parking lot into a cool foyer that opens into an inviting dining space. Sliding glass doors open onto an expansive patio warmed by fire pits overlooking the rolling greenery.

The 150-acre property is bordered on one side by Hopkins Park, and the course is set far enough back from Sycamore Road that the sounds of traffic are mostly drowned out by birdsong and the the breeze rustling in the mature trees of the course.

“It’s like being on a forest preserve,” Irving said. “You can’t see any houses from here; we’re really quite secluded. We have thousands of trees here.”

Office manager Mike Marquardt said a family of deer crosses by the patio each day at dawn and dusk. There are hawks nesting in an evergreen tree in view of the new clubhouse, and raccoons and foxes are frequent visitors to the more secluded areas of the course.

“When we built here, we were really on the edge of the city,” Irving said.

“Now we’re surrounded by it, but it doesn’t feel like that.”

28 | June 2018 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE

The Kishwaukee Country Club was founded in 1901 and was originally a ninehole golf course and dance hall near Electric Park in Sycamore. In 1912, the club moved to its current home on Sycamore Road in DeKalb.

In 1958, the club leased property from DeKalb Ag in order expand the course to 18 holes. It leased the land for decades before buying it, Irving said. Over the decades, the course has undergone multiple renovations, but the 1912 clubhouse simply fell behind the times.

“It only took one meeting for the membership to approve the new building,” Irving said. “The vote was something like 95 to 4.”

The club boasts around 350 members. After several years of seeing the same declining membership that plagued golf clubs around the nation, new memberships have been climbing since 2011. Of the 16 trial memberships that expired this year, 13 went on to become full members, board member Roger Hopkins said.

“We’ve been trying to build the membership ever since the recession took us down a notch, as it did with all golf courses,” Hopkins said. “Already the new clubhouse has helped us to recruit new members.”

The club has also made a greater effort to cater to varying types of members, Hopkins said. It offers discounted three-year trial memberships. There are discounted membership levels for “junior” members – ages 21 to 29 – and “intermediate” members – ages 30 to 34. Where once a membership applied to a member’s entire family, now members can customize which amenities their family members want to use.

“A few years ago, we began offering the a la carte memberships,” Hopkins said. “Maybe you want to golf but your spouse doesn’t golf. You can buy a membership for them just for the pool or tennis, or a social membership that’s just for the clubhouse.”

membership. The country club swimming pool is adjacent to the new clubhouse and is frequented by parents with their children, he said.

“One of the great things about the new clubhouse is it’s convenient for people using the pool as well as for people using the golf course,” he said.

“It’s also just a nice quiet place to have lunch.”

The new clubhouse opened in April and celebrated a grand opening over Memorial Day weekend. But Hopkins said he is most looking forward to the Fourth of July.

“Our Fourth of July party is probably our biggest day of the year,” he said.

“We’ll have golf all day and families will come out and play games all afternoon. Then we have a picnic dinner, and we’re in the catbird seat for watching the fireworks at Hopkins Park.”

Members sit out on the golf course to listen to the DeKalb Municipal Band playing at the nearby park and watch the fireworks explode right overhead.

It’s essentially the same experience as watching from the park, Hopkins said, without the crowds.

“We have these social activities and open golf groups you can join any time,” Hopkins said. “That’s what really makes the club a good opportunity to meet people and get to know people in the community personally and individually.

And the new clubhouse is a great place to do that.”

For more information on the Kishwaukee Country Club, including membership levels and PGA Junior League Golf, visit www.kishwaukeecc.org or call 815758-6848.

The club also offers youth memberships and counts many local high school golf team members among its rolls, Hopkins said.

“It’s great for them because it gives them more flexibility in their playing time because the course isn’t as crowded (as a public course),” he said.

The club may be preparing its next generation of members through its PGA Junior League golf program. The program, taught by the club’s golf pro, teaches children ages 8 to 13 the fundamentals of playing and enjoying golf.

It is open to all children in the age group, Irving said, regardless of whether they or their parents are members of the country club.

“They have a blast,” Irving said. “They golf, they have swimming pool parties.

Last year we had 53 kids in it, and we’re expecting the same this year.”

Hopkins said attracting young families is an important part of growing

DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE | June 2018 | 29

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