KC Magazine_August 2019

SPECIAL

FAMILY & PETS EDITION AUGUST 2019

Wrap up summer with a

Splash at Sunset Pool events!

Page 28

BACK TO SCHOOL BREAKFASTS

PICKING THE PERFECT PET

DESTINATION: LIBRARY

Page 7

Page 16

Page 24

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Editor's

NOTE It’s hard to believe that summertime is nearly done, at least in the practical sense.

But if your family, like mine, is groaning at the thought of a mid-August return to the classroom, don’t despair! There’s plenty of great summer fun to be had in the remaining days, all across the area.

From great family game night options to keep the whole crew entertained, to wet and wild events to round out your late summer nights, it’s all right here, at the ready, in the August issue of KC Magazine, dedicated to family time.

Keep cool these next few weeks at Sunset Pool, which wraps up the season in style, with movie nights, family specials and a cool luau event you wont want to miss.

We spend some time with Families on the Fox creator Chrissy Somers, to find out more about her new online community of local things to do, places to go and sights to see, all local, and all centered on the family.

Our local libraries offer a host of seasonal bling, beyond the books, including events, technology, activities and more to take out, rent out and enjoy. For road trips, rainy days, or just an active afternoon, stop in to see

what’s in store.

With that much activity, you need to stay fed and hydrated, so we have the lowdown on the best back-to-school nutrition for your family, from energy boost breakfasts to healthy school lunches, and options for dinner that are sure to get the family’s approval.

After dinner, we’ve got five fun family game night choices, that’ll keep you binding, and laughing all the way until bedtime.

Whether your family is small or large, grown up or toddling, furry or reptilian, we’ve got tips, suggestions, events, and information for you, all in one place, in the pages of KC magazine.

Thanks for reading.

Sherri Dauskurdas, Editor

on the

PUBLISHER Daily Chronicle & Suburban Weekly Group Laura Shaw 630-709-4497 lshaw@shawmedia.com EDITOR Sherri Dauskurdas 630-427-6263 sdauskurdas@shawmedia.com DESIGNER Allison LaPorta 630-427-6260 alaporta@shawmedia.com LOCAL SALES MANAGER Daily Chronicle & Niche Publishing Jaclyn Cornell 630-845-5234 jcornell@shawmedia.com CORRESPONDENTS Jonathon Bilyk, Pete Stadalsky, Melissa Riske, Irv Leavitt, Tom Witom, Chris Walker, Allison Horne, Diane Spivak and Erin Sauder.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Sandy Bressner, Mary Beth Nolan, Mark Black and Jeff Krage This magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send your request with payment information to Shaw Media, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.

COVER

Summer's not quite done! Cool off at some great end-of-the-season events at the Geneva Park District pools.

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Published by Shaw Media 333 N. Randall Road, Suite 2 St. Charles, IL 60174 Phone: 630-845-5288

AUGUST

2019

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INSIDE

What's

FAMILY & PETS 7 REAL FOOD As kids head back to the classroom, power them with simple nutritious choices.

10 FAMILY BUSINESS Local woman builds community through web-based resource.

34 STAYING IN THE GAME, BEYOND BRUISES Your child may be fearless on the field, but when are sports injuries more than something they can just “walk off?”

12 THE GREAT DEBATE Suburban Superdad shares the challenges of being a dog guy in a cat family.

36 EAT HEALTHY, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT! Our gastroenterologist and guru of healthy dining heads to RPM Italian for some tasty treats.

15 FAMILY GAME NIGHT An editor’s choice of five fun games for the whole family to enjoy.

DINING & ENTERTAINING

16 CATCH THE CHICAGO PET SHOW Bring home a new friend from this locally created pet event.

18 SCALES, TAILS AND SNAILS There’s a lot to contemplate when considering a lizard.

20 OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS Patience, repetition key to training an older dog.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 24 MORE TO THE STORY Book some time at a local library, and discover all they offer beyond the bookshelves.

28 MAKE A SPLASH Before summer ends, take a late season visit to Geneva’s neighborhood pools.

30 HANGOUT IN THE HIDEOUT Nature play area provides endless unstructured fun.

32 EVERYONE’S WELCOME FOR ELBURN DAYS Back and better than ever, with a great lineup of entertainment, food, carnival crafts and more.

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HEALTH & WELNESS

40 WHERE COOKING BEGINS Home cooks rejoice in this new collection of recipes and techniques, reviewed by Tom Witom.

BUSINESS & CIVIC 44 READING THE TEA LEAVES Now may be a good time to recall some of your Economics 101 definitions of leading and lagging economic indicators.

HOME & LIFESTYLE 46 PLANTS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER Plants tell the story of each gardener.

What’s yours?

48 GET S’MORE OUTDOOR FUN BEFORE SUMMER IS GONE Make the most of the season in its final weeks.

TRAVEL 50 TRAIL BLAZER, PART 2 We check in on our brave travel columnist outdoor enthusiast Pete Stadalsky, as he traverses the Continental Divide on a mountain bike.

AUGUST

2019

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REAL FOOD As kids head back to the classroom, power them with simple nutritious choices

By Diane Krieger Spivak

S

ummer is almost over and for most children, it’s about time to head back to the classroom.

Feeding kids a healthy diet isn’t always easy in this age of working parents, extra-curricular activities and the temptation of junk food that seems to

be everywhere.

Whether just entering kindergarten or about to finish high school, kids need a balanced breakfast, lunch and dinner to keep them healthy and perform at their best academically and physically.

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Quick and Easy Breakfast Burrito INGREDIENTS: 4 eggs 1/4 cup low-fat milk 1/8 teaspoon pepper 2 whole wheat tortilla 4 tablespoon salsa 4 tablespoon black olives, sliced PREPARATION: Spray microwave safe dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Crack eggs and place into a mixing bowl.

Add milk and pepper to eggs and stir well with wire whisk or fork.

Pour mixture into microwave safe dish, cover, and microwave on high for 4 minutes.

Carefully remove eggs from microwave using potholders.

Remove cover and use a fork to break apart eggs into bite sized pieces.

Place 1 tortilla on a plate.

Add 1/2 of egg mixture to middle of tortilla and top with 2 Tablespoons of salsa and 2 tablespoons of sliced black olives.

“Breakfast equals brain power is a real thing,” says Laura Barr, Nutrition & Wellness Educator, University of Illinois Extension, serving DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties. “The research reveals that children who eat breakfast have both improved cognitive performance and better academic achievement, plus, decreased incidence of behavioral problems and tardiness.”

The evidence points to both young children and teens alike, though larger bodies and high levels of physical activity demand more calories, which is a measurement of energy, notes Barr. “As teens consume more calories, they will naturally acquire the extra vitamins and minerals needed to maintain health.”

Children of any age should eat nutrient dense foods and limit foods high in sugar, fat and salt.

An ideal breakfast would include carbohydrates, protein and fat, says Barr. “That could look like a peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole-wheat toast with a glass of milk.”

If you pack your children’s lunches (or even if they pack their own), Barr notes that it’s important to include a balance of protein,

starch, fruit, vegetable and dairy.

“Be mindful of the foods that your child prefers, and make sure their favorites are built into the lunch,” says Barr. “Choose brightly colored produce and balance textures for variety.”

One way to get smaller children to eat their veggies and fruit, according to nutrition experts, is to let them have a say in which ones to pack. “It is important to let little ones choose the foods they like out of a variety of healthy options,” adds Barr. “Over time they will choose nourishing foods, if that is what is offered in the home and modeled by their caretakers.”

Harvard University School of Public Health’s Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate, a guide to nutritious food choices for children, also calls for colorful produce, which should fill half the plate or lunch box with two or three different kinds. Fill one quarter with whole grains, such as pasta, brown rice or quinoa, and the last quarter with protein in the form of beans, nuts, peanut butter, hummus, edamame, fish, chicken or a hardboiled egg. Add healthy fats, such as vegetable oils (olive, canola, sunflower, soy, and corn),

Repeat previous 2 steps with second tortilla.

Nutrition Facts may vary depending on your choice of tortillas and salsa. If you need to lower your salt (sodium) intake, look for lower sodium choices.

NUTRITION FACTS: Servings per Recipe: 2, Calories: 310, Fat: 14g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 18g, Sodium: 650mg, Total Carbohydrates: 29g Nutritious recipes for healthy kids provided by University of Illinois Extension

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Kiwi Strawberry Parfait INGREDIENTS: 2 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced 1 cup fresh (or thawed from frozen) strawberries, sliced 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt 1/2 cup corn or bran flakes cereal PREPARATION: Use 10-12 ounce clear glass or plastic glasses.

Layer kiwifruit, strawberries, yogurt, and cereal in glasses and serve.

NOTE: Nutrition Facts calculated using fresh strawberries, 0% fat vanilla Greek yogurt, and bran flakes. Recipe makes about 20 ounces total parfait.

nuts, seeds, and fish, plus dairy, if desired, such as cottage cheese, string cheese, milk or plain Greek yogurt. Yes, good fats are a necessary part of a healthy diet.

Harvard suggests one serving of fresh fruits, such as grapes, apple slices or rings, melon chunks (cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon), berries (strawberries, blueberries or raspberries), or banana slices, and two servings of vegetables like carrot coins or sticks, cucumber, broccoli, bell pepper strips, asparagus spears, summer squash ribbons or grape tomatoes.

While breakfast may be the most important meal of the day in terms

of maintaining energy, dinner time is important for reasons that go beyond nutrition.

“We live in a fast-paced culture, and it is imperative to view dinner time to nourish both body and soul,” says Barr. “Protect dinner time to connect with family members most days of the week.” Tips to make that happen during busy weekdays include using off times, such as a weekend, to prepare freezer meals and to pre-chop vegetables. Have children help in the prep. “Pre-planning a menu for the week will save time for communications between family members, which is essential for healthy family relationships,” notes Barr.

NUTRITION FACTS: Servings per Recipe:2, Calories: 210, Fat: 1g, Fiber: 4g, Protein: 11g, Sodium: 100mg, Total Carbohydrates: 41g

Turkey Sandwich Wraps INGREDIENTS: 4 whole-wheat tortillas (8”) 4 tablespoon light mayonnaise 8 slices turkey lunchmeat 4 lettuce leaves 1 tomato, sliced PREPARATION: Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on each tortilla.

Layer turkey, lettuce, and tomato on each tortilla.

Carefully roll each tortilla with toppings to make sandwich wrap.

NOTE: Recipe makes 4 full sandwich wraps. 1 sandwich wrap per serving.

Try this recipe with different types of lunch meats, vegetables, and spreads!

NUTRITION FACTS: Servings per Recipe: 4, Calories: 200, Fat: 7g, Sodium: 670g, Total Carbohydrates: 24g, Fiber: 1.g, Protein: 9g

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FAMILY BUSINESS Local woman builds community through web-based resource

Photo Credit: Scentcerely Yours

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

It started as most great ideas do.

Identifying a need and having the determination to create a solution.

“I knew Families on the Fox would be successful because there was a need for it, but it has been incredible to see it continue to grow,” says Chrissy Somers, founder, creator and content manager for the website Families on the Fox. The Geneva resident and mother of three hatched a plan to create a website with a focus on events, activities and business information centered in the Tri-Cities. From listing events and locations to developing partnerships in the community and with local businesses Families on the Fox has quickly become more than just a place to click to when families are looking for a

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playground.

“This is a place for everybody,” Somers says.

“Families come in all shapes and sizes, from those with little kids to those with big kids and those with furry babies; everyone can find something of value here.”

For Somers, it’s about getting out and experiencing the community. Her passion and love for the area draws people to connect with her through the website and through social media where she promotes the website and shares her own adventures and finds from incredible places to shop and eat and where to find fireworks and farmers markets.

“It’s a great community we live and it’s very welcoming. Kids are welcome in so many places,” Somers says.

She and her husband, her college sweetheart from Northern Illinois University, used to

work part-time at Geneva Commons during their college days and she says many of their post-work dates were spent walking through downtown Geneva and St. Charles dreaming about one day living in the area. About six years ago they made that dream come true and found a home filling it with their three daughters ages 6, 4 and 1.

Somers describes herself as wife, mother, and entrepreneur and up until a little year ago she was also a teacher. For nine years she taught middle school language arts and today she laughs when she says she honed her sales skills by learning how to engage 12-year-olds with reading.

After having her third child, Somers decided to take a break from teaching and while juggling two children and a newborn she hatched the idea for the website. For now, she is the website content director, sales representative, marketing

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Photo Credit: Parker's Images (Chrissy Somers with owner and founder of Project Mobility, non-profit recipient at FOTF's Taps & Tacos event at Penrose, Hal Honeyman)

owners to hear how they overcame obstacles to find success. One of those business owners includes Susi Brucato, co-owner of Scentcerely Yours in downtown Geneva. Brucato navigated a 16-year career in the banking industry before following her dream to open a small business. She was also one of the first businesses to partner with Families on the Fox, agreeing to work with Somers even before her website was live. and social media manager.

“There are a lot of late nights, where I can be up until 1 or 2 in the morning and then, with little kids, I’m up at 6 a.m.,” Somers says.

Seeing the response from the community drivers her to push through and do more.

Somers says she enjoys combing through the analytics and says in June she had 19,000 page views.

While the focus of the website is entertainment, there have been other important. When Somers began to experience anxiety-related issues she decided to talk about it through her social media channels, adding that she

wanted to talk about it and help others who may have similar experiences.

She’s built incredible partnerships with local businesses, park districts as well as larger venues such as The Kane County Cougars. She engages her audience hosting events and programs, which offer fun, education and even a philanthropic avenue by supporting local non profits.

In less than one year she has raised more than $5,000 for local charities including Lazarus House, Cal’s Angles and Project Mobility.

In September she’s working with fellow Tri-Cities business women to produce The Women Empowerment Crawl, where guests can meet local women business

“There was a trust factor [with Somers] that we didn’t have with everybody else,” Brucato says. “She’s relatable and she showed us that she was there to help support us.”

Chrissy Somers is the owner of Families on the Fox, a website that serves as a free resource to the Tri-City community. A daily events calendar, indoor fun resource guide, seasonal events, pre-planned date nights, adult fun outings, and more can be found when you visit www.

FamiliesOnTheFox.com Photo by Fox + Grey Photography

Somers says she is excited to celebrate the first birthday of Families on the Fox with special events that sold out more than two months in advance. As she looks to the future, she can see Families on the Fox growing; covering more communities located along the Fox River and helping more people discover what their communities have to offer.

Visit Families on the Fox at www. familiesonthefox.com and check out Somers’ regular column in next month’s edition of KC Magazine.

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29th Annual Vintage Transport Extravaganza August 4th, 2019 • Sunday, 10:00AM to 6:00PM

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Labor Day Weekend Saturday and Sunday, August 31st & September 1st Come see special trains after dark Labor Day Weekend! Steam and diesel trains willr emain in operation until 9:30pm, long after close! Great twilight photo opportunities for photographers!

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THE GREAT DEBATE When it comes to the family pet, where do your loyalties lay?

S

ometimes, truly great moments in cinema can lend insight to the human condition and clarify one’s perspective on the world.

At other times, the insight can come from pondering a scene from a movie starring Rick Moranis.

For many years, the question quietly churned in the back of my head.

No, not “Why was Rick Moranis such a hot cinematic property in the 1980s?”

Rather, it was trying to decide how I actually came down on the great debate, one which has vexed and divided humanity for generations: Which animal makes the better pet, dogs or cats?

For decades, I had sought neutrality on the issue, because I honestly could not say. From my earliest memories, both species, canine and feline, had been a large part of my life, teaching me many of the truly important lessons of life, such as: • You must ensure a helpless creature doesn’t starve to death.

• Cleaning up bodily functions is not a desirable goal in life, so get up, let the dog out, and refresh the cat’s litter box every so often.

• Take a few seconds secure the back gate, or prepare to spend hours searching the neighborhood in a cold January wind for the lost animal (who will then wander back on their own, because, you know, they’re not actually lost and it’s cold in January.)

But most important, the animals taught me about mortality, the brevity of life, and how to face it with dignity and strength, choosing to balance the joy of life against the pain of having to say goodbye, and learning it was all worth it.

In the decades since my youth flitted, several dogs and cats have come through my life and that of my family. Some, as you may expect, are missed more than others.

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Not too long ago, it was left to me to be the final human our family cat, who I will identify only as ‘B,’ would lay eyes upon. B had lived a long life, but had gotten sick at the end, as living things often do.

Faced with huge veterinary bills or a quick, humane end, we opted to minimize the B’s suffering.

I didn’t think it would affect me much. See, for most of her life, B had been something of a recluse, coming out of her lair in our basement only so often, and usually hissing at me, unless she realized I was the only one around to feed her.

But in her final days, B had stunned us all, by coming out of hiding and actually warming up to our girls, seeking them out for play and cuddles, bringing smiles and laughter again.

So, when the time came suddenly to put her down, the feelings came unexpectedly, realizing my girls were being deprived of the experience.

Now, this is not to say they are missing out on having a pet. We still have a dog. And by most measures, he is a very good boy, if not particularly stout.

So they, too, are learning those important lessons listed above through him.

But it has become clear they are cat people. On one hand, it’s obvious from the way they interact with the dog, preferring indoor cuddles to tug of war or back yard games of fetch.

Also, they’ve asked, with puppy dog eyes: “Daddy, can we have a cat?”

But just months removed from one cat, I am not quite there yet.

A big reason? I have decided I am a dog person.

To be clear, I do not harbor hatred for cats. Rather, I am just not sure they secretly don’t harbor disinterest for me.

This is where Rick Moranis comes in. In 1989, Moranis starred in Disney’s film, “Honey, I Shrunk the

Kids.” Even as a pre-teen lad, I was struck by a scene in the film in which the aforementioned shrunken children, as they attempted to find their way back through the grass of their back yard to their house, decided to whistle for the family dog to serve as a shuttle. And the dog answered, barking at the back door until Moranis, portraying the mad scientist shrink-ray-inventor-father, let him outside.

As a young man, I wondered: If I were shrunk to the size of an ant, would my dog still know me, and respond the same way to me? Understanding this is a hypothesis impossible to prove, I submit he – despite his understandable initial confusion - likely would.

In the years since, this thought experiment has expanded to include my cats. It has led me to conclude there is a 50/50 chance, or worse, a shrunken me could expire in the pit of a feline digestive tract.

Again, to be clear, I do not dislike cats and wish the best to them all (or most of them, at least.)

Further, were you to fast forward a year or so in the life of my family, there is a likelihood you will find one lurking somewhere in our house.

And you would find me resting comfortably knowing shrink rays remain merely a plot device in silly movies starring Rick Moranis.  Jonathan Bilyk writes about the triumphs and travails of being a modernday dad who legitimately enjoys time with his family, while tolerating a dog that seems to adore him. He also doesn’t really like the moniker “Superdad” because it makes it sound like he wants to wear his undergarments on the outside of his pants. (Also, the cape remains on back order.)

FAMILY & PETS AUGUST 2019

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Ream’s Meat Market

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EDITOR’S CHOICE

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FAMILY GAME NIGHT

FUN CHOICES FOR THE FAMILY

 THE OREGON TRAIL CARD GAME That’s right, the 1970s era computer game that simulated an 1840s ride across the plains is now a card game, perfect for a night of unplugged nostalgia. It’s not without a share of drama. Throughout the course of the game, members of your party could fall ill from a variety of historic causes, such as measles, snakebite, cholera and exhaustion. People could also die from drowning or a broken leg. Your oxen were also subject to illness and death. When one of your party members dies, a funeral is briefly held, at which you may write a suitable tombstone epitaph, and after which you continue down the trail.

Prediction: Someone will die of dysentery.

 MONOPOLY Yes, I said it, the classic game of real estate moguling never seems to age out, and its by far my extended family’s favorite. Whether you play by the instructions in the box or make up your own “house” rules, you’d better make sure everyone is clear on what’s expected, and let the wheeling and dealing commence.

Put your cash on free parking and save those get out of jail cards.

 MINUTE TO WIN IT If you have seen the television game show, you already know how much fun these challenges can be. A combination of skill, speed and agility, most of the challenges are funny, sometimes silly, and always trying! What we love most about these is that the challenges vary – with age and size of the participants not necessarily an advantage. Kids, adults, teens and grandparents all can play, and win! My kids kicked my butt at “Face the Cookie” (stacking Oreos on your face and getting them in your mouth without use of hands), while my 1980s dance moves made me a master at “Junk in the Trunk” in which a belted tissue box full of ping pong balls gets emptied as you wiggle. There are plenty of options online, most made from stuff found at home or at the nearby dollar store. Just search “Minute to Win it games” online for ideas.  BANANAGRAMS Disclaimer: My teens say this game is unfair for me to play because I am an editor. But I like it for its speed. Imagine scrabble without the board. Players take a selection of letter tiles and when you say “GO!” everyone begins forming their own word puzzles with the letters they have.

You can trade back your extra ‘E’ or that lowly “Q” without a “U” but you get two tiles in return. First one to use up all their letters wins the round. No points, no board. Just fun. Round by round. It’s easy to play, jump in and out of the game, and stretch your vocabulary as you go.  SUPERFIGHT This is a lesserknown game that’s set up to pit player against player in a debate of strength, wit and prowess.

Consider it like a cross between Fight Club and Superfriends.

Players choose from a selection of character cards (think “fighter”) and attribute cards (think “skill”). Then they throw down to debate which combination would win in a fight. After making their arguments, the table decides the winner of the round, who moves on to fight again. Engage in hero vs. hero battles, villain vs. hero battles, or the definite favorite…villain vs. villain. Don’t like the fight? Determine your own test: who would build a house the best? Who would climb a mountain the quickest? Who would be better if trapped on a desert island. The options – and the arguments – are endless. Warning: if you don’t like to be interrupted, this isn’t a good game for you.

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CATCH THE CHICAGO PET SHOW ome a h g n i r and b w f riend ne

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

W

hether searching for special pet products or considering adding a pet to the family a visit to the Chicago Pet Show has a wide array of offerings to accommodate pet parents of dogs, cats, reptiles and birds too.

For the ninth year Chicago Pet Shows will set up for a multi-day event at the Kane County Fairgrounds Nov. 9-10 in St. Charles, welcoming vendors selling a variety of items from the essentials including healthy pet foods to unique clothing and accessories. This pet show goes beyond pet essentials and features pet rescue groups, where visitors can learn more about and even begin the process to adopt a pet.

The inspiration behind this popular pet show is a dog named Frankie 2 Paws and his loving owner, Peggy Ruh, who adopted the special needs pup who was paralyzed and only able to walk on two

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legs. She says dog’s determination and character was the inspiration for her help other families to see the joy of adopting rescue animals, from those with special needs to those who are simply in need of a loving home.

After hosting smaller shows Ruh teamed up with partners Jessica Zeuli and B.K. Casazza to begin hosting the Chicago Pet Show with one of the first stops at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles.

Ruh, a Yorkville resident, says that first show took up just half of the Robinson building.

“It’s just grown so much,” Ruh says, adding that it has become a wonderful way for her team to connect with the many rescue groups who return year after year.

The show includes rescue groups for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and small mammals too.

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“We try to have a lot of education too,” Ruh says, as she explains how pet rescue groups can offer visitors a chance to talk one-toone to learn more about an animal’s needs, care and much more.

In her pet family Ruh has Frankie 2 Paws as well as a senior dog and a younger dog who is just 2. She laughs that her pack all get along and remind her of the joys of animals of all ages and needs.

“If you’re open to rescue, there are so many pets that need a good home,” Ruh says.

While each year Ruh and her team enjoy the sweet stories of pets finding their forever homes with show attendees but she is quick to add that is only part of the way visitors can connect with the rescue groups.

“If you are looking for something you can do, or something to help your community, consider volunteering with the rescue groups, fostering pets or even helping behind the scenes to manage the group’s website,” Ruh says.

The multi-day show also features plenty of family fun, from entertainment to good food and be sure to check the schedule to catch the Wiener Dog Races too.

Tickets to the show are $7 for adults; free for children 18 and younger and adults age 65 and older, and tickets are good for both days. A portion of ticket proceeds are shared with the animal rescue groups. The show is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Parking is free.

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Scales, tails and snails THERE’S TO CONTEMPLATE WHEN O CONTEMPLATE WHEN CO THERE’S A LOTA TLOT CONSIDERING NSIDERINGAALIZARD LIZARD

BY CHRIS WALKER

L

izards are growing in popularity as family pets, but while Bruce the Bearded Dragon, Mickey the Gold-Dust Day Gecko and Sven the Blue-Tongued Skink might seem like great names for coollooking lizards, that doesn’t necessarily me they’d make great pets for your family.

That’s something you need to find out before choosing to make a lizard your pet. It’s recommended that you research about pet lizard ownership, including cost, care and more because having a lizard as a pet is far different than Snoopy and Hooch or Sylvester and Garfield.

“Do you have the space available? Do you have the housing? What about an available food source,” asks Scott Smith of Scott Smith’s All Animal Expo. “Some lizards eat snails. Can you get a steady supply of snails?” These are some key questions before you decide to bring home such a pet.

Obviously, if you’re looking for a good-looking pet to take on walks and to play fetch with then a lizard is probably not ideal for you, although Smith did acknowledge there are lizards you can walk

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on a leash.

“It’s just like with different dog breeds, there are the same things with so many different reptiles out there,” Smith . “Some are on trees, some are on ground, some prefer to be underground.

I would say if you’re looking for a great starter lizard you should go with a bearded dragon.”

If you’re looking for a more quiet and calm pet, then a lizard might be perfect for you. Of course, there are certainly other factors that should be considered. You shouldn’t just swipe your credit card, take the lizard home and say, “Ok, this is your home. Enjoy your new life.”

getting food ready. That’s kind of fun. Who knew lizards were like that? Also, if you’re traveling, most people jump at the chance to care for them.”

Several area locations sell lizards. While those business are certainly a good starting point to move forward with getting one, there’s also a lot that of knowledge that can be gained online.

“When I started in the hobby, I would go online and when I found four or five people telling me the same thing, that’s the information I would use,” Smith says. “Everybody has little quirks, but it all works, so take the basics and do the same thing.”

St. Charles resident Audrey Kovach adopted a pair of five-year-old leopard geckos that a family no longer wanted.

Kovach says they eat mealworms, are easy to care for and the biggest cost was up front for their enclosure and heating.

“They are easy to handle and the female is very sweet and likes to be petted,” she says. “They both come out when they hear you

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Patience, repetition epetition

key to training an old dog

By Erin Sauder

Whether you’re looking to train up a pet you have had in your family for a while, or you are adopting a dog from a shelter, you’ve likely heard the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

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But those in the pet industry would beg to differ.

“You absolutely can,” says Robin Massey, owner of Fydoland, a pet care facility with locations in Elgin, Huntley, and St. Charles. “It’s really not the age of the dog as much as it is the personality of the dog.

Sometimes it takes a little more effort, patience and time.”

Kayla Staley, of Geneva-based DePAW University, Canine Campus, understands the myth associated with aging pets.

“I thought the same thing,” she says. “Then I did training classes here with my dogs who were older and they learned some things... coming when they’re called and walking on a leash.”

Another advantage of taking the time to work with an older dog?

“It’s a great bonding experience for pets and their parents,” Massey says.

So how should someone get started on the process? When it comes to

training your four-legged friend, Massey said there are four key components to keep in mind.

“One is consistency. So doing the same thing over and over again the same way helps because dogs are creatures of habit so it’s easier for them to learn if you are consistent,” she says.

Patience is another, as training an older dog may take a little extra time.

“The older the dog the older the

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behavior is but that doesn’t mean they’re not capable of learning new things,” Massey says. “And learning those new things fairly quickly.”

“It’s almost like you need the same amount of patience with an older dog as you do with a puppy,” Staley says.

Persistence and repetition are also important to keep in mind.

Not surprisingly, those same components should also be used when training younger pets.

“There’s really no difference,” Massey says. “Anybody who gets a new dog sometimes just doesn’t know how to communicate with the dog so it’s a matter of learning how to work with them.”

To that end, obedience training is a great place to do just that.

At Fydoland, obedience training classes include learning basic commands such as sit, down, stand, stay, heel, and come.

Focus and engagement activities, distractions, and remote skills are incorporated as well.

“Obviously, when dogs get older sometimes their hearing goes so that can be a little difficult or they may have a hard time sitting because of hip issues,” Staley says. “So there are definitely some limitations.”

DePAW University, Canine Campus also offers a variety of programs and training approaches to suit any dog/owner team.

But any type of activity with older dogs is great for them both physically and mentally, Massey says.

“We have dogs of all ages that come to our basic obedience class,” Staley says.

“You just have to be aware of what their limitations are as far as mobility and cognitive function.

I definitely encourage people to come in and learn how to work with their dogs,” she says. “A good trainer can see what type of dynamics they have going on here and find the appropriate training for that.”

Do you have an adult or senior dog that has never had formal, structured obedience training?

It’s not too late. But keep in mind, older pets may not have the energy and dexterity they had in their younger years.

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story to the

More

} } Book some time at a local library, and discover all they offer, beyond the bookshelves

By Irv Leavitt

24

A

ugust is traditionally a transition month for suburban libraries. As many families take endof-season vacations, the libraries morph from providing a wealth of summer programming to more weekend and evening events, and a concentration on services to students and business people.

But now, when patrons have come to expect year-round programming, some libraries never stop.

The St. Charles Public Library even accompanies its patrons on vacation. The library at 1 S. 6th Ave. loans out wi-fi gadgets that can provide bandwidth to seven devices all at once… in a moving car.

“When we first purchased them, there was such a long waiting list,” library communication chief

Pat Salomone said. “We’ve since purchased more, and the demand has leveled out.

“They can also check out a GoPro camera.”

Once they come back home, residents can check out a projector and screen, too, so they can show their GoPro vacation exploits to their neighbors -- sandwiched around a professionally-produced, real late-release movie also borrowed from the library.

The backyard partiers may have to watch where they step in the dark – in St. Charles, no one with a patch of dirt and a library card need go without plantings. The library gives away flower and vegetable seeds, and has programs to teach people how to let them thrive.

The Geneva Public Library takes

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its show on the road in a different way. The “Tales on the Town” program brings story-time for kids six and under to the Firewater Barbecue & Brew, 524 W. State St., on Aug. 12.

“It actually has a decent-sized space, to allow the kids to move around and sing,” said Paula Krapf, the library’s public relations and marketing manager. “’Tales of the Town’” has been around for a couple of years now,” she said.

“It gets a lot of people learning about the businesses, and for us it’s just a change of pace.” She said that “half an hour is the complete limit to keeping attention” for little kids, so the 11 a.m. program conveniently leads into lunchtime. “We’re not surprised if they stay in town and have lunch.”

The library has another drop-in program outside its walls on Aug. 6 at 10 a.m.

The library will bring its third storytime of the summer to the “Let’sPlay Railway” exhibit at the Geneva History Museum, 113 S. 3rd St.

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The nearly-life-size kid-friendly models of a train, cattle car and caboose are the attraction. “It gets the kids a chance to climb around and be a part of it,” Krapf said.

The Geneva library comes back inside for an all-ages kids’ program Aug. 7.

It will be staged by a major library program vendor, Science Tellers, a national company that hires about 50 local teacher-performers to put on a science-oriented show. This year, they’re staging “Aliens Escape from Earth,” a tale of trying to get way-outof-town visitors back home, with a handful of experiments and science hacks to fuel the narrative.

If past is prologue, the 7 p.m. program

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promises to be popular, so seek free tickets right away.

Summertime at libraries all over the country usually means summer reading clubs for both kids and adults, often with prizes and parties for people of all ages. By August, that’s winding down.

But even if you haven’t read a word all summer, you can attend the Town and Country Public Library’s impressive End of Summer Party on Aug.8, 5 p.m. to 9, said Connor Wilcox, library communication manager.

The party includes a performance by Robin’s Dog Stars, which jump through hoops, climb ladders, balance on balls and jump over things. Also entertaining will be Dave Herzog, an artist whose marionettes are known to sing, dance, skate, and do circus tricks like tightrope-walking and the flying trapeze.

The party includes a family-friendly movie, games, sandwiches and ice cream, balloon animals, face-painting, and live music. It’s all on the lawn outside the library at 320 E. North Street in Elburn.

Another film will be on tap, indoors, at 6 p.m.

Aug. 23 for the three-hour movie-and-game night at the Elburn library.

If you’re a student artist, or a parent of one, and reading this on Aug. 1, you might want to get

26

on the phone to Town & Country right away to try to get in on one of two hour-long programs that afternoon by pro illustrator Dan Laib. Young artists, second to fifth grade, will be taught how to draw optical illusions at1 p.m. At 2:30, artists in fifth grade through high school can learn how to transfer the inspiration of music to their drawings.

If your kid’s more of a writer, the library’s Kathleen Hansen teaches a creative writing at 4:30 every second and fourth Thursday starting on Sept. 12.

Languages a better fit? Sign up for a half hour of all-ages Spanish Storytime Wednesdays at either 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. They start Sept. 11.

A Spanish immersion class for K-2 kids will concentrate on basic vocabulary on Tuesdays at 4:30p.m. Kids in third to fifth grade get a handle on sentence structure at 5:15p.m. Both immersion classes start Sept. 10.

Teenagers will be struggling to get out of the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave., Aug. 8at 7 p.m. “Escape the Library!” gives pairs of teens an hour to solve puzzles in an escape room-like scenario.

Batavia has a 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 14 drop-in program for teens and young adults of all abilities. Inclusion Game Night features board games and card games.

has a wealth of offerings in its youth department. It includes an opportunity for kids to play chess at 7 p.m. Aug. 6, a movie at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8, and “Mondo” bingo (with pictures, not numbers) for non-readers at 11 a.m. Aug. 12, Youth Services Manager Joanne Zillman says.

The St. Charles Library can bring family members together to learn about themselves. The library’s genealogy collection includes census microfilm dating back to 1790, local newspapers to 1900, marriage records and Kane County cemetery guides, Salomone said.

The library recently acquired access to FamilySearch, a free genealogical website.

Patrons can now view over 350 million restricted records.

At times, parents will accompany younger children at library activities, with elementary school-age siblings along for the ride, with nothing programmed for them.

But there’s always away for anybody to kill time in a library, Geneva’s Krapf said.

“Just the other day, I saw three girls waiting for their mother who was taking care of a younger child, she says.

“They found some soft chairs and curled up with books they were reading this summer.

“They didn’t have a care.”

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a e k a M

Splash before summer endss pool at Geneva’s neighborhoodBy Alliso n Horne ummer may be winding down, but we’re

S not ready to give up on sunshine, green grass and popsicles quite yet.

Instead of commiserating about the impending chilly weather, get outside and enjoy the last bit of sunshine and warmth in Kane County! This August, the Geneva Park District is hosting a bunch of fun end-of-sumer events that are worth checking out.

“The Geneva Park District provides people of all ages a vast array of options to have fun and get outside!” says Traci Wicks, director of marketing and public relations for the Geneva Park District. “Whether it is splashing in the water at Mill Creek or Sunset Pool, spending time playing a round of mini-golf at Stone Creek Miniature Golf Course, getting a working out at one of the two BestLife Fitness locations, or enjoying the outdoors and our 69 miles of bike trails and over 48 parks and playgrounds; there is something for everyone.”

While all summer outdoor activities in Kane County are amazing, there’s something satisfying about taking a dip in a local pool while the sun beats down, and the fun at Geneva’s pools isn’t ending anytime soon.

Whether you head to Mill Creek Pool, for its low key far west side location and its separate kiddie pool, or to the district’s signature Sunset pool, complete with waterslides, climbing walls, sand volleyball and

28

more, you’re sure to have a cool time before that first school bell rings.  FLOAT NIGHT Having a unique float is all the rage these days, and float night at both the Sunset and Mill Creek Pools caters to that. All attendees are welcome to bring their own floats to show off to everyone else in attendance.

“This is a fun event and gives people a chance to get creative with the floats they bring into the pool during this designated night,” Wicks says.

Float nights are held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday night through August 15 at both the Sunset Pool and Mill Creek Pool. The only restrictions on floats are that there are no water wings allowed, and all life vests used must be Coast Guard approved.

Yes, that means your giant unicorn, ice cream cone and dragon floats are welcome.  FAMILY FUN NIGHT Family Fun Night at Mill Creek is exactly what it sounds like - a great time for everyone in the family.

August’s Family Fun Night will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 9 and in addition to the traditional pool fun, there is a great deal on food.

The deals at the concession stand include a $10 pizza, four soft drinks and four treats; four hot dogs

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 MILL CREEK POOL is a 25-meter, five-lane flatwater pool created for all ages, with a separate zero-depth play pool with a water mushroom, spray bubblers and an interactive water sprayground.

Concessions, a hospitality room, locker room and showers are available at Mill Creek, which is located at 39W125 S. Mill Creek Drive in Geneva.

General admission is $8 per day and $10 for non-residents.

can be substituted for the pizza as well.

“These nights allow families to have dinner and fun at the pool – a great way to spend a summer evening!” Wicks says.

Make sure you pack your appetite with your swimsuit.  FLICK N’ FLOAT Everyone enjoys kicking back and enjoying a classic film on a relaxing evening. But have you ever watched a movie while in a pool? We didn’t think so.

“Flick N’ Floats are fun for all families, participants can bring their own floats to the pool relax and watch the movie,” says Wicks.

This August, the final Flick N’ Float of the season, “Incredibles 2”, will kick off at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 at the Sunset Pool.

All attendees are invited to bring their own floats, relax, and enjoy this amazing film.  HOLLYWOOD NIGHT Want to feel like a star? All Flick N’ Float attendees can arrive

 GENEVA’S SUNSET POOL, which is located at 710 Western Avenue, has a newly added sprayground that includes a Swaying Palm™, Spin Flower™, Baby Long Legs™, Water Flower™, Mushroom Maze™, and many more. The traditional pool has an aquatic playground, climbing walls, water cannons, eight lap lanes, water slides, a zero-depth play area, sand volleyball and much more. General admission is $9 for residents and $14 for nonresidents daily.

two hours early to the film on Friday, Aug. 9 and walk the red carpet! Not only will everyone be able to walk the red carpet, but there will also be free games and popcorn.

Who will you be wearing?  NATIONAL NIGHT OUT National Night Out is a nationwide event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

To honor the nationwide celebration, both the Sunset and Mill Creek Pools are offering free admission from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Free swimming? Count us in.  TEEN/TWEEN NIGHT You don’t need to go to Hawaii to have an amazing luau!

August’s Tween/Teen Night is a festive luau for tweens and teenagers, and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, all attendees will receive a free lei to partake in a tropical-themed party. Fees are $5 per resident and $6 per non-resident.

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t u o Hanin g the t u o e Hid NATURE PLAY AREA PROVIDES ENDLESS UNSTRUCTURED FUN

By Sara Carlson | Photos Provided

O

n one side of the Hickory Knolls Hideout, 2-year-old Michael Elia is venturing across a long tree trunk laying on the ground, carefully putting one foot in front of the other until he makes it to the end. He jumps down and exclaims, “I did it!” to his mom Kathryn Elia, sitting nearby. “Mama, I did it!” he beams.

On the other side of the nature play area is Michael’s 9-year-old brother William, cooking up a “mystery stew” at the water table, stirring a concoction of mud, water, mulch, pebbles and other natural found objects with his two-foot stick.

“We love it here,” said Kathryn Elia of Batavia.

“It gives them so many opportunities for play, more so than a regular playground. There’s so much for both of them to manipulate and explore.”

Built in the spring of 2018, the Hickory Knolls nature play area, the Hideout, provides an opportunity for creative, unstructured play.

Its design, with natural elements such as boulders, tree stumps and trunks, plus loose objects including pots, pans, construction vehicles, twigs, branches and the like, prompt the imagination while allowing children to connect with nature.

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 CREATIVE, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE The idea for a nature play area originated when Hickory Knolls preschool staff noticed their students preferred the traditional playground in the nearby athletic fields, to exploring the natural areas.

“The Hideout is a less intimidating introduction to the natural world, while also providing all the benefits of unstructured play in nature,” said Pam Otto, Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services.

Compared to traditional playground equipment, nature play areas offer more of a creative, hands-on play experience. The options on a slide, for example, are to slide down or walk up. In a natural setting, on the other hand, children can stand, jump, walk and balance on a log and also explore the habitat living inside, Otto explained. “You can’t get that with molded plastic,” she said.

Now, the preschoolers look forward to exploring the Hideout each day. It’s open to the public all year-round, and enjoyed by families, summer campers and Scouts alike. It’s used during Hickory Knolls programs and events, and also is a perfect option for families looking for outdoor activities during Take A Child Outside week in September.

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Live Music Face Painting Balloon Artist Inflatables purchase For Adults Only Games & Crafts y Beer & Wine Gar den Keepsakes Character Meet & Greets In case of inclement weather, this event Scavenger Hunt & more! will be cancelled. play are significant,” she said.  INTENTIONALLY UNSTRUCTURED The possibilities for fun are endless at the Hideout, with many elements for children to create a world of their own. They can become construction workers, digging, dumping and driving vehicles through the sandy digging area lined with natural stones, or step back in time playing in the log cabin, drawing water from the pumps and pretending to cook over a fire.

Or they can become explorers ascending the highest peak climbing on the boulders, or tightrope walkers with arms out, walking the tree trunks. Whether there’s lava below, jagged cliffs or crashing waves, they are testing their balance, bravery and building their confidence, like 2-yearold Michael Elia.

No matter where their imagination takes them, it’s clear they are reaping the benefits of connecting with nature, and learning and appreciating what it has to offer.

This is ever so important today, stressed Nature Programs Supervisor Laura McCoy, as screen time has replaced a lot of outdoor time. “The benefits of nature coupled with the benefits of spontaneous, self-guided

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Additionally, time playing outdoors fosters a healthy conservation ethic for the future.

“Children don’t realize all the benefits yet; they’re just having fun. But it also lays the foundation for an appreciation of and responsibility for taking care of our natural world,” McCoy added.  EVER EVOLVING Just as nature is constantly changing, so is the Hideout. Over the past year, Eagle Scouts have added multiple elements including the digging area, the storage boxes, water table and most recently, the grassy mound in the center of the play area.

About six oak and Kentucky coffee trees also were planted last year and over time will provide shade to guests.

“As we look ahead, it’s definitely an area that will see more improvements, enhancements and growth,” Otto said.

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EVERYONE’S WELCOME FOR ELBURN DAYS

AUGUST 16-18 | ELBURN LIONS PARK

Elburn Days is back and better than ever, with a great lineup of entertainment, food, carnival crafts and more. Catch main stage entertainment including old favorites and new acts you’ll love.

The Main Stage is located at the south end of Lions Park, near the beer garden along Stetzer Ave.

 FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

Sammy & The Knights @ 5:30pm

Back Country Roads @ 8 pm

 SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 Adam Linder in the Beer Garden @ 12 pm Smokin Gunz @ 5 pm Modern Day Romeos @ 8 pm

 SUNDAY, AUGUST 18

Adam Linder in the Beer Garden @ 12 pm Bella Cain @ 5:30pm DJ Brad Beats will be playing throughout each day, starting at 3 p.m. and between bands on Saturday and Sunday.

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The Community Stage is filled with family-friendly entertainment all weekend long! Many of the events are open to participation for kids.

The Community Stage is located just east of the clubhouse, which is in the center of the park.

 CARNIVAL RIDES WILL BE OPERATING Friday: 5 p.m. to 11 pm Saturday: 1 p.m. to 11 pm Sunday: 1 p.m. to 8 pm Fill up with tasty food and drink including brats from Ream’s, Wiltse’s Sweet Corn, Lion Phil Gladd’s famous pulled pork sandwiches, root beer floats, ice cream bars, hot pretzels and more.

 BEER GARDEN

There is no charge to enter the beer garden or listen to the bands perform.

We sell several different options

of alcoholic beverages as well as offer non-alcoholic beverages at the Elburn Lions concession stand that is accessible inside the Beer Garden as well as from the main grounds.

The Elburn Lions Beef Stand is also accessible inside the Beer Garden so you do not have to leave the beer garden to purchase food. Selection of food that can be purchased includes: steak sandwiches, hamburgers, cheese burgers, pulled pork, chips, pop, and water.

Other great events during the weekend include the Elburn Days Parade 16, the annual mud volleyball tournament Aug 18, pie-baking contest Aug 18, and the ongoing festival craft fair.

For more information, visit elburnlions.com/elburn-days/

Friday: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Saturday: Noon – 11 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 9 p.m.

Tickets sales end a half hour before the beer garden closes. No refunds.

Tickets are good for all three days of the Elburn Days Festival.

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NEEDLE THINGS Yarn Shop and Handcrafted Boutique

 MUSIC MATTERS SUMMER FEST Friday, August 9 | 5 p.m. - 10:30p.m.

Saturday, August 10 2 p.m. - 10:30p.m.

Music Matters Summer Fest is held at the Peg Bond Center on the Batavia Riverwalk. A family friendly festival with great food/craft beer, kids zone, art zone and of course lots of great music.The cost is FREE with a suggested donation of $5+.

All proceeds go to Chip In Batavia this year!

Visit http://musicmattersschool. com/Festival  ANNUAL ALL-BREED AKC SHOW AND PUPPY B MATCH Saturday, August 24, 8:30 a.m. - 4 a.m.

Friday, August 23, 8:30 a.m. - 4 a.m.

Sunday, August 25, 8:30 a.m. - 4 a.m.

Kane County Fairgrounds 525 S Randall Rd. | St. Charles The Elgin Kennel Club has been a fixture in the Elgin area for more than two decades. The club has gone through many show sites, but the current one, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, is air conditioned; easily accessed, and has ample parking, for regular vehicles and motor homes for those traveling a long distance.

The show encompasses three days: Friday night is our B-match where you can practice with your dog in preparation of the Saturday and Sunday shows. There will be Junior Showmanship competition as well.

For more information please contact dianemkeller2031@gmail.com.

Saturday is our regular AKC show which features conformation competition, 4-6 month puppy competition, Junior Showmanship and Owner-Handled series competition. In addition, there are two specialties, The Chicago Bulldog Club and The Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Chicago. This is a great opportunity to view many fine specimens of your favorite breeds.

Sunday features conformation competition and the same specialty clubs from the day before.

Clothes & Accessories for American Girl Dolls or any 18” Doll

Large Variety of Yarn & Supplies Classes are scheduled & private lessons can be arranged, but complimentary advice is always available!

SM-CL1678206

426 S. Third St., Geneva • 630-232-9915

CITY AUTO SERVING THE FOX VALLEY

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• From Major Collision Damage to Minor Dent & Scratch Repair • Paintless Repair • Lifetime Warranty Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30–5:30pm Saturday 9:00–11:00am

TriCity Auto, Inc. EST 1972 110 N. Randall Rd. St. Charles tricityautoinc.com Rt. 64

630-584-5115

 BLOCK PARTY- TASTE OF BATAVIA & CLASSIC CAR CRUISE IN 2019 Sunday, September 1 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Peg Bond Center 151 N. Island Avenue | Batavia, IL Celebrate Labor Day weekend as Batavia MainStreet hosts a ‘Taste of Batavia’ sampler party complete with live music, activities and dancing.

The Block Party will take place on Sunday September 1 from 4 – 9p.m. on the N. River Street and the Riverwalk.

Kids Activities and play area – River City Church will host a bounce house, face painting, balloons, and a raffle.

Classic Car Show, Pie Bake Off, hula hooping and more on River Street!

Walk across the pedestrian bridge, or take a stroll across north Wilson St. and view the Classic Car Show that will line the street connecting N. River St. to the Riverwalk.

WE FOLLOW THROUGH TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE COVERED Call today and see how much you can save!

847.640.0402 Harry Stout

Your Local Agent 11 S 2ND AVE STE 3 ST CHARLES, IL 60174 HSTOUT@FARMERSAGENT.COM https://agents.farmers.com/hstout

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT AUGUST 2019

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*

Randall Rd.

CHECK OUT THESE GREAT LOCAL EVENTS IN AND AROUND THE TRI-CITIES

Knit Hats & Gloves | Jewelry | Pottery | Cards Field Artwork & Antiques from Africa Toys | Tutus

TRI

LOOKING FOR MORE?

Discover Our Many Handcrafted Specialties

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STAYING IN THE GAME

BEYOND BRUISES YOUR CHILD MAY BE FEARLESS ON THE FIELD, WEARING GRASS STAINS LIKE BADGES OF HONOR, BUT WHEN ARE SPORTS INJURIES MORE THAN SOMETHING THEY CAN JUST “WALK OFF?”

BY BRIAN BABKA, MD Sports medicine, Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics

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BEYOND BRUISES

Youth sports injuries typically occur from overuse or from a traumatic event, like a fall.

Common injuries include: • Contusions and abrasions • Sprains and strains • Fractures • Concussions • Growth plate injuries or stress · Little League elbow: stress on the growth plate of the elbow from repetitive throwing · Inflammation of the growth plates in the hips from overuse · Osgood Schlatter: knee pain due to stress in the growth plate of the knee, commonly seen with running and jumping sports · Sever’s disease: inflammation of the

growth plate in the heel from excessive running and jumping · Gymnast wrist: inflammation of the growth plate at the end of the forearm bone

IS THE RISK OF INJURY HIGHER FOR YOUTH ATHLETES?

Youth and adolescent athletes have open growth plates, which are at risk of injury, but their overall risk is not necessarily higher than young adult or adult athletes. Higher injury rates can be attributed to multiple factors specific to children: • They have an increased risk of falls, as sense of balance is still developing.

• Their reaction times may be slower.

• They tend to be more physically active and spend more time engaging in physical play than adults.

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WHEN SHOULD YOU TAKE YOUR CHILD TO SEE A PHYSICIAN?

If your child is particularly active, bumps, bruises and fatigue may come and go periodically. Keep an eye out for self-limiting behavior or lack of use to determine if you need to take your child to the physician.

Here are signs that your child has a more serious injury that requires medical care: • Pain that’s constant or that wakes your child up from sleep • Swelling • Cramping or tingling • Tenderness • Decreased range of motion • Avoiding use of a body part during free play • Weakness • Decreased athletic performance

HOW IS RECOVERY DIFFERENT FOR YOUNGER ATHLETES?

Children are not “little adults;” they have different anatomy and need individualized treatment plans for any sports-related injury.

Typically, kids should not stop activity all together unless a particular injury requires it. Active rehabilitation with modified or substituted activities is usually beneficial.

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD ATHLETE PREVENT INJURY?

Ensure that your child is a well-rounded athlete by diversifying their physical activities. The general rule for overall success in sports is starting your child in a chosen sport early, but letting them specialize in it later. Keep the perspective that your child is not a professional athlete.

Early sport specialization — having your child play one sport yearround — can lead to: • Overuse injuries • Underdevelopment of muscle groups • Decreased overall fitness • Social isolation • Overdependence on the sport • Physical and psychological burnout While sports can lead to injury, they are beneficial to your child’s overall development. Listen to and observe your child to help them avoid injury, and to know when to seek medical care so they don’t have to sit on the sidelines for long.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. BABKA, PLEASE VISIT NM.ORG/ORTHO OR CALL 630.225.2663.

T H E PA AT H T O B E T T E R O RTH OPA E DI C CAR E STA RTS HE R E .

Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics offers specialized care, close to where you live and work. Whether you need care for common injuries or complex issues, we offer a complete range of orthopaedic care including nonsurgical and surgical treatment options. From back pain to hand conditions to joint replacement, our nationally ranked orthopaedics program* combines innovation and expertise to get you back on the path to living a better life. To schedule an appointment, call 630.938.6100 or visit rmg.nm.org/orthopaedics

*Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital al ranke ranked d #32 #32 in Adu Adult Orthopaedic Hospi ospitals ta by 2018-19 9 U.S. News & Wor World ld Rep Report ortt, 2018-1 SM-CL1679696

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EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT! With Dr. Tarun Mullick

This month, I ventured downtown for the trendy vibe and atmosphere at RPM Italian. Now, who doesn’t like a little Italian? But this “hi-fi” restaurant is all about wearing your finest and getting an upscale version of Italian.

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First, I delved into the provolone stuffed peppers, which are these ruby jewel-shaped and colored peppers stuffed with salty provolone with a little drizzle of olive oil.

What a healthy appetizer to get you started as you look around and take in some of that upscale feel.

The shredded brussel sprout salad caught my eye for the next dish. It is almost a slaw, brussel sprouts with avocado and beautiful green goddess-like dressing that takes it to the top. In every bite, you get that crunch, tang, and satisfaction coupled with the smooth, creamy avocado to round it out.

The beauty here, is that you have stayed true to your healthy diet in these courses as the carbs are low and the flavors to the top.

To finish, I chose the prime beef meatballs.

They arrived as three large ones served with

homemade gravy (tomato based). It had a sweet flavor, blended with the aroma of the oregano and basil. And, more so, it gives you the protein you need to make a healthy meal, without even going overboard on the price. As you eat healthy, you feel like you enjoyed the best in food and in nightlife in one experience. What’s not to like?

 Dr. Tarun Mullick is a specialist trained at Johns Hopkins and Cleveland Clinic in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy based in Geneva. Connect with him at www.mullickmd. com or by phone at 630-232-2025.

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Ask the doctor Our practice focus is to care for patients to help them and tailor their care individually with current therapies. We receive a lot of questions from patients, friends, and even just those we know casually on many healthcare topics of the day. Here are some common questions we are asked:

Q: Are skin exams important?

I try to stay out of the sun now but used to tan a lot.

A: Skin exams are just as

important as breast self-exams and colonoscopies for women. For men, they are as important as prostate screening and colonoscopies. The earlier detection of a skin lesion that is different in shape, size, color, or irregular borders permits early removal and treatment.

Q: Crohn’s therapies are

important for me as my disease is troubled by repeat use of steroids. What do you suggest?

A:

Yes usage of steroids multiple times can result in bone mineral loss, cataracts, weight gain, irritability and other effects. In fact, taking supplemental calcium is helpful in those scenarios to replete the calcium. That being said they are useful to calm a flare. Long term there are options, which include biologics and now pill form anti inflammatory cascade medications.

Please present for evaluation with gastroenterology.

Q: Colon cancer screening is important for men? But what about women?

A: Colon cancer screening

is for both men and women. It is preventable, beatable and treatable. Screening starts at 45 unless you have symptoms prior at whatever age or family history of polyps or cancer. Get screened.

Q: Is my diarrhea or bloating serious, or is just in my head?

A:

It’s a real symptom, or symptoms. Thus, it needs to be addressed. If testing with endoscopy for celiac and workup for Crohn’s and other diseases are unrevealing, then functional causes exist, which include food allergies, food intolerances, or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). If you

have symptoms, then please go to gastroenterology for a workup as treatments exist.

Q: I’ve heard it said that the

louder the belch, the better the meal. It’s even considered a compliment in some countries.

But, seriously, is belching a good thing, or a problem?

A: Belching can sometimes be

funny, given the circumstances.

But in all seriousness, it represents the body’s need to remove gas or air to relieve some pressure in the stomach, kind of like a teapot releasing steam when the water boils. Ultimately, it may be a sign of momentary overeating, or of intake of foods producing gas like roughage more difficult to digest, like sodas or carbonated beverages, or large quantities of any kind of food. Also, there can be some slippage of the stomach above the diaphragm muscle that creates a hiatal hernia. If it continues, an endoscopy would be helpful to determine the cause.

Q: Getting tests done like

colonoscopy, blood tests or CT scans can be covered, but still remain really expensive. My insurance premiums worry me, is there anything I can do?

A: You aren’t wrong, they can

be very expensive. But the cost differential between hospitals facility fees and endocenters, surgical centers or imaging centers is often several thousands of dollars. Deductibleshop, at www. deductibleshop.com is a platform that enables you to shop your deductible to save in your medical, auto, home, and even vet (pet) costs. As it grows there will be more users that will want to put their information to enable the consumer to better shop their deductible. If you need any help, please call my office at 630-232-2025 and we will help you navigate.

WWW.DEDUCTIBLESHOP.COM IT'S YOUR DEDUCTIBLE! Why pay thousands more for care, tests, repairs MEDICAL - AUTO - HOME - VET (PETS)

LOSE WEIGHT NOW! Connie, Batavia -- “Lost 44 lbs, with Dr. Mullick’s recommended system, and it stayed off.”* Jamie, Geneva -- “Lost 12 pound in my FIRST MONTH!! It really works.

Call for appointment 630-232-2025

Pay LESS for your colonoscopy or endoscopy.

Facility Fees are significantly lower. Cost of health care is going up. Pay less for your test. We are JCAHO certified.

Met your Deductible?? Get in before year end. Save on your deductible. Pay LESS. Heartburn, Diarrhea, Constipation, Liver Disease, Pancreatitis, Abdominal Pain, Colitis, Crohns/ Ulcerative Colitis, Gallbladder, Rectal Bleeding We have quality doctors and team on staff to serve you well. Its our honor to take care of you.

AMERICAN COLONOSCOPY AND ENDOSCOPY CENTER

2631 Williamsburg Ave 301. Geneva, IL. Call now for your appointment. 630-232-2025

IF YOU DO BREAST CANCER SCREENING, GET COLON CANCER SCREENING. It affects men and women BOTH and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths.

It is VERY important to get this screening done - colon cancer is beatable and treatable if caught early enough through colon screening.

HEARTBURN PATIENTS PLEASE COME TO GET EVALUATED FOR PRECANCEROUS BARRETT’S; ESOPHAGEAL CANCER HAS INCREASED IN THE PAST 4 DECADES. FREE BOTTLE OF A USANA VITAMIN WITH COMPLETED COLONOSCOPY FOR NEW CLIENTS* *Some restrictions may apply. Available while supply lasts.

Dear Dr. Mullick, My family never had polyps or cancer. Do I really need a colonoscopy? Jane

Dear Jane: Great question. Colon cancer can affect anyone, regardless of family history. Everyone over age 45 should get a colonoscopy. If you have family history you should start at age 40 or 10 to 15 years before the youngest relative with a problem. Screening helps reduce risk.

Dr. Mullick, I’ve got bloating and gas. Sometimes I have diarrhea or nausea after I eat. Could I have food allergies?

My doctor said it’s IBS (irritable bowel). Kristen

Dear Kristen: Yes, food intolerances to lactose, sucrose and fructose are common, so you may need to avoid those. We have tests in the office for that. The symptoms of IBS and food allergies are often similar, so testing for food allergies is reasonable. We can test for that, too. We have helped many patients diagnosed with food allergies, so it’s not all IBS.

SAVE YOUR LIFE! TELLYOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Get colon cancer screening. Beatable, Treatable, Preventable in most situations.

S. from Geneva. “I am glad I had my colonoscopy done at the American Colonoscopy and Endoscopy center. I had some polyps removed and that will likely prevent a cancer. The facility was wonderful and it saved me money.”

LET’S BEAT IT! 630-232-2025.

BACK PAIN. CARPAL TUNNEL. WRIST PAIN. PAIN IN FOOT. PAIN IN LIMBS

PERIPHERAL NERVE TEST Certified center & trained team.

Call now for your clinic appointment and test date. 630-232-2025.

PPO, Medicare, and Cash payment accepted

*Results may not be typical.

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Village Squire

480 RANDALL ROAD | SOUTH ELGIN | 847-931-0400 125 WASHINGTON ST. | WEST DUNDEE | 847-428-4483 WWW.VILLAGESQUIRE.COM Village Squire Restaurants have been a part of the Fox Valley since 1974, family owned and operated. The Squire is an English pub style casual dining restaurant featuring live music Wednesdays through Sundays and a cozy atmosphere with a great outdoor patio featuring two fireplaces for enjoyment in the warm weather months.

Some of their specialties include BBQ babyback ribs that fall off the bone, charbroiled steaks, juicy prime rib and a wide variety of gourmet burgers, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, pizzas, pasta and fresh fish. Famous for their house drinks, Mai Tais and Rum Barrels are made in house and are an all time favorite.

For a casual drink or dinner, Village Squire is a great place to be!

Wildwood Restaurant

477 S. THIRD ST. | GENEVA | 630-377-8325 WWW.WILDWOODSTEAK.COM

Enjoy outdoor dining this summer in our Dodson Place courtyard patio with waterscape or on our Third St. lounge patio. Featuring oak-grilled steaks and chops, fresh fish and seasonal specials paired with the Fox Valley’s most awarded wine list!

Stockholms

306 W. STATE ST. | GENEVA | (630) 208-7070 STOCKHOLMSBREWPUB.COM Out back and tucked in a nook with the neighboring building, protected by a high fence, and covered with a shade sail, Stockholm’s patio is a little intimate dining gem.

Voted the western suburbs best neighborhood tavern by the readers of both the Kane County Chronicle and West Suburban Living Magazine. Stockholm’s is known for their expansive menu of freshly prepared meals using only the highest quality ingredients. You can also enjoy their handcrafted beers, brewed in an old world tradition, cask-conditioned and unfiltered, from the Tri-City’s oldest brewery.

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Chianti’s

201 S. THIRD ST., GENEVA 630-232-0212 WWW.CHIANTISGENEVA.COM Enjoy the ambiance of a traditional, family-owned Italian restaurant when dining at Chianti’s Ristorante. Relax with a glass of wine or a chilled, local draft beer and classic Italian appetizers such as caprese salad, bruschetta, or garlic bread on our scenic patio situated on Geneva’s 3rd street. Guests can indulge in fan favorite entrees such as Cajun Chicken Tortellini, Garlic Crab pasta, or The Godfather Italian Beef sandwich. Finish the meal with a decadent chocolate turtle cake or a classic cannoli. Summer is here and there is no better time to be at Chianti’s patio!

Salsa Verde

SALSAVERDERESTAURANT.COM ST. CHARLES LOCATION | 1850 LINCOLN HWY. | 630-444-0673 BATAVIA LOCATION | 107 N. BATAVIA AVE. | 630-425-3521 Salsa Verde redefines the concept of modern, fast-casual Mexican food by offering dishes prepared from authentic recipes in a friendly and vibrant environment. Tamales, tortas ahogadas and traditional street tacos are among the specialties diners love to order. No reservations needed. Dine in and try Salsa Verde’s one-of-a-kind salsa bar, which features different salsas and garnishes prepared fresh daily. In a rush?

The restaurant also has a drive-thru for those on the go. Salsa Verde also offers catering, where clients do the planning and Salsa Verde takes care of the cooking. For updates and promotions on popular catering packages, visit the website.

Mill Race Cyclery 11 E. STATE ST. | GENEVA 630-232-2833 | WWW.MILLRACE.COM

The Mill Race Café, conveniently located along the Fox River Bike Trail, next to the Geneva dam; is a natural stop before a morning walk, during a bike ride, or after a run. The café offers a complete coffee/espresso bar, along with smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and proudly features offerings from local businesses such as Two Brothers coffee & tea, Grahams ice cream, and pastries from Cocoa Bean.

After relaxing on the patio (with free Wi-Fi), visit Mill Race Cyclery to see what is new on two wheels. Rent a bicycle, kayak or stand-up paddleboard to make the summer memorable.

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TOM’S COOKBOOK LIBRARY:

‘Where Cooking Begins’ speaks to home cooks

By TOM WITOM

C

arla Lalli Music’s culinary dossier includes nearly a decade working in a restaurant kitchen making beautiful and special dishes that – in her own words – “no sane person would ever prepare at home.”

Now food director at Bon Appetit magazine, Music has had her first cookbook published, one that’s squarely aimed at the current generation of home cooks.

Where Cooking Begins: Uncomplicated Recipes to Make You a Great Cook (Clarkson Potter) features streamlined recipes inspired by the dishes she prepares at home for her family and friends. She focuses on essential no-fail cooking methods – saute, pan-roast, steam, boil and simmer, confit and slow-roast – and offers readers suggestions for swaps and substitutions.

Various topics include such titles as

PASTA E FAGIOLE (Four generous servings) • 8 ounces medium

• • • •

• •

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white beans, such as cannellini, soaked overnight if possible Kosher salt 6 garlic cloves 4 carrots, scrubbed, roughly chopped 1 leek (white and pale-green parts only), halved, rinsed and roughly chopped 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving Freshly ground pepper

• 1 smoked ham hock • 1 (15-ounce) can whole, • • • • •

peeled tomatoes 1 bunch kale, leaves stripped off stems 1 or 2 Parmigiano rinds (optional) 2 bay leaves 8 ounces small pasta, such as ditalini Parmigiano, crusty bread and crushed red pepper, for serving

“The Case for Small-Batch Cooking” and “A New Way to Shop” to “The Zoned-Out Kitchen,” among others.

A good example of the flexible dishes in Music’s repertory is her mother’s cherished recipe for Pasta e Fagiole (below).

 Journalist Tom Witom, who lives in Elgin, has written extensively for years about food and the food industry. Contact him at editorial@ kcchronicle.com.

If you haven’t soaked the beans, do a power soak: Put beans in a large pot, cover with water by 1 inch and bring to a boil over heat.

As soon as water comes to a boil, stir in a palmful of salt, cover pot and let beans sit for 1 hour.

In a food processor, combine garlic, carrots and leeks and pulse until vegetables are finely chopped.

In a soup pot or Dutch oven, heat 1/3 cup olive oil over medium and add the chopped vegetables. Season generously with salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until vegetables start to sweat out some of their liquid, 3 to 5 minutes. The goal at this stage is to slow-cook the sofrito until the vegetables are very soft but do not take on any color. This gives the dish depth. Cover pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring every 5 minutes or so, until sofrito is softened and juicy, about 15 minutes. Reduce heat if mixture starts to brown. Add ham hock and cook uncovered, stirring and scraping surface of pot every 5

minutes, until sofrito is starting to brown in places and has lost half its volume, about 10 minutes more.

Add and their soaking liquid, tomatoes and kale and season again with salt and pepper.

Bring to a boil, then add Parm rinds (if using) and bay leaves and reduce heat to a very gentle simmer. Cook soup with lid askew until beans are very tender, 1 to 5 hours, depending on the size and age of the beans. Add water (or stock, if you have it) as necessary to keep beans submerged by at least 1 inch.

In a pot of well-salted boiling water, add pasta and set a timer for 2 to 5 minutes less than package instructions (pasta should be very al dente). Drain pasta and add to soup, then taste and adjust seasoning. (Do not try to skip a step by cooking the pasta in the soup. The noodles will absorb all the available liquid and the liquid will be thick and gummy). Serve with Parmigiano for grating over, bread for dunking, olive oil for drizzling and crushed red pepper.

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Are you looking for ways to expand or streamline your

business?

we are here to meet your needs.

Local bank, Local lenders.

St. Charles 10 Illinois Street | (630) 549-7065 | www.sterbank.com

Your Future Is with Us! SM-CL1679686

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Find Meaningful Work With Seniors In Your Community!

Part-Time Paid Positions OPEN with Seniors Helping Seniors Fox Valley

A

s our aging population continues to grow, more and more families are turning to in-home care services for the non-medical needs of seniors. Seniors Helping Seniors is a nationwide franchise for in-home care founded on the unique philosophy that seniors connect best with other seniors because of their understanding and compassion gained from the wisdom of life experience. Seniors Helping Seniors of Fox Valley is owned by St. Charles native and retired U. S. Navy Captain, Caroline (Carlson) Olinger.

Caroline (Carlson) Olinger and her husband Scott

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In order to meet the needs of seniors and their families, Seniors Helping Seniors is looking for loving, flexible and patient men and women (~40+) to help serve our clients as Providers. Required qualification for Providers are good health, valid driver license/current insurance, available to work 12-20 hrs./week, cell phone and computer access. Many of our clients, known as Receivers, live in their own home but can no longer do daily routines independently, such

as laundry, errands, and meal preparation.

Providers help with those daily tasks, and more. In their time spent together, Providers and Receivers develop deep relationships of trust and care which add a mutually rewarding dimension.

Perhaps you would like to become a part of a senior’s life and be of service to your community. Do you find purpose and meaning in being a listening companion and helping others in need? Do you like to keep active and find satisfaction in the completion of tasks? Your abilities and talents can make a difference in the daily lives of seniors. Our Providers are retired teachers, homemakers, chaplains, business managers, nurses, and include various other backgrounds.

From our Providers about their experience working for Seniors Helping Seniors of Fox Valley: “Caring for people who have lived the same life as we have gives us a lot in common.

It’s a great concept and I would recommend

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“Getting to know receivers and their families is an added benefit to the rewards of helping them stay in their homes and function as independently as possible.”

it to anyone who’s looking for meaningful part time work and a few extra dollars.” “I like doing work that has the potential to make a difference in someone’s life. It is a rewarding and community service opportunity for us. The best part is interacting with Receivers.”

“It is a wonderful thing to give back and help other seniors during difficult times. It may be someone who just needs a little help for a short while or for a more long term situation.”

“Seniors Helping Seniors has been

such a positive experience for me over the past nine years. The seniors we care for have had such full lives and I always learn something from them…”

If you meet the basic requirements and have a heart for helping others, please call Seniors Helping Seniors of Fox Valley at (630) 937-4246 or go to our website, https:// seniorcarefoxvalley. com and fill out an on-line application via the “Interested in Becoming a Caregiver” tab. We look forward to hearing from you!

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esse rts 306 W State Street Downtown Geneva 630-208-7070 www.stockholmsbrewpub.com

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SENIORS HELPING SENIORS OF FOX VALLEY

Outdoor Patio Monthly Food Specials Monthly Beer Dinners Seasonal Brews $3.50 Daily Handcrafted Beer Specials &.# )/"'%.4- )00+ (%%. 3*($ 5,!12

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Reading ‘ The Tea Leaves’

What is the difference between Leading Economic Indicators and Lagging Economic Indicators? Leading indicators are predictive in nature but can be a bit squishy as to their reliability. Lagging indicators are the result of economic activity, are more reliable datapoints, and function as a look in your rear-view mirror as confirmation of where you have been.

A

ugust is a great month to find a hammock on a hot, lazy summer afternoon and reflect on life while enjoying a large pitcher of iced tea. If you are taking the opportunity to do this, your thoughts may wander into territory where you are trying to forecast what is going to happen to the economy and the markets. As you are forming your opinion and seeking to support your theory with details, now may be a good time to recall some of your Economics 101 definitions of leading and lagging economic indicators.

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To further put these into perspective, let’s say you have a friend who has decided to “get into shape” and you see them at your health club. The types of exercises they are doing as well as the number of sets of exercises they are doing for each of these could be considered leading indicators. If your friend seems to be on a disciplined regimen and appears to really be working hard you might expect that they would soon see solid results. After several months they are measured and weighed at your health club and there is virtually no change. These components are lagging indicators and hold a hard, cold truth.

In an effort to understand what has happened, you compliment your friend on consistently coming to the gym and tell them not to get discouraged.

Your friend thanks you and shares that they knew their metabolism definitely had picked up over the past few months as they seemed constantly hungry and were eating more pizza, French fries, and drinking more malts than they had ever consumed before. You are reminded that leading indicators are directional and may not tell the whole story.

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 WHAT ARE A FEW ECONOMIC INDICATORS I SHOULD WATCH? Our economy is diverse and complex and as a result the number of economic indicators that you could attempt to track can be overwhelming. Economists typically categorize indicators as leading, lagging, or coincident. We’ve already defined leading and lagging indicators. Coincident indicators are analyzed and used as they occur.

Your speedometer on your car could be considered a coincident indicator as it tells you your exact speed at that moment. From an investor’s perspective, here are a few basic indicators that are worth paying attention to: 

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): GDP is the total market value of all the finished goods and services produced in a specific time and is a coincident indicator. It is one of the core measurements of economic health.



Consumer Sentiment: Consumer spending is responsible for over 70% of our nation’s economy and the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) is one of the primary measurements of this. Consider this a leading indicator.



Inflation: Probably the best-known measure of inflation is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Keeping inflation growing steadily but not too fast or too slow is one of the core goals of the Fed. Consider this a lagging indicator.



Employment: The labor market is an important indicator of the health of our economy with the unemployment rate being one of the most reliable lagging indicators.



Fixed Income Yields: Bond yields are considered leading indicators of the stock market. It’s a good idea to pay attention to the variance between short-term, mid-term, and long maturity fixed income instruments which is known as the yield curve. Normally the longer the maturity, the higher the interest rate. When this curve bends the other way, or inverts, it is often signaling an upcoming economic recession.

When I was a boy growing up on the family farm, I used to love to reference the Farmer’s Almanac in hopes of being able to predict the weather. “With a publishing history dating back to 1818, how could they be wrong?”, I used to think. Trying to predict the economy and the financial markets may seem just as difficult as trying to forecast the weather. Hopefully you’ll find the tools referenced above to be helpful in your quest!

File# 2642837.1

 Tom McCartney is the Founding Principal of My Advisor & Planner and a registered representative and investment advisory representative with M Securities. Investments in securities involve risks, including the possible loss of principal. My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated. McCartney and his team can be reached at info@ mapyourfuture.net or 630-457-4068.

Photo by Indre Cantero

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc. (Member FINRA/SIPC).

My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated.

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Plants bring people together I

am fortunate to meet hundreds of gardeners each year and each one has a fascinating story about how they stumbled into gardening. Even better is the story that plants tell of a gardener’s experiences – stories that need to be shared. Irises passed down from grandma that deserve a front row space in the perennial garden. Peonies moved from house to house, their name and origins fuzzy but probably from the 90-year-old neighbor many years before. A tree that was planted as a memorial to a dear family member. Plants with names that are shared with special humans in your life. ‘David’ Phlox, ‘Carl’ Sedum, ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea….you could grow an entire garden of plants just named after people ….and it’s not at all weird! It’s only weird if you refer to them on a first name basis and your audience doesn’t know that ‘Evelyn’ is a rose and not your elderly aunt.

I think plants are a great way to meet people.

You may talk over the border hedge that you are trimming with a new neighbor that has just moved in. Or see the same young woman at the garden center that helped you pick out your favorite hydrangea (make sure you stop to tell her how much you love it and her suggestion was spot on!). Or share some of your tomato harvest with someone that has no room for a garden. I

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have even made some wonderful friends who started out as clients. Plant people can be hard to find and when you find someone who shares your passion, your relationship gets close quickly. Soon you’re texting each other pictures of amazing weirdo plants, bragging of your latest garden center shopping haul, or sipping champagne in the garden lamenting about thistles and toddlers (which are essentially the same thing).

It’s a great thing and those relationships are some of the best in my life. Plants have even gotten me in trouble as my husband has put a moratorium on new trees for the yard (he no longer likes to dig 3’ deep holes in 90-degree heat for some reason…who knew?).

So, go forth and find a fellow plant geek. Here’s some ways to find your gardening tribe: We are fortunate that some amazing Garden Clubs exist in the Fox Valley.

This is a great way to meet others that love to garden, share in horticulture philanthropy, and as a bonus, you usually get to see private gardens that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Gardeners of all walks of life are kind and caring and always willing to lend a hand or share a story.

Have a Garden Party and show off your hard work! People always appreciate a garden – no matter the size. (And

real plant people don’t even notice weeds so no need to worry about that…) Remember what I said about champagne and a garden.

Hang out at the Garden Center enough that you are now on a first name basis.

There is NOTHING wrong with visiting often. What better way to relax and learn about plants than to wander row after row of blooming goodies?

We have many easily recognizable customers and we love that they visit us often. They have become family to us. Questions are welcome and encouraged!

Let us grow them into the garden of your dreams.

Plant swaps – whether it be a Facebook group or a neighborhood plant sale, this is a great way to meet other garden geeks. Keep in mind that one man’s plant is another man’s weed (I’m looking at you Bishop’s Weed…no one likes you no matter how “easy to grow” you are…). Make sure you ask your plant “dealer” if your new plant has a story!

Stop and tell a neighbor that you admire their garden. Gardeners are a modest sort but if you extend a compliment on the blooming goodies in their front yard, you will be regaled with the tale of the how they made it to the house. And probably be sent home with a fresh cut bouquet or even better, a division for your own yard.

Meagan Provencher is the Sr. Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery & Garden Center. She can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@ wasconursery.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

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Get

” e r o m ’ “s outdoor fun

before summer is gone!

N

ow that summer is nearly done, for many, it seems opportunities to savor those sun-drenched days and starry nights are all too limited. Events and activities are already stacking up on the calendar, and it’s almost as if the season is over before it began.

It’s not just you who’s feeling the summer squeeze.

Four in five Americans (83%) agree summer passes by too quickly, according to a new survey commissioned by outdoor retailer L.L. Bean, and more than half of them feel they don’t have time to truly enjoy it.

Before you know it, summer will be over. Make it your mission to get the most of those precious summer days by spending more time outside with your friends and family. With the help of these tips, you’ll be well on your way to getting “s’more” out of summer!  DISCOVER A NEW PARK There are more than 400 national parks, monuments and recreation areas waiting to be explored. You might be surprised you have plenty of options to choose from close to home. To discover your next adventure, use the National Park Foundation’s Find Your Park online tool.

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 GO CAMPING Few summer experiences can stir warm childhood memories quite like spending the night under the stars. Arranging a camping trip is easier than you might think. Book a site online at your favorite park.

If your summer schedule doesn’t allow a weekend getaway, just pitch a tent in the backyard.

Summer is the time to take up a new outdoor activity, whether it’s fly-fishing, archery or hiking.

To make it easy, try L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Program, which offers demonstrations, clinics and hands-on courses for all levels for a variety of outdoor activities. Many of them are even free!

Sign up at www.LLBean.com/discovery.

 MAKE A S’MORE You can never go wrong with this gooey campfire dessert. For a fun twist, opt for variations of the classic chocolate bar. Peanut butter, coconut and caramel add delicious new flavors and textures. Tip: To avoid lighting it on fire, roast the marshmallow over the embers.

Continue to build our summer fun list with inspiration and tips from L.L. Bean’s S’more Out of Summer Guide, now available online a www.

SmoreOutofSummer.com. Or, Ask Alexa - just say, “S’more summer tips,” and your Amazon device will have fun suggestions for getting the whole family outside.

 HOST THE GAMES Bring that element of playfulness to the backyard cookout and set up plenty of yard games, like bocce, beanbag toss and croquet. Or, as the sun goes down, end the gathering on a fun note with an exciting game of flashlight tag.

(BPT)

 DINE AL FRESCO Food tastes better when it’s eaten outdoors. Take the meal outside when you can, whether that means sipping your morning coffee while listening to the birds, taking your lunch break in the park, or having the family’s evening meals on the patio.

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The Glass-Half-Full Guy:

TRAIL BLAZER

TRAVERSING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE STORY AND PHOTO BY PETER STADALSKY

EDITOR’S NOTE Last month, our travel writer and outdoor enthusiast Pete Stadalsky told of plans to traverse the Continental Divide by mountain bike, from Banff, Canada to Mexico.

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is the world’s longest off-road cycling route, over old railroad routes, dirt roads, marshes, rivers and of course, snow covered peaks. The entire trip is estimated to take 55 days, with completion on our about August 15.

Check his progress at http://trackleaders.com/ dividef.php Pete recently checked in with us from the trail, and we thought we’d share some of this remarkable journey with you.

u Peter Stadalsky is an Aurora resident and adventurer. He shares his travel experiences with a “glass-half-full” view of the world.

Top Left: My riding Partner (Nathan Poplawski) and I departing on day 1 of 60 from Banff, Canada. We would ride into the Canadian Rockies, on our way to our first Continental Divide crossing over Elk Pass.

Top Right: Everything I will need to live for the next 2 months is strapped to this bike.

Bottom Left: Wide open fields of Montana.

Bottom Right: Nathan crashed on day 3 going over Elk Pass. Luckily an EMT was in the backcountry and helped us get out. Later Nathan had to get picked up and go home.

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TRAVEL AUGUST 2019

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