KC Magazine January 2021

¢ THE FOOD & WINE ISSUE

AWESOME ADDITIONS

OCTOBER 2019

APRIL 2016

PAGE 10

HOIST A STEIN AT BATAVIA OKTOBERFEST!

SPECIAL SECTION

WHAT'S SELLING

Best spots f b ody marys

SEPTEMBER 2017

INSIDE:

FIT

TO EXTEND YOUR SPACE

RISE AND DINE

PAGE 48

IN THE TRI-CITIES PAGE 14

INGENUITY BUILDS UNEXPECTED HOME DESIGNS

INDIE FOLK TALK

ISSUE

PAGE 8

BATAVIA PARK DISTRICT MARKS 50 YEARS

PLUS+

SIP P AND S VOR R STIVAL

WITH ‘AMERICAN IDOL’S’ KAYLA MICKELSEN

PAGE 30

FASHION’S GONE WILD WITH BOLD PRINTS AND FAB FALL COLOR | PAGE 38

SEVEN

Find Something That Sparkles

HEAVENLY SPOTS

JANUARY 2021

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JULY 2013

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April 2013

PAGE 16

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Open The Doors To Learn About Geneva’s Past At The Herrington Inn And Spa

BRIGHTEN UP: Check Out The Latest Spring Makeup pg 52

GOLF GUIDE: Get In The Swing Of Spring pg 31

HOME ON WHEELS: Find Local RV Luxury pg 16

TRAVEL EDITION

& AE EDITION THEATER

‘The Wizard of Oz’ PAGE 8

NE 2016

•

ART

MAY 2018

AUGUST 2015

St. Charles Fine Art Show

SPECIAL SECTION:

The

PAGE 30

Literary ARTS

•

MUSIC

Summer concert guide PAGE 28

THE

T RT AR

of INNOVATION Look back on the magazine’s first decade of growing & sharing PAUL LENCIONI BRINGS

BLUE GOOSE INTO 21ST CENTURY

with a tree-mendous destination PAGE 16

MAKEUP ARTIST BRINGS ICONIC CHARACTERS TO LIFE

CELEBRATE SUM MMER AT THE KANE COUNTY FAIR PAGE 54

page 7

Broadway BEAUTY

ESCAPE THE ORDINARY

Food & irTIOitNs SpEDI

SEPTEMBER 2020

THE SCOOP ON MATCHA AND KOMBUCHA PAGE 18

TAKE IN THE FOX RIVER AT ALTER BREWING PAGE 14

Burgers new

TRAVEL THE GLOBE TO THAILAND, JAPAN, AFRICA, IRELAND | PAGE 8

YEARS

on the block

ENT! DONNIE WAHLBERG OPENS POP STAR & ST. CHARLES RESID

DOUBLE DIGITS

Get to know these Tri-Cities 10-year-olds

IN VOGUE

Q&A with David Hunt, owner of Town House Books

Page 30

Page 28

BATAVIA PARK DISTRICT MARKS 50 YEARS

PLUS+

PAGE 30

FASHION’S GONE WILD WITH BOLD PRINTS AND FAB FALL COLOR | PAGE 38

KCMAG_DUMMY NEW .indd 1

DREAM JOB

Explore the evolution of style, from jeans to athleisure

IS

Page 12

WAHLBURGERS | PAGE 8

FOLK TALK

WITH ‘AMERICAN IDOL’S’ KAYLA MICKELSEN

SIP AND SAVOR AT FESTIVAL OF THE VINE PAGE 50

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Editor's

NOTE Happy New Year!

A new year feels like a time to reflect on what’s passed and look forward to a new season — perhaps no more so than this year. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sad about leaving 2020 in the rearview mirror.

Birthday parades were fun, but I’m hoping to swap them for the more traditional cake and presents kind of party sometime this year. Who’s with me?

inspiration for the “Did you know?” story (P. 8) came from learning some St. Charles fun facts while volunteering at Mt. St. Mary Park — I think you’ll find that you learn something from Diane’s story, too. We love hearing from readers, so please reach out with more Tri-Cities trivia, and we will post your fun facts on Facebook!

This month, we celebrate 10 years of Kane County Magazine: a decade of reporting on new businesses, highlighting interesting people and looking into lifestyle trends.

Thanks to our whole magazine team and to you, our readers, for 10 years of growing and learning together. I can’t wait for the next 10!

Lastly, I don’t especially buy into the “new year, new you” mentality… I like you as you are, and a resolution doesn’t need to change your fundamental identity. Our New Year’s resolution story is much more reasonable: seven small adjustments to try if you’re looking to make improvements this year (P. 25). I hope you enjoy reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed editing and reporting this month’s stories. My socially distanced, outdoor interview with David Hunt at Town House Books (P. 28) was an especially bright spot. (While there, I tried one of the cafe’s blueberry scones and would wholeheartedly recommend you do the same. ASAP.) The

Cheers to a happier, healthier 2021!

EDITOR Hannah Hoffmeister 630-427-6263 hhoffmeister@shawmedia.com DESIGNER Allison LaPorta 630-427-6260 alaporta@shawmedia.com LOCAL SALES MANAGER Kane County Chronicle & Niche Publishing Jaclyn Cornell 630-845-5234 jcornell@shawmedia.com CORRESPONDENTS Allison Bills, Kevin Druley, Vicki Martinka Petersen, Melissa Rubalcaba Riske, Erin Sauder, Chrissy Somers and Diane Krieger Spivak.

Hannah Hoffmeister, Editor

on the

COVER

These are just some of our favorite covers over the 10 years of Kane County Magazine.

Cover design by Allison LaPorta. See P. 7 for more.

Next month: Love is in the air. What does romance mean to you?

4

PUBLISHER Daily Chronicle & Suburban Weekly Group Laura Shaw 630-709-4497 lshaw@shawmedia.com

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.

Published by Shaw Media 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

JANAURY

2021

KCMAG_DUMMY NEW .indd 4

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Award-Winning Sausages Full Fresh Meat Counter Happy Workers HOMEMADE H OMEMADE

BACON BACON SAUSAGES SAUSAGES LUNCHMEAT LUNCHMEAT CHARCUTERIE CHARCUTERIE STIX & JERKY JERKY STIX BRATWURST B RATWURST SMOKED FISH FISH SMOKED CORNED BEEF BEEF CORNED PULLED PORK PORK PULLED FRESH SOUPS SOUPS FRESH HEAT+EAT SIDES SIDES HEAT+EAT burn l E . t S n i a 250 S M

KCMAG_DUMMY NEW .indd 5

, IL

12/16/20 11:03 AM

INSIDE

What's

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS 8 DID YOU KNOW 10 fun facts to boost your Kane County trivia knowledge 10 ALL ABOARD Batavia Depot Museum expansion project will better showcase city’s history 11 LIVE FULLY Trip down memory lane propels us to make new moments, Superdad writes 12 DOUBLE DIGITS Get to know 6 Tri-Cities 10-year-olds 15 WHERE ARE THEY NOW We catch up with people who graced the pages of Kane County Magazine in the past 10 years 18 COMMUNITY LOVE Family columnist Chrissy Somers celebrates her 10-year wedding anniversary

OUT & ABOUT 27 WINTER FUN FOR EVERYONE Skate, sled, hike and explore with St. Charles Park District 28 DREAM JOB A Q&A with David Hunt, owner of Town House Books, about reading and giving back

ART & FASHION 30 IN VOGUE The evolution of 10 years of style, from flares to high-rise jeans and beyond 32 ARTIST OF THE MONTH Lisa Youngdahl’s colored pencil creations look as realistic as paintings

DINING & ENTERTAINING

BUSINESS & CIVIC

20 EAT HEALTHY, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT Digestive expert Dr. Tarun Mullick eats a decadent meal at RPM Seafood

34 SELF-EMPLOYED? SOLO-K Tom McCartney on saving for employment when self-employed

22 SPICE UP YOUR DINING HABITS A look at Bocaditos and the Patten House restaurants

HEALTH & WELLNESS 24 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FRONTIER Take back your health at Larimar Med in St. Charles

6

25 LITTLE CHANGES, BIG ACHIEVEMENTS New Year’s resolutions, but less complicated — try these 7 adjustments

HOME & LIFESTYLE 36 PLANNING FOR SPRING NOW Use the winter to plan for spring gardening, Wasco Nursery advises 38 GRAB A BOOKMARK Two book recommendations to check out in January

JANAURY

2021

KCMAG_DUMMY NEW .indd 6

12/16/20 11:03 AM

¢ THE FOOD & WINE ISSUE

AWESOME ADDITIONS

OCTOBER 2019

APRIL 2016

PAGE 10

HOIST A STEIN AT BATAVIA OKTOBERFEST!

SPECIAL SECTION

WHAT'S SELLING

Best spots for brunch and bloody marys

SEPTEMBER 2017

INSIDE:

FIT

TO EXTEND YOUR SPACE

RISE AND DINE

PAGE 48

IN THE TRI-CITIES PAGE 14

INGENUITY BUILDS UNEXPECTED HOME DESIGNS

ISSUE

PAGE 8

BATAVIA PARK DISTRICT MARKS 50 YEARS

SIP AND SAVOR AT FESTIVAL OF THE VINE PAGE 50

WITH ‘AMERICAN IDOL’S’ KAYLA MICKELSEN

PAGE 30

PLUS+

INDIE FOLK TALK

FASHION’S GONE WILD WITH BOLD PRINTS AND FAB FALL COLOR | PAGE 38

SEVEN

Find Something That Sparkles

HEAVENLY SPOTS

for Mother’s Day brunch PAGE 22

Arts

JULY 2013

Demystifying the

MAY 2015

daycare dilemma

At Geneva’s State Street Jewelers Pg 20

April 2013

PAGE 16

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Creativity comes alive in galleries, theaters and studios across the Tri-Cities,

PAGE 8

OUTto DINNER Pick your perfect patio destination along the Fox,

IN DINING

TOP it OFF

Hats and shades offer high style in the hot summer sun,

IN FASHION

Women Celebrating MICHELLE MEYER

helps families find their way PAGE12

BANKING

REINVENT YOURSELF

on SERVICE

with no regrets

Build B ild your d dream with ith Fi Firstt State St t B Bank, k

PAGE 20

IN LIFESTYLE

a hotel with

HISTORY

Open The Doors To Learn About Geneva’s Past At The Herrington Inn And Spa BRIGHTEN UP: Check Out The Latest Spring Makeup pg 52

GOLF GUIDE: Get In The Swing Of Spring pg 31

HOME ON WHEELS: Find Local RV Luxury pg 16

TRAVEL EDITION

& AE EDITION THEATER

‘The Wizard of Oz’ PAGE 8

JUNE 2016

•

ART

MAY 2018

AUGUST 2015

St. Charles Fine Art Show

SPECIAL SECTION:

The

PAGE 30

Literary ARTS

•

MUSIC

Summer concert guide PAGE 28

THE

A RT

of

INNOVATION

PAUL LENCIONI BRINGS

BLUE GOOSE INTO 21ST CENTURY

ESCAPE THE ORDINARY

Broadway BEAUTY

with a tree-mendous destination PAGE 16

MAKEUP ARTIST BRINGS ICONIC CHARACTERS TO LIFE CELEBRATE SUMMER AT THE KANE COUNTY FAIR PAGE 54

TRAVEL THE GLOBE TO THAILAND, JAPAN, AFRICA, IRELAND | PAGE 8

Food & irTIOitNs SpEDI SEPTEMBER 2020

THE SCOOP ON MATCHA AND KOMBUCHA PAGE 18

TAKE IN THE FOX RIVER AT ALTER BREWING PAGE 14

Burgers new

THANK YOU TO OUR READERS FOR A on the block GREAT FIRST 10 YEARS! ENT! DONNIE WAHLBERG OPENS

POP STAR & ST. CHARLES RESID

WAHLBURGERS | PAGE 8

As always, we love hearing from you, so please send us an email if you want to share ideas. We're so grateful for your continued support! ¢ THE FOOD & WINE ISSUE

OCTOBER 2019

AWESOME ADDITIONS

TO EXTEND YOUR SPACE PAGE 10

WHAT'S SELLING

RISE AND DINE Like Kane County Magazine on Facebook to see future covers and SEPTEMBER 2017

INSIDE:

FIT

SPECIAL SECTION

read interesting,HOIST local features!

A STEIN AT BATAVIA OKTOBERFEST!

Best spots for brunch and bloody marys

PAGE 48

IN THE TRI-CITIES PAGE 14

INGENUITY BUILDS UNEXPECTED HOME DESIGNS PAGE 8

KCMAG_DUMMY NEW .indd 7

INDIE

12/16/20 11:03 AM

How well would you do in Kane County trivia? These 10 fun facts will boost your knowledge

By Diane Krieger Spivak Photos provided by St. Charles History Museum and Batavia Historical Society

Photo provided by St. Charles History Museum.

8.

8

N

ot only is Kane County Magazine celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, but Kane County itself, as of Jan. 16, is celebrating its own milestone — 185 years as a government-recognized entity.

We take a brief look at some of the interesting, unusual and even extraordinary events that have shaped the Tri-Cities area throughout Kane County’s history, courtesy of the Batavia Historical Society, St. Charles History Museum and the city of Geneva.

DID YOU KNOW?



Joanna Garner was born into slavery in 1798 in Halifax County, Virginia. The Garner family became one of thousands to head north to Canada in search of freedom via the underground railroad. They settled in St. Charles in 1865, becoming one of the first African American families to take up permanent residence there, according to the St. Charles History Museum. Garner’s descendants lived in St. Charles until 2009.



In May 1875, Mary Todd Lincoln came to Batavia for treatment at Bellevue Place, a private sanitarium for upper-class women.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JANUARY 2021

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2.



In 1969, Jackie DeShannon released “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” which sold over 1 million copies. DeShannon attended Batavia High School 1955-57.



Buzz Aldrin, the second person to set foot on the moon, also had “moon” in his family tree. He was the grandson of the Rev. Faye Arnold Moon, minister at the Batavia United Methodist Church on Batavia Avenue.



Ken Anderson, a graduate of Batavia High School, was signed to play football for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1971. He played quarterback for the Bengals until 1986 and returned to the franchise in 1993 as a coach.



The Third Street shopping district got its start through the efforts of an early 20thcentury businesswoman. In 1924, Kate Raftery opened the Little Traveler, taking advantage of “the rise in train and automobile traffic to create a retail empire,” says the city of Geneva’s website.

A St. Charles city employee’s check of the Fourth Street pumphouse became the beginning of the Great Spider-Snake fight Aug. 21, 1932. There, a spider had caught a 7-inch garter snake in its web. According to the St. Charles History Museum, people supposed the snake “had made a pass at the spider and missed.” For three weeks, the world watched as the situation provoked shock, pity and even gambling. Pictures of the battle spread nationwide, prompting people to take sides. Finally, on Sept. 14, Mayor Langum cut the snake down. It was later released in an area of Pottawatomie Park.



The big-budget movie “Road to Perdition,” with Oscar winners Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and director Sam Mendes, was filmed in Geneva in 2001.



In 2007, Geneva’s Viking ship, built for the World’s Fair of 1893 in Chicago, was designated as one of Illinois’ 10 Most Endangered Historic Places. A local campaign, spearheaded

by Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley, raised funds to stabilize the ship, which is currently housed at Good Templar Park.

5.

Photo provided by Batavia Historical Society.



Photo provided by St. Charles History Museum.

In 1924, the Fargo Theatre, which became the Geneva Theatre in 1930, opened on State Street. It was the first theater in Geneva to feature “talkies.”

Photo provided by Batavia Historical Society.



1.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JANUARY 2021

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all ABOARD Batavia Depot Museum expansion project will offer more room to showcase the city’s history

By Vicki Martinka Petersen Photos provided by Batavia Historical Society

R

emember, as a child, exploring family treasures tucked away in your grandma’s attic — the reels of home movies archiving family memories, an old chest filled with family heirlooms? The Batavia Depot Museum also is home to treasures that offer residents and visitors alike a glimpse into the city’s rich history.

provide space for more educational opportunities and add a new reception area for visitors.

This isn’t the first time the Depot Museum underwent an expansion. In 2000, the Gustafson Research Center opened to house a large collection of historical documents and made available to local and national researchers.

Plans to expand the museum have been underway for more than a decade. First the Great Recession put plans on hold, followed by a court case for land acquisition. Hoefler hopes they’ll be able to begin construction within the next year.

But just like your grandma’s attic, there’s only so much physical space to display items that make up the fabric of Batavia’s history. That’s why the Batavia Historical Society is on a quest to raise $2 million for a museum expansion.

“People keep donating items to us, but we’re out of space. We no longer have expandable space for exhibits,” explains Daniel Hoefler, president of the Batavia Historical Society.

Recently the museum acquired an antique desk from a company that once called Batavia home.

That item will sit in storage along with other artifacts that the museum simply doesn’t have room to display. “Right now, we don’t have the room to rotate exhibits or to hold meetings of the historical society or other community organizations,” says Hoefler.

The Batavia Depot Museum building, located at

10

155 Houston St., also is part of Batavia’s history.

It was built in 1854 as a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad passenger depot and served as the town’s primary train station. Today the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, brings Batavia’s history to life with exhibits showing rail transportation, the city’s past life as a manufacturer of windmills and Mary Todd Lincoln’s short stay at Bellevue Place.

The expansion plans include moving the caboose, water tower, signal arm and the Coffin Bank to the west side of the bike path in front of the museum, according to the expansion project website page.

The 5,000-square-foot expansion also would

The Batavia Park District, which owns the museum buildings, is paying the cost of acquiring the land, preparing the area and associated fees related to the project. The Batavia Historical Society is raising the remaining $2 million to cover construction costs. So far, the historical society has raised more than $750,000 toward the project.

While in-person fundraising events are on hold due to COVID-19 guidelines, Hoefler encourages people to help support the project by making an online donation. To learn more about the expansion project or make a donation, visit www. bataviahistoricalsociety.org/expansion-project.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JANUARY 2021

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¢ SUBURBAN SUPERDAD ¢

Live Fully I

t’s a very short nomination list, for certain.

But the award for “Best Spam Email Regularly in my Inbox” must go to Shutterfly.

Every couple of weeks or so, the old photo sharing site takes me down memory lane, bringing back pics from moments long ago archived to my dusty memory banks.

The most recent came from about a decade ago, from a holiday celebration at which my then much younger little diva star (again) took center stage. While the song title and exact choreography remain a bit fuzzy, the memories flooded in of that evening’s entertainment, particularly the giggles and beaming smile from her face as those of us assembled laughed and clapped. Some well-meaning but unsuspecting soul called for an encore.

But such email blasts from the past also prompt a bit of meditation. This is particularly true where we now stand, near the junction of two years and the intersection of two decades. Without fail, it triggers the mind to compare life now, to the time those emailed images were captured and uploaded.

The changes have been dizzying.

Consider: 10 years ago, the now ubiquitous social media platforms we can’t live without had only begun to transition from fun pastime to world domination.

Google had only just become a verb.

The iPhone 4 was the hot new smartphone.

Uber provided its first rideshares in San Francisco.

Yes, there was Netflix, but not much chill.

The Avengers were still just an idea, as were Alexa and Siri.

Imagine the stares of others, should you travel back just 10 years, walk into a room and demand Alexa play music, tell you what’s on the to-do list, turn off the lights, turn on the TV, search the interwebs, or any of the other myriad functions we now hand over to our A.I. life partners.

Trying to take stock of how much technology has reshaped our lives just in the past decade is enough to make one shudder to consider what life would have been like if stayat-home orders had been handed down in 2010, rather than 2020.

Personally, the changes have also come swift and unceasing.

A new house. Two job changes. Three cars. Old friends, departed. New friends who have arrived. So many weddings, and births. Fortunately, only a handful of significant funerals.

A good deal of fun, adventure and travel — though naturally not as much as we would have liked.

And, of course, adding another little one to the family.

Just as with the smartphone in my pocket that now dominates my existence in so many ways, a good deal of concentration is required to recall what life was like before my wife and I were held in thrall by our two fresh, beautiful souls.

It boggles my mind, for instance, to consider there was a time when the themes from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” were not seared into my memory, or there was a time when I knew next to no French terms for ballet movements, or there was a time weeknights were filled with books, TV and board games with friends, rather than service as a chauffeur, tutor, cook, chamberlain and professional bedtime storyteller. (I am still waiting on that first big contract, though. Maybe I should fire my agent.)

Beyond the jogs down memory lane, however, the meditations on happy, golden days of yore have also produced a resolution heading into 2021, and beyond.

While the memories led to laughter and smiles, in the past year, they’ve also produced a melancholy. Far too many memories filed away in 2020 were more about trying to find new ways to live, and trying to find ways to go beyond merely hanging on until the interesting times can stop, and “normal” can return.

But in the next year, normal will no longer be good enough.

Change will be required to move beyond the mindnumbing, difficult-to-process experiences of the past year.

So in the coming days, as public health allows, I’d invite you all to join me in being much more intentional in building memories.

As soon as is feasible, turn off Netflix.

Take that trip you’ve been putting off. Explore more.

Trip down memory lane propels us forward to make new, intentional moments, Superdad writes

Adventure, as much as you can.

Pursue the career changes you’ve been kicking around.

Start that business.

Create. Invent. Express yourself.

Volunteer, and make your community a better place to live.

But most importantly, take time to invest in the people you love. Those parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles you’ve been so concerned about for the past year? If you are still blessed to have them in your life, go see them, as soon as possible. Write letters and make phone calls to those you can’t see. Let them know what they mean to you.

Those kids of yours? Get out with them, show them the world, enjoy those events, special and mundane, you formerly took for granted, but which have been ripped away from us this past year.

Play board games and eat pizza with friends.

Be in the moment, before the moment is gone.

While we have spent the past year making ourselves feel better by telling ourselves over and over, “There will be another Easter/Fourth of July/Halloween/Thanksgiving/ Christmas,” or “There will be more vacations,” or “There will be other birthdays,” the truth is, we are not promised any of that.

This year, resolve to find ways to truly live, wherever you may be, before the only thing left are random photos and archived memories.

¢ Jonathan Bilyk writes about the triumphs and travails of being a modern-day 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.)

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JANUARY 2021

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Double Digits GET TO KNOW 6 TRI-CITIES 10-YEAR-OLDS

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske | Photos provided by parents hile Kane County Magazine was in its infant stages in 2010-11, these contributors were, well, infants, too, enjoying their community from their strollers and toddling around parks and playgrounds. Now they enjoy biking along the Fox River and visiting their favorite restaurants. And they care for their community, encouraging others to work together to protect and care for it.

As the magazine celebrates 10 years of growing, so too do these 10-yearolds. Here, they share their opinions and ideas on the places they love, the activities they enjoy and where they see themselves in the future.

Celebrating Over 30 Years Skyline Tree Service was established in 1988 and is family owned and operated. After 30 years of service, we still hold strong to our original commitment to excellence to provide our customers with quality tree care services.

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JANUARY 2021

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MADDEN CASTLE AGE: 10 HOMETOWN: St. Charles FAVORITE PLACE TO GO IN TOWN: I like to go to Clean Juice when eating healthy and Oberweis and Dairy Queen for special treats.

WISH OUR TOWN HAD: I wish Wrigley Field, Sky Zone and Solider Field were closer to home. I love the Cubs and Bears and wish I could get to more games.

IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE: I think I will be under the lights playing baseball or football (hopefully for Notre Dame).

ACTIVITIES: St. Charles Knights travel baseball, STORM basketball and Tri-City Chargers football.

LIAM BISHOP

A TOPIC MORE PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT: Keeping the earth clean and free of pollution. Before COVID, I was in the recycling club at school.

AGE: 10

BRIANA CRISPINO

HOMETOWN: St. Charles

AGE: 10

FAVORITE PLACE TO GO IN TOWN: Lincoln Park. It has a new playground with better equipment. I like the Fox River and all the trails and parks along the river. And I like Colonial Cafe.

HOMETOWN: St. Charles

WISH OUR TOWN HAD: Legoland.

IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE: In the Army. My grandpa was in the Air Force, and my godmother is in the Air Force.

ACTIVITIES: Fox Valley Young Marines, St. Charles STORM basketball and St. Charles baseball.

FAVORITE PLACE TO GO IN TOWN: Pottawatomie Park.

WISH OUR TOWN HAD: A beach.

IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE: In college.

ACTIVITIES: Soccer, basketball.

A TOPIC MORE PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT: Pollution. Pollution hurts animals.

A TOPIC MORE PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT: Supporting the police.

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MATTHEW CRISPINO

MAX SAAM

AGE: 10

AGE: 10

HOMETOWN: St. Charles

HOMETOWN: Batavia

FAVORITE PLACE TO GO IN TOWN: Urban Air Adventure Park. I love the go-karts.

FAVORITE PLACE TO GO: Fox Valley Ice Arena, I play hockey and it’s fun to skate. Walking to dinner at El Sazon restaurant in downtown Batavia.

WISH OUR TOWN HAD: Roller coasters.

WISH OUR TOWN HAD: NHL rink so I don’t have to go so far to see the Blackhawks.

WISH OUR TOWN: Was closer to (the) Vatican. It looks really cool and I want to see it.

IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE: I want to be a professional hockey player.

IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE: Going to college, to study engineering.

ACTIVITIES: Hockey and baseball.

ACTIVITIES: Minecraft and basketball.

A TOPIC MORE PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT: Religion. Some people don’t like religion or want to get rid of it.

KARA GLENN ENN

A TOPIC MORE PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT: Taking care of the environment. nvironment.

AGE: 10 HOMETOWN: St. Charles FAVORITE PLACE TO GO: Swanson pool and La Za'Za' Trattoria to order the whitefish. Pottawatomie Park and the bike trails along the Fox River.

WISH OUR TOWN HAD: A big lake so we could wakeboard.

IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE: In college to study to become a neurosurgeon or a veterinarian.

ACTIVITIES: Playing soccer, basketball, street hockey and wakeboarding.

A TOPIC MORE PEOPLE SHOULD CARE ABOUT: I think more people should be paying attention to stray animals and adopting animals. We adopted our dog last year from the Kane County Humane Society.

Housed in a Charming 8000 Sq. Ft. 100 Year Old Barn

Multi Dealer Market Wed & Fri 10-5, Thur 12-7, Sat 9-4, Sun 9-3, Closed Mon & Tues

Shoppers will delight in our area’s widest selection of barnwood furniture, vintage, primitive & modern boutique rolled into one. Farmhouse furniture and decor, boutique style clothing, jewelry, man-cave, boho, MCM, antiques, gourmet goods and gifts.

Also - a beautiful courtyard you can rent for any occasion.

475 W. Army Trail Rd • Bartlet IL 60103 • 630-326-8858 • info@prestigecreativemarkets.com

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W HERE A RE THE Y NOW? Celebrating 10 years of Kane County Magazine means we have told hundreds of stories, from new businesses to women of distinction and more.

We caught up with four people who have been previously featured to see what life had been like since we told their stories.

By Hannah Hoffmeister Photos provided

¢ TWO WILD SEEDS BAKERY FIRST FEATURED: February 2017 THEN: Owners Susan Kritzberg and Katie McCall, a mother-daughter duo, were featured with their bakery, Two Wild Seeds, an up-and-coming sweets destination for gluten-free treats and wedding cakes. Two CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JANUARY 2021

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Call Now to Book Your Wedding or Celebration

Oscar Swan is open and ready to help you have a stress free celebration.

Bed & Breakfast space for your out of town guests.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinners for your Entertaining.

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We do the work, you have the fun!

Oscar Swan Country Inn

1800 West State Street, Geneva, IL 60134 (630) 232-0173 • nina@oscsarswan.com • www.oscarswan.com

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Wild Seeds, located at 320 W. Main St. in downtown St. Charles, opened in May 2016.

NOW: Two Wild Seeds is now approaching its fifth year as a beloved sweets spot in St. Charles.

The bakery is still a haven for people who eat gluten-free. “We’ve had people in tears when they find out it’s a dedicated gluten-free facility,” Kritzberg says.

A lot has happened since Kane County Magazine last talked with Kritzberg and McCall; the two saw a huge leap in their wedding cake business but have also taken “a big hit” from COVID-19 — as have many other food establishments, notes Kritzberg. Out of the bakery’s more than 35 wedding cake reservations for the 2020 wedding season, 29 were canceled. “No pun intended — you can’t sugarcoat it,” McCall says of the challenges faced during the pandemic.

Even with the uncertainty, though, the duo has noticed a lot of positives. They’ve have had time to experiment with new flavor profiles and products. The bakery has connected with customers through custom cupcakes, curbside pickup, take-home cookie kits, Instagram live cooking demonstrations and an increased social media presence.

“Our customers have been just amazing,” McCall says.

The two still balance each other out, even as McCall has married and started a family since she last caught up with the magazine.

“My mom — she’s truly an artist,” McCall says, noting Kritzberg’s attention to detail and color combinations.

Kritzberg complimented her daughter’s ability to create an online community centered around their business. “Two Wild Seeds is more than just a bakery,” McCall says.

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¢ JOANNE SPITZ

¢ KATIE CORDTS

FIRST FEATURED: May 2015

FIRST FEATURED: May 2018

THEN: Joanne Spitz was recognized as one of Kane County Magazine’s Women of Distinction, an award that started in 2012 and highlighted women making a difference in their communities.

When she was first featured, Spitz was recognized as one of the founders of Community Helpers Impacting People In Need — or CHIP IN — Batavia, an organization that works with other local nonprofits to support homeless families and students who receive free and reduced lunch.

THEN: Cordts was featured in the arts & entertainment issue for her job as the wig, hair and makeup manager and designer at Paramount Theatre in Aurora. She was, at the time, planning “The Wizard of Oz” and “Legally Blonde” characters. She was also engaged and had one dog, a retired greyhound racer named Ozzie.

NOW: Spitz is still involved with CHIP IN Batavia as its co-chair. The organization is now in its eighth year. “There’s almost nothing we won’t do for a family,” Spitz says, “from the moment the child wakes up until they go to sleep.” This can mean personal care items, clothing, food for lunches, scholarships to participate in after-school activities or field trips and more. Because of COVID-19, the organization has shifted some focus and resources toward paying rent or utilities, helping with 42 payments as of early December as opposed to two or three on an average year, Spitz says.

Spitz’s role is multifaceted; it involves juggling furniture pickup/drop-offs, working with other local nonprofits (Batavia United Way and Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet, among others), and coordinating volunteer help. “It means a lot to me,” she says. “I got involved because there are kids in need.”

In her spare time — both when she was originally interviewed and now — she enjoys biking and running. She now teaches fitness classes, reads a lot and volunteers with other local organizations.

NOW: Because of COVID-19, Cordts has been furloughed since late April.

Depending on the state of the coronavirus in the spring, she hopes to be back in April 2021 to prepare for the June showing of “Kinky Boots.” “I miss it very much,” Cordts says. “Time away made me realize how much I love my job.”

The 34-year-old is making strategic use of her time off, attending Hair Professionals Career College’s cosmetology program in Sycamore. She will attend full time until she returns to the Paramount and then finish her program part time. In early December, she estimated she has about a year left. “It feels good to color in the blank parts of my knowledge,” she says, explaining cosmetology school is pretty standard for wigmakers at the beginning of their careers.

In addition to cosmetology school, Cordts has spent time learning about ways to make theater more equitable. She’s taken classes for working with textured hair and doing makeup for different skin tones, and she hopes to make her department more inclusive. “You want the people we’re telling stories about to be represented on the design side,” she says. “Representation is so important.”

Outside of work, Cordts and her husband, Phil Wooding, married in July 2019. They still care for Ozzie (“he’s loved that I’ve been at home more”) and foster other retired greyhound racers. She enjoys gardening, cooking and baking.

SEVEN

HEAVENLY SPOTS for Mother’s Day brunch PAGE 22

Demystifying the

MAY 2015

daycare dilemma PAGE 16

Women Celebrating MICHELLE MEYER

helps families find their way PAGE12

REINVENT YOURSELF with no regrets

PAGE 20

& AE

EDITION THEATER

‘The Wizard of Oz’ PAGE 8

•

MAY 2018

SPECIAL SECTION:

The

Literary ARTS

ART

St. Charles Fine Art Show PAGE 30

•

MUSIC

Summer concert guide PAGE 28

Broadway BEAUTY

MAKEUP ARTIST BRINGS ICONIC CHARACTERS TO LIFE

To read the original stories referenced in this feature, visit www.issuu.com/shawmedia/stacks and click on “KCM.” CELEBRATING 10 YEARS JANUARY 2021

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10 YEARS OF COMMUNITY LOVE

With Chrissy Somers, www.FamiliesOnTheFox.com | Photos provided by Fox + Grey Photography

Kane County Magazine and I have a lot in common.

1. We both love supporting and partnering with the small businesses in our community.

2. We love any excuse to throw a good party (enter the Best of the Fox award night).

3. We both celebrated 10-year anniversaries recently.

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KC Magazine has been a staple in our community for 10 years! In fact, KC Magazine was one of the first local magazines I received when we moved to the area to help familiarize ourselves with our new town.

I’m sure the celebrations at the KC Magazine offices will look different this year. So did mine. My 10-year wedding anniversary and vow renewal occurred back in May 2020, right in the heart of the quarantine orders. But I still found ways to support our local businesses when they needed it most, just as I’m sure KC Magazine will do for their celebrations.

Celebrating your 10-year wedding anniversary while "sheltering in place" because of a global pandemic is certainly something to remember.

Granted, it wasn't exactly how we wanted our 10-year to go, but we turned those tart lemons into some sweet whiskey lemonades!

During the shelter-in-place order, I knew how much our local businesses were suffering. So I used this vow renewal as a way to help support local businesses while also making a beautiful memory for our family.

I only had four weeks to plan this little shindig while keeping in mind social distancing guidelines that

had been mandated at the time. ¢ THE DRESS: Love Theory Bridal (Geneva) I contacted Love Theory Bridal in Geneva because I love the style of dresses Nikki carries. All the dresses are timeless yet showcase the latest trends in wedding fashion. I wanted a dress that had lace and beading to replicate those features in my original dress, but I wanted something with an open back to represent what I currently love in wedding dresses.

I knew my budget and timeframe were tight, so buying off the rack was

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just about my only option. Luckily for me, Love Theory Bridal was offering discounts on dresses purchased OTR (no custom ordering from the designers, no waiting for the dress with the exact measurements to come in, etc.). ¢ THE FLOWERS: St. Charles Florist (Wasco) To say I was taken aback by their creations would be an understatement. In all honesty, these bouquets far outweighed the beauty of my original wedding bouquet. Not only was my bouquet simply stunning, but St. Charles Florist made sure to create three mini bouquets that identically resembled mine for my three beautiful babes. Their attention to detail was second to none. They even made sure to throw in a boutonniere for Tyler too (because I forgot to cover his floral needs)! ¢ THE CAKE + TOPPER: Swanky Cakes (Geneva) and Manek Design Studio (Geneva) I called Jenna with Swanky Cakes because I've personally tried her cupcakes and they are AMAZING. I knew she did birthday cakes for littles, but she also does cakes for all occasions.

Since I only needed a small cake, she was able to turn it around quickly.

Fox. She has seen my family grow and having her capture this milestone in our family's life was a no-brainer, though she has since moved to Colorado. ¢ WEDDING FAVORS: Scentcerely Yours (Geneva) We knew, because of this shelter-in-place, we wouldn't really have an audience, let alone a little bash to celebrate. We still needed little "thank you’s" for our vendors, nonetheless.

I worked with Scentcerely Yours to create custom label hand sanitizer! How perfect of a favor for a viral pandemic?! ¢ OFFICIANT: My best friend, Brenda There was nothing "official" that needed to be done for our 10-year vow renewals, so hiring an officiant was unnecessary for this event.

However, I knew we still needed someone to lead the ceremony. To create the structure and outline. Someone who knew us as a couple AND as individuals.

I asked my best friend, my ride or die, my sister from another mister who also happened to be my maid of honor 10 years ago, if she would officiate the ceremony.

I also had the cake topper custom-made by a local artisan, Manek Design Studio. I have several home decor pieces from MDS and wanted to see if she’d try this project and had it ready in just a few days!

This certainly was tricky, but it was definitely memorable to say the least! I was able to plan this vow renewal with help from Families on the Fox’s “Wedding Guide” and “Party Guide” (simply type those two terms in the search box to find them).

¢ PHOTOGRAPHY: Fox + Grey Photography (Batavia)

We’ve been in some form of mitigation for nine months and counting, which means the majority of local businesses have been hurting for that same amount of time. Involving them in at least one aspect of the major milestones in our lives can be a game changer for them, and a memory-maker for you.

Fox + Grey Photography has been our family photographer for the past several years. Jen has also done headshots and other professional photos for me when I started Families on the

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 datee nights, adult fun outings, and more can be found when you visit www.FamiliesOnTheFox.com.

Photo by Katie Kaltz Photography

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WITH DR. TARUN MULLICK

L

ike we were earlier this spring, restaurants are closed for social gathering purposes to curb the spread of the coronavirus. So, how do we enjoy something out?

Fortunately, we have delivery and curbside options that still exist. Let’s support our local restaurants by doing takeout at least twice a week.

Earlier this year, when you could easily dine out, I went to the riverside restaurant RPM Seafood in downtown Chicago. Well, right now you can do takeout, but as this spring comes about, I am sure this will be a hot spot with the outdoor dining setting overlooking the water.

I decided to taste the RPM Chopped Salad, which is a light and elegant salad with marinated chickpeas, haricot verts, avocados and tomatoes. As I ate this delicate salad, I was able to catch the fresh vibe of the river area. It reminded me of the ocean breeze of the coastal Mediterranean with fresh ingredients and an

enhancement of flavor profiles with the great combination of herbs and a kiss of salt.

Next, who could refuse the whole fish branzino? It’s a light but reasonably filling fish cooked and grilled with Amalfi coast lemon salt and olive oil. Trust me, if there is one thing the Amalfi Coast is famous for, it’s the lemons. So, this kiss of salt and light and lovely olive oil coupled with some grilled tomatoes created a burst of vibrant flavors for the fish. This is one dish that just calls out to the visual, aromatic and taste senses.

Spring sensation!

And if that wasn't enough, I shared the king crab macaroni and cheese, having a couple spoonfuls to keep some carbs but stay within that reasonable protein and carbohydrate balance.

Imagine that — all that food, and still keeping the waistline intact.

The service is over the top, and the headwaiter David is super informative. No need to count the calories here, as you are dealing with the tastiest of lighter fare that bursts with flavor!

¢ 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

It is my honor and privilege to serve the community and readership of this publication. Our practice’s focus is to care for patients, to help them and tailor their care individually with current therapies.

Q: Did the colon cancer screening age just change? Should I wait or get it done?

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. It can be done safely, even now.

Q: Do you offer telehealth? Many practices don’t? What do you think about that?

A: Yes, we offer telehealth. This means you can get treatment

without leaving your home. We will only bring you in for necessary tests, and you can choose locations away from hospitals, which likely have more serious COVID-19 patients. It’s safer to go to smaller practices and centers away like ours. In general, it appears telehealth is here to stay for years to come. It presents an alternative. And, for those who don’t like waits — we call you. Thus, you can continue to do whatever you need to in the meanwhile.

Q: I’ve been told the louder I belch, the better the meal,

especially during a Chicago Bears NFL game. With the Packers games, I tend to release gas lower down if you know what I mean. It’s a compliment in some countries.

But, is that a good thing or is it the Packers?

A: Belching can sometimes be a fun activity, especially during a

Chicago Bears NFL game. 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 overeating at the moment, or of intake of foods producing gas, like roughage more difficult to digest, 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.

For the lower gas, you may have the normal gastrocolic reflex intact, which means when you eat, you stimulate activity in the bowels. This results in having to have a bowel movement or pass lower gas. It’s probably not the Packers, but rather sometimes the stress or excitement of a game can increase activity and promote the gas.

Q: Everyone tells me my diarrhea or bloating is just in my head — is that true? Are there medicines for it?

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. There are multiple new medicines we offer for treatment. We are committed to bringing new, cutting-edge therapies to the Western Suburbs.

WORD SCRAMBLE: ONLOSPYCOOC HAETLELETH KMAS

NURHAERBT PKRSACE

TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS PLEASE CALL 630-232-2025

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.

ANSWERS: Colonoscopy, Telehealth, Mask, Heartburn, Packers

DINING & ENTERTAINING JANUARY 2021

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p u e Spic

YOUR DINING HABITS

“Something old, something new.

Something borrowed, something blue.” This applies to weddings and the Tri-Cities, where a combination of historic and new restaurants boosts an alreadydelicious dining scene. Here, Kane County Magazine looks at two such restaurants bringing great flavors to the area.

By Kevin Druley Photos by Katie O’Brien Photography and the Patten House

BOCADITOS ADDS SOUTH AMERICAN FLAIR TO DOWNTOWN BATAVIA

Bocaditos Cafe opened in downtown Batavia less than a year before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and since has transitioned to curbside pickup amid statewide mitigations. While customers may be unable to physically enter the space at 109 E. Wilson St., co-owner Juliana Cancelo assures them the kindred spirits of many patrons swirl about the shop.

“We always laugh, because we’ll get phone calls from people who will have ordered, you know, shortly after they order,” Cancelo says. “Every time the phone rings, we think, ‘Oh my gosh, what did we mess up?’”

Not a thing, it turns out, and in fact, quite the opposite.

The callers simply are bypassing the familiar social media review to relay appreciation for Bocaditos’ authentic South American cuisine, which includes empanadas, salads, sandwiches, desserts and pastries.

“For someone to give you a phone call is just such a personal, really positive response,” Cancelo says.

Whatever their medium, customers frequently weigh in on Bocaditos’ empanadas, available for $3.25 or in a combo option. Choose from carne (beef), pollo (chicken), jamon and queso (ham and cheese), humita (corn) and espinaca (spinach). The restaurant’s top seller, the baked, flaky,

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meat- and vegetable-filled turnovers are prepared with a nod to the family’s native Argentina. Cancelo and Silvia Sanchez, her mother and fellow co-owner, frequently remind guests that while most every South American locale offers its own spin on empanadas, the ones available at Bocaditos honor old recipes in a collaborative neighborhood cookbook that belonged to Cancelo’s grandfather in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital city.

Sanchez and Cancelo view Bocaditos as an opportunity to share with Batavia and surrounding communities the food they have long enjoyed at home. A work opportunity at Fermilab drew the family patriarch, Gustavo Cancelo, to Batavia in the late 1980s.

Following a relocation to Argentina in the early 1990s, the family returned to suburban Chicago and has called Batavia home for about the past two decades.

“We want to continue to be part of this thriving business center and cultural center,” Juliana Cancelo says, “and bring a little more of that to this wonderful community.” ¢ BOCADITOS CAFE 109 E. Wilson St., Batavia | 630-937-4002 www.bocaditos.cafe

THE PATTEN HOUSE BRINGS RICH HISTORY AND FLAVORS TO GENEVA

While Geneva’s Patten House, 124 S. Second St., is approaching its seventh anniversary as a restaurant in June 2021, the site of the eatery with a southern flair carries a bit deeper heritage.

The house, built in 1857 by lumber man George Patten, has been around for more than a century and a half, providing a backdrop that owner Nancy Luyten feels is a natural to at least try — and, ideally, frequent.

“We’re very consistent in the quality of the food, in the service and the atmosphere,” Luyten says. “It’s a beautiful, 1857 house and very unique. We have a beautiful property, beautiful outside. Just a very unusual and unique property.

“But any business has to be a combination of everything, you know. That’s what makes Geneva kind of unique, too, the fact that we have a lot of great businesses, good restaurants, good little shops.

That’s what keeps us different than a lot of places.

We’re not corporate.”

It’s difficult to imagine anything in Geneva’s historic district carrying such a cookie-cutter feel, and the Patten House hardly fits that label.

Throughout a 2013 renovation to the property, Luyten pledged to maintain the stately feel of the old home

that would soon double as a multiple-dining room restaurant and lounge. Upon settling in to the digs following a self-guided tour of the home in summer 2014, the Kane County Chronicle’s Mystery Diner wrote: “I felt as though I had escaped to another place in a simpler time.”

Guests over the years have particularly savored the Patten House Jambalaya — andouille sausage, chicken and tiger shrimp with roasted tomatoes and holy trinity mirepoix served with rice and toast points. “The jambalaya is just right on,” says Luyten.

Other mainstays include the Berkshire double-bone pork chop, served with pistachio cream sauce, fried egg and spinach, as well as the grouper and salmon.

A wide variety of sandwiches and small plates await diners who may not be seeking an entree.

While Luyten says navigating the ever-shifting business model presented by the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been “very, very trying and hard,” she remains confident the Patten House’s wide base will remain loyal during tough times.

“We have people come from all over the Chicagoland area,” she says. ¢ THE PATTEN HOUSE 124 S. Second St., Geneva | 630-492-5040 Facebook: The Patten House Restaurant and Bar DINING & ENTERTAINING JANUARY 2021

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¢ LARIMAR MED 113 N. Second Ave., St. Charles 630-762-9864 www.larimarmed.com

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FRONTIER Take back your health at Larimar Med in St. Charles

By Allison Bills | Photos provided by Larimar Med

D

r. Lauren Fitzgerald always knew she wanted to be a doctor.

When she graduated early from high school and headed to the University of Texas for college and medical school, little did she know she wouldn’t end up working in anesthesiology for her career.

“I was practicing for five years and I was in the operating room (OR) with an older surgeon, a nurse and a tech, and none of them were happy people,” Fitzgerald says, noting she was finished with school at 29. “I thought, ‘Is this going to be me if I’m in the OR for decades?’” She knew she had to make a change, but wasn’t sure if she wanted to leave her entire medical profession behind after dedicating her life to it.

That’s when she found functional medicine. Functional medicine identifies and treats the source of diseases, rather than addressing it with prescriptions and medicine. “Functional medicine gets to the root cause instead of putting a BandAid on it,” Fitzgerald says.

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It all started when Fitzgerald dealt with uncharacteristic weight gain and sought out the cause of the issue. “I went to a functional doc and they told me I was developing insulin resistance, which is the step before prediabetes,” Fitzgerald says.

“That’s what opened my mind to thinking that maybe I didn’t learn everything at medical school.”

Charles. She settled down with her partner, Chris Gandy, and planted some roots after spending most of her time traveling. They bought a house and a retail building. With a vision in hand, she set out to create a business that represented her values, but kept the Tranquility Spa & Wellness Center staff and offerings. She needed a new name.

She left her position and attended additional courses at the Institute for Functional Medicine. “My dad, Carroll Fitzgerald, left banking when he was unhappy and started mowing lawns,” Fitzgerald says. “Now it’s the most successful landscaping company in Waco, Texas. I watched and learned from him.” She earned her certification in the practice.

“The amount of hours I spent on Pinterest is dumb,” Fitzgerald says, noting she wanted the name to revolve around the color blue. “That’s when I found the larimar stone, which is a gem found only in the oceans of the Dominican Republic that is known for being a stone of healing and tranquility. It was meant to be.”

“All I wanted to do is help empower people to take back their health,” says Fitzgerald, who also runs “CLUB FITz” fitness classes, the FITz & Healthy Podcast and the Teach Me Dr. Fitz Academy. “I want to help people heal, so I came up with the idea of opening a facility that supported my core ideas.”

This spring, it all fell into place in St.

chronic illness,” Fitzgerald says. “So many are reversible.”

Fitzgerald says starting simple, like monthly massages, is a great place to begin practicing self-care. “It’s like when you get on an airplane and the flight attendant tells you to put on your mask before helping anyone else,” Fitzgerald says.

“The people who want to take control of their own health are the people who come here.”

Her current practice, which started seeing patients in September, offers all “biohacking” treatments, including cryotherapy, laser therapy, red light therapy, vascular therapy, an IV lounge, facials, body treatments, massages, cupping and Botox. She also offers oneon-one health coaching.

“We are born to be healthy and it’s all the things we are doing to our bodies that create the pain, suffering and

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Little Changes,

BIG ACHIEVEMENTS

By Erin Sauder | Photos provided by DeeDee Mehren and Lisa Lombardi

ew No one says N ons Year’s resoluti have to be — try complicated able these 7 attain adjustments

F

or many people, the new year means it’s time to make resolutions. Take note: You are more likely to succeed if you break a goal down into achievable steps. For instance, if committing to a healthier lifestyle is on your list for 2021, just a few small changes can make a big difference.

Start by scaling back on your intake of processed foods and swapping them for whole foods. “The number one thing that is going to make people feel like crap is processed foods and sugar,” says holistic nutritionist DeeDee Mehren of the Geneva-based Feed Mind Body Soul. “Processed foods are the most

inflammatory things we’re consuming.”

She suggests beginning the day with a nutrientdense breakfast such as eggs and veggies as opposed to a bowl of cold cereal, which could send you on a blood sugar roller coaster.

“How you start your day is how your day is going to go,” Mehren says. “The key components of every meal are healthy fats, fiber and protein.

Starting your day with those three things will make a huge difference.”

Increasing your water intake is also key. The goal should be to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily, says Mehren. If that seems HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY 2021

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“A lot of times our aches, pains, headaches and fatigue are because we’re dehydrated,” she says. “Making sure you’re getting your daily water intake is going to make you feel a heck of a lot better.”

Want to make physical activity part of your daily life? It can be as simple as just getting out of your seat. “It doesn’t have to be going to the gym and killing it for an hour,” Mehren says. “It’s about making sure you’re moving throughout the day. So maybe it’s setting an alarm every hour and stretching or doing squats or pushups or jumping jacks for five minutes.”

Another attainable goal is to incorporate stress management tools into your daily life. “Some people like to just meditate for five or 10 minutes a day,” Mehren says. “No matter who you are, you have some level of stress.

It’s good to take the time to check in with ourselves.”

Just as important as eating healthy and exercising is getting a good night’s sleep. “It’s really the one big thing the body does to rest and repair itself,” says Mehren. “If you’re not getting adequate sleep, the other wheels start to fall off. You start to eat more; you tend to feel more stressed, and you ditch your exercise regimen.”

Lisa Lombardi, a Geneva-based life coach, recommends taking a mindful approach as you set your resolutions for the new year.

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to feel sad about the past or peer over the horizon about the future, but to live in the present,” she says. “The word ‘mindful’ is tossed around a lot in society, but few understand it and practice it wisely.

Stay in this day, even in this minute and have fun with it. Smell, hear, see, feel this moment. This sometimes feels hard, but we can do hard things.”

Also important: acknowledging the little things.

“Celebrate the silver linings — we all have them,” Lombardi says. “Even when things aren’t going great, be thankful for anything you can see that is going OK, and you will build positive morsels that add up to momentum.”

Lastly, look for moments of joy from physical activity or a hobby.

“Everybody’s good at something,” Lombardi says. “What are your passions? What are your favorite activities? What comes naturally to you? Have others noticed your gifts and complimented you on them? These are the areas to build on. We have been taught to fix our weaknesses, not always the optimal path. Build on your strengths, and see your self-worth soar.”

Registration is open for DeeDee Mehren’s “30 Days to Feeling Fabulous,” which starts Jan. 11.

Visit www.feedmbs.com to learn more.

Managed by the St. Charles Park District in cooperation with Community Unit School District 303

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Winter fun for

Ever yone

L

ace up your skates. Dust off your sleds. Strap on your skis. No matter what your desire for winter fun, the St. Charles Park District encourages families to get outside and explore winter activities throughout your community.

And with two sledding hills, four ice rinks, 1,450 acres of public open space and 11 natural areas, plus 20 miles of trails, the district has you covered. According to the District’s most recent Comprehensive Master Plan, 74.2% of residents have access to a park resource within 1 mile of where they live.

“Being outside — even when the temperature dips — has so many physical and mental benefits,” says Mike Kies, Superintendent of Recreation. “Physical activity outdoors helps improve your metabolism, energy and immune system. Fresh air and sunshine also help provide higher levels of oxygen and give you a dose of vitamin D.”

SKATE, SLED, HIKE AND EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS

By Sara Carlson | Photos provided by St. Charles Park District

Especially during the current pandemic, Kies stresses the importance of fulfilling your mental well-being.

“Exploring and moving outdoors reduces stress, improves mood and enhances your creativity — to name a few benefits. Not to mention the importance of connecting with family and making memories.” ¢ SKATING & SLEDDING Whether your children are skating newbies or want to practice their spins, you don’t have to go far to find a rink nearby. Located at Davis, Lincoln and Timber Trails parks, you and your family can skate anytime from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. And don’t worry about pickup hockey games interfering with your family time. Ice hockey is only allowed at Langum Park. All rinks are free and lit at night.

Don’t let the winter fun stop there. Grab your saucers, toboggans, snowboards and tubes to slip and slide down the hills at Timber Trails and Langum parks because when there’s snow, there’s sledding. The hills are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily but are not equipped with night lights.

To check on the current status of these winter locations, sign up for the District’s Rainout Line to receive notices on if they are open or closed. It’s important to note Pottawatomie Park is not a sledding hill. Sledding and snowboarding are prohibited at this location. ¢ TRAILS & NATURAL AREAS With 20-plus miles of trails to walk, bike or crosscountry ski, make an afternoon to explore and take in the wintery landscape, listen and watch for the birds and other animals that don’t migrate or hibernate during the cold months. Many of these trails wind through community parks and natural areas and also

join up with regional paths such as the Fox River Trail and Great Western Trail.

“Snow is a wonderful time to experience nature,” says Ecological Restoration Supervisor Ryan Solomon. A few ideas for family winter fun include making a bird feeder, going icicle hunting, studying animal tracks or enjoying a winter picnic.

For a unique family experience in a natural area, explore the diverse landscape of Hickory Knolls while reading the newly installed walk-and-read children’s story: “Hickory Knolls: A History of Our Home.” The story follows Harley the hawk and his friend Greta the grasshopper as they explore the land and meet many of their animal and insect friends along the way.

If you’re looking for an organized activity, give back to nature by volunteering in one of the park district’s natural areas. The tasks vary by location and season.

Email Ryan Solomon to learn more at rsolomon@ stcparks.org.

Counting your steps or working on a fitness goal? Ten of the community parks include walking maps complete with mileage loops including River Bend Community, East Side Sports Complex, Mt. St. Mary, Delnor Woods, Fox Chase, Pottawatomie, Primrose Farm, James O. Breen, Hunt Club and Harvest Hills parks.

The park district encourages residents to continue following COVID-19 restrictions while outside including maintaining physical distancing of at least 6 feet, practicing good hygiene and staying home if you’re not feeling well.

For more information about winter activities, visit www.stcparks.org.

OUT & ABOUT JANUARY 2021

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Q&A

‘ DR EA M WAY O F SPENDING A DAY’

Q&A with David Hunt, owner of Town House Books, about reading and giving back

By Hannah Hoffmeister | Photos provided by Town House Books

T

DH: It’s something that the cafe and the bookstore do together. My husband, Doug Bella, runs the cafe … and he’s the one who put this all together. We reach out to organizations to work with; sometimes it varies from year to year. It’s a good way for the organization, too, to communicate within their organization to say, ‘Okay, if you want to help us raise some money, go and buy some books or lunch.’ It’s really a win-win situation.

own House Books, a quaint bookstore in downtown St. Charles, has been around since 1974. To learn more about what the store brings to the community, Kane County Magazine sat down with owner David Hunt, who purchased the store in 1992. This interview was edited slightly for length.

¢ KC MAGAZINE: Tell me a little about the store. How have you had to evolve because of the pandemic?

DAVID HUNT: We’ve always kind of prided ourselves on being just a brick-and-mortar store, a destination spot for the community. We’re people-oriented, service-oriented; we get to know our customers.

We form a lot of relationships with our readers, and that’s really the most satisfying thing — it’s been the people. We’ve never really been interested in online business before recently because it wasn’t our strength. It just so happens that even before the pandemic, someone started that company Bookshop. org. It really enables independent (bookstores) like us to have an online presence. … Especially when we were only able to do curbside, it was wonderful. ¢ KC: Do you have a favorite part of your job?

DH: Just sharing a book (with a customer), and having

28

¢ KC: I’m curious if there have been successes or bright spots within COVID-19 that you’ve noticed? them come back and say, ‘Oh, I loved that book.’

Having that satisfaction of having made a connection through books with customers who become friends.

I just love being in this ambience — having it filled with books and people who love books. That’s just kind of a dream way of spending a day. Not that it’s easy…but it’s very gratifying. My manager, Heidi Schmidt, has been with me for 25 years, so we’ve got that great relationship. It’s a good team effort. ¢ KC: Tell me more about Giving Tuesday. (The bookstore gives 20% of its profits to a designated nonprofit on the first Tuesday of each month.)

DH: As I mentioned before, it kind of forced us to expand our offering; we couldn’t just rely on being a brick-and-mortar store. Everything about us that makes us charming, makes it difficult: the small rooms, the cafe with the tables shoulder to shoulder; all of the things people love suddenly became an obstacle. It came as a shock, obviously, to everybody when we had (to close). But then we had this immediate pouring out of customers. Grand gestures to say, ‘We want you stay. We want you to be here.’

When we were only able to do curbside, people would make it a point to support us. It was very heartening to know that people care. ¢ KC: Why do you love books? Or, do you love books?

OUT & ABOUT JANUARY 2021

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¢ TOWN HOUSE BOOKS 105 N. Second Ave., St. Charles 630-584-8600 www.townhousebooks.com

DH: I love books. I’ve always loved books. We have choices of movies, theater and all wonderful things, but books provide an escape where you are the lead character in that escape, where you can see the story the way you see it and only the way you see it, and to try to find a connection with that book. ¢ KC: Do you prefer one genre over others?

DH: I prefer fiction; although, because nonfiction is getting more interesting, I love to go back and forth. … For those who sometimes say, ‘I don’t want to read things that aren’t true. I want to read things that really happened,’ I think that fiction can be as truth-telling and as important in the way we look at the world than just reading historical accounts of things that happened.

HUNT’S CURRENT READS AND RECOMMENDATIO NS: ¢ Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips: It’s not a book that I would’ve necessarily been drawn to, but that’s what’s great about being in a book club. You’re kind of forced to read outside your comfort zone at times, but I did enjoy it. It takes place in a remote part of northeastern Russia. It is a novel, but it almost reads like short stories because each chapter covers different characters. ¢ The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates: I just loved and finished (this). It’s his first novel. He’s written nonfiction before, but this is his first novel. ¢ The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood: It’s one of those unforgettable, touching-but-not-corny stories. It’s about a 104-year-old woman who befriends a young boy who comes to do some errands for her.

It’s a remarkable, astonishing connection that they have.

OUT & ABOUT JANUARY 2021

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IN VOGUE 30

The evolution of 10 years of style, from flared to high-rise jeans and beyond

By Allison Bills Photos provided by JADE Clothing and Jeans and a Cute Top Shop

T

en years ago, the world was seeing HBO’s “Game of Thrones” for the first time, the Green Bay Packers were busy winning the Super Bowl, and gas prices were averaging $3.50 in the Midwest.

Meanwhile, women in the Midwest were rockin’ low-rise jeans, flare cuts, tight tops and off-the-shoulder outfits. Many things have changed over the last decade (including many people’s feelings toward “Game of Thrones”), but some trends have stayed the same.

“Fashion is cyclical,” says Martha Murillo, owner of Apricot Lane at Geneva Commons. “Old trends repeat constantly in new ways. Each decade is connected in one way or another.”

While the Midwest isn’t the center of the fashion world, we do enjoy a good trend every once in a while. “The trends come from the coasts and we hesitate, wonder, question and wait for them to go on sale to give them a try,” says Jill Card, owner of Jeans and a Cute Top Shop in Wheaton and St. Charles. “Once we get a trend in the Midwest, we don’t let it go.”

The skinny jean is a trend that has stuck around for the last decade and does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. “If you think about it, 10-11 years ago, the only people who were wearing skinny jeans were teenagers,” Card says, laughing. “When I first opened my store in 2009, I didn’t have a skinny jean anywhere. Skinny jeans are now my No. 1 seller.”

Bootcut and flares were the most common style of jeans 10 years ago.

Even leggings also had more of a bootcut bottom. “I remember people would wear them with their flip-flops,” says Hannah Thuer, owner of JADE Clothing in Geneva.

“A lot of people feel comfortable in skinny jeans,” she adds. “They’re on-trend, easy, and there are so many ways you can wear them. Pretty much every body type can wear skinny jeans.”

And local fashion experts say they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. “I really don’t think we’re going to give up on skinny jeans,” Card says. “Being in the Midwest, it mostly comes from a practicality standpoint — you can tuck them in your boots to avoid getting your pants wet.”

The bottom part of the jean isn’t the only thing that has changed. The

ART & FASHION JANUARY 2021

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 FALL 2020: a front table look in Wheaton, showing the recent trend to casual, comfy and cozy — “COVID Casual,” you could say!

waistline has gone from sitting at the underwear line to reaching all the way up to the bellybutton now. “I would say one of the biggest things back then was low-rise jeans,” Thuer says.

comeback,” Thuer says, noting Urban Outfitters’ collaboration with Juicy Couture. “Those were popular back then, but people liked more of a pop in color.”

“We suffered our way through the low-cut phase,” Card adds. “My clients like the higher rise now.”

Like tops, even jeans have gotten more comfortable as the years have gone on. “You used to put in one leg and know if you were going to be able to get the jeans on or not,” Card says, laughing. “The designers have figured it out and made it better. The denim is stretchy and has good recovery.”

The current “mom” jean trend includes the looser boyfriend/girlfriend styles and skinny jeans with mid- or high-rise cuts. “Low rise is not an option anymore,” Thuer says, noting tops have been getting shorter (but not necessarily tighter) to pair with the high-rise jeans. “Jeans are just getting higher and higher.”

But if one thing has become clear in the last 10 years, it’s that styles are leaning more toward comfort. “Athleisure started to be a huge trend a few years ago with comfy clothing, and then you throw in a pandemic and everything is cozy and soft,” Card says. “Everything is a little looser and a little more cozy these days.”

Kasey Hoag, owner of Six + Cypress in Batavia, says oversized sweaters are making a comeback, as are bulky socks and flannels, which were also popular 10 years ago. “Everything seems to always make its way back,” she adds.

Even matching sweatsuits are appearing on shelves again.

While fashion is ever-changing, that doesn’t necessarily mean closets need to be gutted every season (or decade). Murillo recommends keeping plenty of neutral tones on hand and adding other additional pieces as trends change.

“It really doesn’t take much effort to put a spin on any piece,” Hoag adds. “You can make any piece a trend by just wearing it differently (tucking it in, adding a scarf, knotting it up, layering, etc.).”

Fashion (and many other things) can change drastically in 10 years, but personal style and preferences are more long-lasting. “If you don’t love how a certain style looks on you, even if it is a current trend, then that style is not for you,” Murillo says. “Find your own style and feel confident.

“Stay true to yourself because your style says who you are.”

Sweeten

“Juicy Couture sweatsuits are starting to make a

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Artist OF THE MONTH

LISA YOUNGDAHL The Tri-Cities are booming with arts and artists — perhaps nowhere more vibrantly than Batavia’s Water Street Studios, which hosts events, galleries and up to 25 artists in residence. Each month, Kane County Magazine and Water Street Studios are partnering to highlight artists and their work.

1.

W

hen Lisa Youngdahl first visited Water Street Studios at its 2009 opening, she says she thought, “There is a place here for me!” One year later, Youngdahl became one of the studio’s resident artists.

“Being at Water Street has presented opportunities to me as an artist I may have not had if I was not here,” says Youngdahl, who specializes in graphic design and colored pencil art.

Youngdahl got her start with art very early — she remembers creating illustrations “for favorite books if I didn’t like the ones published.” Her work is twofold: She has worked as a graphic designer for more than 30 years, creating images that are easy to understand. Her colored pencil art is almost the opposite.

“My work is richly detailed to give the viewer a sense of visiting the space, and recreating a mood or atmosphere,” she says. “Viewers are often surprised that my work is created with colored pencil; the richness and depth of color achieved looks more like a painting.”

Youngdahl is inspired by nature, the human experience, and, recently, the “faces, body postures, and concentration I see in musicians,” she says.

She was one of 10 artists who participated in Water Street Studios’ Activate the Alley project, which paired artists with nonprofits to create artwork displayed outside the studio. She worked with Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation.

“I first blocked out large areas of the canvas to color with acrylic paint before creating my colored pencil work on top of it,” she explains. “I am so proud to have been selected, the only one from Water Street, and with the client’s reaction: ‘I LOVE this!!! It turned out perfect.’”

Lisa Youngdahl has a graphic design business, Resolution Creative, as well as a passion for creating art with colored pencil. Visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/LisaYoungdahlArt to purchase her work.

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3.

2.

DETAILS OF LISA YOUNGDAHL’S WORK These were done in colored pencil and are pieces of Youngdahl’s private collection. To purchase them, contact Water Street Studios or visit the artist’s Etsy page.  Name of piece: Mammie’s Window  Name of piece: Mardi Gras Indian  Name of piece: Never Gonna Change

For more information on the artist of the month, head to www.waterstreetstudios.org or the organization’s social media pages.

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SELF-EMPLOYED?

SOLO-K! I

’ll never forget the moment I decided to start my first company. It was January 1993, and my second commission check from my employer just bounced.

My wife, Gina, and I had a modest town home and our firstborn, Mary, was just a toddler. Determined to make lemonade out of lemons, I told Gina, “Hey, we can’t make any less if I just go into business for myself.” I started Focused Financial Services on Valentine’s Day 1993. I was fortunate to be able to grow, diversify and ultimately sell that firm only to go out and do it again. Although the logos on the business card may have changed throughout the years, I’ve consistently had the distinct privilege of working with entrepreneurs. We all want to trust that our life’s work can someday be easily monetized, allowing us to ride off into the sunset on our own terms. Although I hope this happens for all who might be reading this article, I strongly encourage you to have a retirement savings safety net.

Whether you are currently selfemployed by choice or out of necessity, one of the most important things for you to continue to do is save for your retirement. Too often, those who are self-employed put their own retirement savings at the bottom of their priority list. It is easy for the entrepreneur to

34

rationalize that they can’t afford to save for retirement while the company is just getting up and running. Before they know it, years have passed with every dime going into their business venture and none being set aside for retirement. Soon the entrepreneur finds that time has passed faster than what seemed possible. Their spouse has them thinking about retirement, and if there has not been a specific retirement savings plan, they could be in trouble.

If you have employees, it has never been easier to sponsor a wellconstructed 401(k) Profit Sharing plan for your business. My Advisor & Planner specializes in helping private business owners structure plans that help them recruit, reward and retain talent.

Don’t have employees? No problem!

If you have formed a legal business entity (Corporation, Limited Liability Company, etc.) and do not have any employees beside yourself and possibly your spouse, fear not! The IRS will allow you to set up a Solo-K (also known as an Individual(k) or a One-Participant 401(k)). In many ways, these plans can function like a traditional 401(k) plan and, most importantly, can allow you to defer significantly more money than a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) or a Traditional IRA will. How? By allowing the plan to be funded by Employee

BUSINESS & CIVIC JANUARY 2021

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Elective Deferrals as well as by Employer Nonelective Deferrals. To illustrate, let’s take a look at Kim’s business, Kim’s Konsulting.

Elective Deferrals: Kim can defer up to 100% of compensation (“earned income” in the case of a self-employed individual) up to the annual contribution limit. These contributions are typically made throughout the year. For both 2020 and 2021, Kim would be allowed to defer up to $19,500. If Kim is 50 years old or more, Kim would be allowed to defer up to $26,000.

Employer Nonelective Contributions: In addition, Kim’s Konsulting can contribute up to 25% of Kim’s earned income.

Compared to a SEP, a Solo-K can be very attractive. Let’s compare.

Kim's Konsulting for 2020 Company's Revenue: $ 250,000 Gross Business Expenses: $ (65,000) Gross Profit: $ 185,000 Owner's Salary (Earned Income): $ (100,000) Retained Earnings: $ 85,000

Employer Cont ribution: Employee Contribution: Catch Up: Total Deferral:

$ $ $

Solo-K 25,000 19,500 6,500

$ $

SEP 25,000 -

$

51,000

$

25,000

If you’re self-employed, you have many options to consider to save for retirement. Make sure you choose one of them! If you’d like to discuss with my team, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Note: This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or plan provider. The Solo-K vs SEP comparison is for illustrative purposes only. Consult our tax advisor for your funding calculations.

Photo by Indre Cantero

FILE# 3367989.1

¢ Tom McCartney is the Founding Principal of My Advisor & Planner and a Registered Representative and Investment Advisory Representative with M Securities.

Securities and Investment Advisory Services Offered Through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker/ Dealer and Investment Adviser, Member FINRA/SIPC. My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated.

Tom and his team can be reached at info@ mapyourfuture.net, at 630-457-4068, or you can visit them at www.mapyourfuture.net .

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

My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated.

File #0709-2018

BUSINESS & CIVIC JANUARY 2021

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g n i r p S PLANNING FOR

NOW!

W

36

e recently purchased a 94-year-old home in downtown St. Charles after living in a subdivision for almost 20 years. I had landscaped our traditional suburban home with trees, shrubs and perennials over the years and left many beautiful species and an organized yard that is easy to maintain. I got spoiled because I had very little maintenance because I had chosen plants that I loved but also ones that were tough (ugh…the rabbits!).

The plants could thrive because, like many of you, I’m often too busy to garden.

our driveway that was basically a long, hot mess of everything. The “hellscape,” as we affectionally call it, had 50-year-old lilacs, a million maple seedlings, milkweed (which I saved), buckthorn and a spattering of poison ivy for good measure — so much that we could hardly pull in the drive. We spent an entire day ripping it all out — a stump grinder and a crew of hard workers returned it to a blank canvas that is ready to host my pollinator garden.

I’ve already replanted the milkweed, added some divisions of perennials from friends, the peonies that a neighbor said were from a previous homeowner’s grandmother, threw in a random grass or two, and now have about 125 feet left to mull over for spring.

Now I have inherited a larger yard that was neglected for the better part of 10 years or so, and hooo boy, have I got my work cut out for me! I love a landscape challenge, but I feel your pain if you have weed trees such as buckthorn, honeysuckle, walnuts and maples popping up everywhere — including your gutters! I have a newfound appreciation for groundcover beds that don’t have grass, weeds and saplings growing through them (I spent an entire day in July hand digging walnut seedlings out of a huge bed of vinca and pachysandra...I will discuss this with the squirrels…). We had a 4-by-150 feet area along

I don’t usually “plan” my gardens. I like to fly by the seat of my pants so I can experiment (which is to say NOT how I approach designing YOUR gardens!). But my husband pointed out that he can’t see my vision because it’s in my head. He asked me to draw it out and, at first, I balked at that. Then I realized that without a cohesive plan, we will have no rhyme or reason to the gardens, and they may take on a mind of their own. I’ve always been spoiled with the ability to visualize gardens in my head, but this time I had to put pen to paper for my own garden.

The thoughts spinning through my head are what all of you need to think when you walk your yard. Do you have a cohesive flow from one space to the next? Are some plants not performing the way you want them to? Have

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things died or outgrown their space and really need to be removed?

Sometimes the list of “garden things to do” can become quite long, and if you are like most humans...procrastination sinks in. But the garden waits for no one, so even if you let it go one or two years, you are opening up a huge can of worms that can take time (and money!) to fix. I encourage you to use the winter to plan for spring.

Spring always seems to sneak up on us — and without a plan, things can get out of hand quickly. If 2021 is anything like last year, there will be plant shortages, backlogs for labor and high demand for home improvement items. Start planning now and getting organized, and you won’t be disappointed come May.

Let us grow them into the garden of your dreams.

Formal landscaping wasn’t a big thing when our house was built in 1927, but I hope to restore this home inside as well as increase its outdoor beauty for others to enjoy. The gardens I have swishing around in my brain will be sustainable and low maintenance.

They’ll attract pollinators, bees, butterflies and birds, as well as provide color, texture and interest year-round. I wholeheartedly intend to take the winter to plan for spring right alongside you and make sure my own gardens start to take shape so I can get things done and enjoy them all summer!

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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Grab a Reading more can fit into any New Year’s resolution — there are so many positive aspects of sitting down with a good book!

Here are two recommendations for your January reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

¢ FOR YOUR KIDS OR GRANDKIDS: “The Dark Lord Clementine” by Sarah Jean Horwitz "The Dark Lord Clementine" by Sarah Jean Horwitz is a great read for students in grades 3-5. Clementine, the 12-yearold daughter of Dark Lord Elithor, is next in line to be the Dark Lord. She's been training since birth to be the best Evil Overlord she can be. This means one day she will have to terrorize the town and do all the dastardly deeds!

Things change quickly one day after a rival places a curse on her father.

When her father begins to waste away, Clementine must fill in for the Dark Lord. Clementine didn't expect to become the Dark Lord so soon — and she's still learning everything she needs to know to take over his role.

Now she has to step up and not only take on the full responsibilities of being the Dark Lord — she also has to find a way to reverse the curse placed on her father! Clementine begins to learn her own magic, and she learns more about herself, too. When she begins to make some new friends, Clementine realizes she will have to perform her dastardly deeds against them as well as the rest of the town.

That's when she starts to wonder: Is being Dark Lord worth it?

— Lexy Jones, librarian

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¢ FOR OUR READERS: "An Almost Zero Waste Life: Learning How to Embrace Less to Live More" by Megean Weldon Does one of your New Year's resolutions include doing more to benefit the environment? Many of us wish to live greener lives but are unsure how and where to get started. "An Almost Zero Waste Life: Learning How to Embrace Less to Live More" by Megean Weldon is the perfect guide that makes it easy to start modifying your lifestyle right away. For every aspect of your life, this practical book provides realistic steps that you can embrace on your journey to sustainable living. Weldon, aka the Zero Waste Nerd, targets “regular people” with her book and offers helpful tips on how to reduce waste and make smart purchases. The key lies in changing our worldview, altering what we consume and changing how we view waste. Weldon offers strategies to help you make better choices and learn how to reduce the amount of packaging and single-use plastics in your life. She also includes recipes for healthy meals, ways to make your own natural home cleaners, guidelines for recycling, suggestions for composting and more. You'll also find shopping recommendations to help you make the most environmentally friendly selections no matter where you shop.

Illustrations, photos and step-by-step instructions make this an easy-to-read guide the entire family can use to embrace a greener, cleaner new year.

— Erin Wittry, librarian

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Home Is Where the Hearth Is

Visit our show room to see over 40 burning models on display. See a wide selection of electric, gas, and wood fireplaces designed to enhance the warmth and beauty of your home. You’ll also find a full line of mantels, fireplace screens, and hearth accessories to complete the picture.

Sales • Service • Installation

1255 Bowes Road, Elgin (847) 741-6464 • thehouseoffireplaces.com Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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We can create any of your remodeling ideas, from design to installation We Do It All.

FINE CUSTOM CABINETRY AWARD-WINNING DESIGNERS AND ARTISAN TRADESMEN

To see this kitchen visit Havlicek Builder’s, Cooper Woods model in Geneva.

321 Stevens Street, Geneva • 630.232.9500 • www.genevacabinetgallery.com HOURS: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm or by appointment

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