Kane County Magazine November 2020

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Dee’s Place shines when it comes to soul food, entertainment PAGE 18

NOVEMBER 2020

ALREADY BEAUTIFUL Goods find new purpose at Gia Bella Designs PAGE 30

EVERYDAY LEADERS From a pen pal program to the polls, this is the story of Kane County’s heroes - section starts on page 7

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The birds are grown on a low-energy feed consisting mainly of corn.

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The most important factor that insures high quality is the tender loving care these birds get during the time they are on the farm.

The same people handle these birds from day one, through all the process to the delivery of the dressed product. This fact encourages us to do the very best every day to produce a bird that we can sell with pride.

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Editor's

NOTE

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

Happy November!

With Halloween in the rearview mirror, it’s officially time to start thinking about Thanksgiving food, right? It’s going to look different this year, I’m sure, but the stuffing, cranberry sauce and homemade bread rolls will thankfully remain the same. What’s your contribution to the meal? Mine is always chocolate chip cookie dough pie (yes, it’s a thing).

We had planned for November to be our “People” issue, where we highlight business owners and people in the community.

But, after 10 months of a whirlwind year, it seemed only fitting to reroute to the “Heroes” issue, to thank the people who have stepped up during COVID-19. To the doctors, grocery store employees, poll workers, teachers and beyond — thank you.

My heroes this year probably don’t think of themselves as heroes: the barista who smiles through her mask at my neighborhood coffee shop, making me feel welcome in my new home; the teachers who give grace and accommodations to my friends and siblings in school; the Kane County Magazine staff

and writers who have become my friends, even though we’re working from home.

Thank you.

This issue, I can’t stop thinking about the Suburban Superdad column (P. 12), which is uplifting and funny and sweet. It’s well worth your time to read. Among many others, we also have features on local community heroes (P. 14) and Soy & Lou, a traveling coffee cart attached to a bike and full of homemade coffee creations (P. 24). I tried the pumpkin iced coffee in October and would definitely recommend scouting out the bike's next location. Yum! My hope is that this issue prompts you to thank the heroes in your life, whoever they might be.

Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for reading!

Hannah Hoffmeister, Editor

on the

COVER

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, Jonathan Bilyk, Kevin Druley, Wendy Foster, Vicki Martinka Petersen, Amanda Rathe, Melissa Rubalcaba Riske, Chrissy Somers, Diane Krieger Spivak, Louise Treeny and Chris Walker

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.

Madison Brown visits The Springs at Monarch Landing, where she has started a pen pal program. Photo by Kathy Green, RCG Photography.

Next month: We’ve got the scoop on the holidays. Have you started your shopping yet?

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

NOVEMBER

2020

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NOVEMBER

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INSIDE Photo provided by The Morton Arboretum

What's

HEROES: 7 BRIDGING THE GAP Pen pal program connects two generations, offers “change of pace” 10 GIVING THANKS Community leaders, in their own words, reflect on a year unlike any other 12 LOOK FOR HEROISM The little things can set a tone for a better world, Superdad writes 14 STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINES Four profiles on community members who stepped up this year

DINING & ENTERTAINING: 18 HOME AWAY FROM HOME Dee’s Place experience shaped by entertainment, soul food and atmosphere 22 EAT HEALTHY, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT Digestive expert Dr. Tarun Mullick checks out GIA MIA in St. Charles 24 SOY & LOU It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a … bicycle coffee cart

HEALTH & WELLNESS: 26 BACK TO NORMAL IN NO TIME Less pain, better recoveries at Fox Valley Orthopedic in Geneva

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BUSINESS & CIVIC: 28 ‘IT’S MY CIVIC DUTY’ A Q&A with a poll worker on voting during a pandemic 30 ALREADY BEAUTIFUL Goods find new purpose at Gia Bella Designs in Batavia 32 BEWARE THE BAD BENEFICIARY Tom McCartney and Sharon Piet on reviewing your 401(k) 34 AREA NONPROFITS STRENGTHEN US Family columnist Chrissy Somers highlights local organizations

HOMES & LIFESTYLE: 35 GRAB A BOOKMARK Two book recommendations to check out in November 36 TIME FLIES IN THE GARDEN What to do to make sure your garden work carries over to next year

OUT & ABOUT: 38 STC UNDERGROUND Teen Center connects peers, helps teens succeed 40 HOLIDAYS GO ON, FROM A DISTANCE These holiday happenings are sure to brighten the season 42 ONE FOR THE BOOKS Local history museums are working to preserve the year’s memories

NOVEMBER

2020

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Bridgithe Pen pal program connects two generations, offers â&#x20AC;&#x153;change of pace for kidsâ&#x20AC;?

By Wendy Foster Photos by Kathy Green, RCG Photography

W Madison Brown with her parents, Georganne and David; her grandma, Sheila Brown; and the family dog, Ellie.

ith a little help from technology, Madison Brown introduced a nostalgic practice from earlier times to bridge a generation gap. In April, she launched Letters for Monarch, a pen pal program that matches teens with older adults. Since the spring, approximately 50 teens from around the world have been regularly corresponding with their senior pen pals, residents of The Springs Health

EDITOR'S NOTE: Everyone at the photo shoot wore masks and maintained proper distancing.

HEROES NOVEMBER 2020

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s has e ryone to b e v e d e s u a c and, as a vulnerable etic re empath o m , lt u s e r able. We all and charit ch one to rea need some m time to o fr s u to t ou r a light, offe time to be a nd provide a ip h s d n frie fluence.” positive in

“ This viru

Madison Brown

and Rehab Center at Monarch Landing senior living community in Naperville.

Photo courtesy of

Madison Brown

Photo courtesy of Madison Brown

Brown, a senior at Wheaton Academy, was inspired to start the program by her grandmother, Sheila Brown, a resident of independent living at Monarch Landing who was impacted by the lockdown during COVID-19.

The senior living community’s effort to keep its residents safe has been successful, but the ordinarily busy and engaged residents were asked to remain within their apartments.

Brown and her family checked in with her grandmother on the phone regularly as a way to maintain her connection to the outside world. “The calls would go on for hours,” she says. “I knew it was comforting for her to have someone to talk to, but it was also fascinating for me to be able to learn so much more about her and the life she’s lived. I’m very passionate about storytelling and its ability to highlight the power of words and community in an individual’s life. I started thinking of some way that I could provide hope and an opportunity to build relationships through writing, and to enlist others to do the same.”

Brown decided a pen pal program would be an excellent way to connect her peers and seniors who were lonely because of the pandemic.

“Everyone has a story to tell, and the residents at Monarch Landing have more than proven that,” she says. “These people have really lived and can offer wisdom and insight into our lives. And I’m hoping this program encourages teens to bridge the gap and have more conversations with the older generation. They’re pretty amazing.”

On the flip side, she says, “The reality is that

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HEROES NOVEMBER 2020

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teenagers want to help, and they want to make a difference, but I think a lot are just not sure how. I want to try and promote programs like this to offer a change of pace for kids; to give them an opportunity to slow down, write a letter, make a friend, and maybe even find out a little bit more about themselves in the process.”

interactions, she is mature far beyond her 17 years,” says Madison’s mom, Georganne Brown. She adds the program “was all Madison’s idea, from A-Z.”

Madison first recruited her friends to volunteer as pen pals and later discovered the website www.

AllForGood.com for help. To date, she has 50 volunteers from the Chicago area, as well as from New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Texas, Washington and even as far away as the Philippines, Brazil and Vietnam. After she’s screened the volunteers, they are connected to residents of The Springs with similar interests. Letters are typically emailed and printed for the residents, who respond in turn.

Connecting the generations has been one positive thing coming out of the pandemic. “This virus has caused everyone to be vulnerable and, as a result, more empathetic and charitable,” she says. “We all need someone to reach out to us from time to time to be a light, offer friendship and provide a positive influence. This virus has amassed great opportunity to do so, and I think the important thing is to maintain these relationships and connections long after the crises that influence them have passed.”

“Madison has consistently proven, through a host of activities and

For more information, visit www.

LettersForMonarch.wordpress.com.

Photo courtesy of

Madison Brown

Brown says she hopes to see kids “more empowered and confident in themselves through volunteer opportunities like this.”

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Photo courtesy of @abso_photography | Explore Elgin Area

Photo courtesy of Anthony Tortoriello

 JAMES CARDIS, director of marketing at Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau In a time where isolation is the norm and every deed is underscored by struggle, I’m heartened by a project like Good Morning Aurora, particularly how the show and its crew connect with and give voice to the moment.

“The second largest city’s first daily podcast” has been broadcasting live on Facebook each and every weekday morning since mid-May of this year, offering a daily dose of perspective from a range of guests that includes community leaders, elected officials, activists, restaurateurs, educators, athletes, artists and just about everybody in between. For those who believe, like I do, that we benefit from listening to one another, Good Morning Aurora provides a platform for our community to be heard.

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 LISA HICHENS, superintendent of Batavia Public School District 101 Opening our doors to students in Batavia Public Schools this fall was the most difficult and rewarding experience of my career.

There are countless people who made this possible, and the true heroes are those that helped us overcome the many obstacles along the path to reopen. Our teachers have risen to the task of quickly creating and implementing new ways of educating the 5,000+ students in the Batavia Public School District. The nurses are another group that continues to work tirelessly, mostly behind the scenes, to make in-person education possible. Our nurses, led by Lori Carbonell and Rachel Leathers, have put the safety of the school community above all else and are relentless in their mission to ensure an environment where everyone understands and follows the safety measures.

THA

I am humbled by the determination, creativity, resiliency, compassion and love our staff have shown the Batavia community during this unprecedented time. Thank you to all of our District heroes for standing up for our community.  KRISILEE MURPHY, executive director at Explore Elgin Area We would like to thank everyone that has stepped up to keep the Elgin Area safe during COVID-19.

Many local businesses have adapted their business model to continue providing services to the community and essential workers. Thanks to Arabica Cafe for giving bread to anyone in need, Side Street Studio Arts for passing out free art kits, Bear Family McDonald’s for providing free meals to essential workers, Gail Borden Public Library for streaming constant online

HEROES NOVEMBER 2020

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WHAT IS GENEVA DESIGN HOUSE? (Formerly Strawflower Shop)

Community leaders, in their own words, reflect on a year unlike any other

ANKS entertainment and Otto Engineering for safely keeping their doors open to continue manufacturing parts necessary for the health care industry.

These are just a couple examples of how our amazing communities have stepped up during this challenging time. But we want to thank everyone for pulling together; for keeping us #ElginAreaStrong.

 RAYMOND ROGINA, mayor of St. Charles It’s November, and the COVID-19 pandemic is still weighing on us. It has changed the way we live, work and spend our free time. It also will change how we

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 SUBURBAN SUPERDAD 

Look for

HEROISM The little things may not save the world in the moment, but, collectively, they can set a tone for a better world, Superdad writes

T

here are many difficult moments in a parent’s life.

when friends they thought were closer than siblings, betray.

Like that first time the little one asks where babies come from.

When some kind of mass events flicker across their screens, leaving them dumbstruck, wondering “What is wrong with people?”

Then, a few years later, when you have to sit them down to talk about it all in a bit more detail.

Or the moments you have to all but sit on them to persuade them to eat the healthy green stuff on their plate. Then, a few years later, the tables turn, and they tell you to put down the donut and eat something healthy, for cryin’ out loud (and then, you wonder why they’re talking like an old man, only to sheepishly realize they are using your words back at you).

But then, any parenthood journey isn’t complete without dealing with the moments that provoke pure dread: The times when our attempts to shelter and protect at last fall short, and the roof of their existence crashes in under reality’s weight. Those moments when death claims a loved one.

When friends, who they couldn’t imagine ever losing, move away. Or

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When pedestals are knocked over, and the heroes that once stood atop them are revealed to be all too human, with far more flaws than a mere vulnerable heel.

Maybe it was an athlete or other celebrity, an influencer, a coach, a teacher, a minister, a grandparent, uncle, aunt, an older sibling or maybe even their own parents.

What do you even say to a young person who discovers the person or people they most admired also repeatedly fall short? When they discover that those heroes, the ones they wanted to be just like, may actually be roundly despised by many others, even if we don’t necessarily view them as despicable?

I can’t speak for yours, but in our household, on such occasions, there have been hot tears all the way around, often with no good resolution. Easy answers fall flat.

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In the past two decades, we as a country, as a people, have collectively dealt with such moments.

M

For instance: Go back in your memories and find yourself anytime in the months immediately after Sept. 11, 2001, and try not to stifle laughter at the stupefied reaction, when you tell You Version 2001 that, just 19 years in the future, American streets would be filled with millions of Americans, rallying against the same police officers so roundly championed then as unquestionable heroes. Is there anything more fleeting than hero worship?

Today, that’s seen in the truly mundane.

It’s seen in the people willing to stand up for the rights and freedoms of others, not just their own.

It’s seen in those ones who struggle daily to find the balance between trying to stem the tide of a deadly pandemic, while continuing to soldier on with as much normality as they can muster, to ensure that at the end of all of this, there is a society still worth struggling for.

Yet, heroism endures. It’s what I try to instill in my young ones, anyway.

It is certainly still seen in the many police officers, firefighters, soldiers and EMTs, who still respond to calls for help, no matter the circumstances, every day.

Mr. Rogers told children, in times of crisis, when events happen that don’t make sense, and evil people do evil things, don’t dwell on the evil outcomes.

Instead, look for the helpers.

It’s seen in the health care workers, the supermarket and retail workers, and others in public-facing essential positions, who, despite great risk to themselves, continue to report to work.

I tell my kids: Don’t look for superheroes. You might as well spend your time searching for mythical creatures, like mermaids; unicorns; caped, flying aliens from destroyed interstellar worlds devoted to truth, justice and the American way; or American politicians truly devoted to any of the three aforementioned virtues.

It’s seen in everyone who continues to report for work, even as Netflix binges beckon.

Instead, look for heroism in the little things that people do. They may not save the world in that moment, but, collectively, they can set a tone, lay down footsteps for others to follow on the path to a better world.

It’s seen in the tenants and homeowners who continue to pay their bills, even when they can’t be removed from their homes.

It’s seen in the landlords who find ways to ensure struggling tenants do not end up homeless.

It’s seen in the employers who find ways to continue to serve, and to continue to pay their workers as much as they can, even when their businesses have been ravaged and layoffs would be the easy way out.

It’s seen in the creativity of faith communities and community organizations everywhere, finding new ways to sustain or even expand their missions and answer their calls, in these uncertain times.

It’s seen in marketing writers who have summoned the courage to retire the phrase “in these uncertain times.”

Mostly, it’s seen in those who don’t give in to despair, but instead find ways to continue to give of themselves, to adapt, to overcome.

And today, my hope as a dad is that such heroism would be seen by my young ones in me, their eyes unclouded by delusions, yet their hearts inspired by the understanding that, in any time, in so many ways, they can be heroes, too.

 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.)

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STORIES from the

FRONT LINES The “front lines” of the pandemic do not just refer to one line of work.

Grocery and restaurant workers, teachers and doctors — among many others — went to great lengths to take care of others this year.

Here are four stories of community members who did just that.

DR. SCOTT HELM

By Kevin Druley Dr. Scott Helm is an anesthesiologist, medical staff president and medical director of perioperative services at Delnor Hospital.

He’s also a Geneva resident.

“I love living in the community that I serve,” Helm says.

To that end, Helm has channeled a consistent support system since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing upon encouragement from friends and neighbors away from Delnor while relying on endless teamwork among hospital staff as the patient response climate has evolved.

“I am really doing this on behalf of an amazing team at Delnor, and that has to be emphasized,” Helm says.

“The people who have borne the brunt of this work have been those doctors and nurses in the (intensive care unit) and those doctors and nurses in the (emergency department), and then on the floors, taking care of all the

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COVID patients.”

Helm helped facilitate the temporary repurposing of the operating room to allow for the hospital to remain ahead of potential surges of COVID-19 patients.

“The fear was that you suddenly have an emergency department — and for that matter, a parking lot — filled with people with COVID, and you just had no capacity for your hospital to take care of them,” Helm says.

With Helm and other Delnor officials coordinating efforts to clear space by triaging patients, reassigning certain staff and rescheduling elective surgeries, that fear never was realized at the height of the pandemic in Kane County.

“Basically, we were put in a situation overnight where we had to continue the normal work of a hospital but then in addition to that, we had to help provide extra staffing in the ICU for COVID cases,” he says.

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PAUL LENCIONI

By Hannah Hoffmeister

Through Facebook videos, a fleet of rented trucks and a grocery pickup and delivery system that served 250 families a day, Paul Lencioni kept his community fed and the Blue Goose Market stocked during the shutdown.

The president, owner and CEO of the St. Charles grocery store says he was at a trade show in Cleveland in mid-March when he had a dream about COVID-19.

When he woke, he went into preparation mode, ordering toilet paper and other necessities. “We kinda got a jump on things,” he says.

From his store, he recorded daily Facebook videos, reassuring the community and updating everyone on what was in stock. He posted at least one video per day for six weeks straight, he says. “You make me feel better,” people told him about the videos, Lencioni says.

“I’ve asked for the job of feeding people.

I’m gonna do it. There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do,” he says. “We’re talking about my daughter’s friends, their parents, kids on her soccer team, people I know in the community, my neighbors.

That’s us. What wouldn’t you do for ‘us,’ whoever your ‘us’ is?”

He rented three trucks, sending them all across the Midwest to secure toilet paper, milk, eggs, bananas and other goods. Their grocery pickup and delivery system, which had previously never filled more than 30 orders per week, was suddenly filling 250 per day.

Lencioni takes an “It takes a village” approach. “I very much believe that nobody makes it alone, and we only make it together,” he says. “I wanted people not to be scared.”

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BETSY MURRAY

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

Every educator is navigating uncharted waters these days, but these challenges haven’t diminished the spark of joy that Betsy Murray brings her students at Batavia High School.

Murray is a special education teacher of students with social-emotional and behavior needs. Murray’s fellow teachers see her as a hero for all the little ways she makes a difference in her classroom.

“She has built an amazing community where her students feel safe, feel confident. It’s almost like a family,” says Laura Anderson, assistant director for student services at Batavia High School.

Murray is managing students in person at the high school as well as those remote learning while continuing to collaborate with her co-teachers and staff who support her students. Anderson says Murray maintains the attitude that all students are important and all students deserve the opportunity to be successful.

students, offering incentives such as a kickball game against the principal.

“She is so happy when she is with her students,” Anderson says.

In the past, Murray has encouraged her students to step outside their comfort zones. She has introduced them to do community service and even invited them to join her at a local farm to groom horses.

Batavia High School Principal JoAnne Smith says it has been impressive to watch Murray and her team make learning fun, even in these challenging times. And yet for Murray, it’s humbling to hear the praise when she sees each day as an opportunity to be a support for her students. She says it’s she who needs them.

While COVID-19 has put a stop to field trips, it hasn’t stopped Murray from finding creative ways to connect with her

“They’re my motivating force,” Murray says. “They show me how important it is to be connected.”

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LUCAS ROTTER

By Kevin Druley

Being gregarious goes with the territory of being a server at Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead, the way Lucas Rotter sees it.

So, should guests at the establishment in Rotter’s hometown of Elburn ever forget to wear a mask at any point during their stay, he’s always sure to speak up politely.

“We just kindly ask them to pop their mask on for us when they’re talking with us or interacting with staff or if they’re walking throughout the building and they might have forgotten to put it back on,” Rotter says. “Or if they walk into the

building, we just kindly ask them to hey, put one on.”

Obscurity provides disposable cloth masks for those who may have neglected to bring the personal protective equipment altogether, a gesture that has helped keep the atmosphere at the craft barbecue, beer and mead restaurant upbeat.

“Most people are very respectful to the staff about it,” Rotter, 22, says. “We haven’t had any problems.”

Obscurity co-owner Luke Goucher didn’t hesitate in recommending Rotter as a

notably diligent employee who has been especially mindful of keeping staff and patrons safe.

Rotter, who moved back home from Chicago in mid-March, also lauds Obscurity’s mission to treat social distancing and other pandemic safety protocol seriously by providing hand sanitizing stations and staggering seating, among other efforts.

“It just kind of seems like a Chicago restaurant in the middle of Elburn, Illinois, the way that everything is run there, and the management there is so on top of everything,” Rotter says.

Thank you to all the heroes who have made this year better. Your courage, strength and dedication to serving others has not gone unnoticed!

— Kane County Magazine staff HEROES NOVEMBER 2020

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LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, SOUL FOOD E AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE SHAP THE EXPERIENCE AT DEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PLACE

By Louise Treeny | Photos provided

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 IF YOU GO DEE’S PLACE 558 Randall Road, South Elgin www.deesplacesouthelgin.com Follow on Facebook to see if a food truck is coming near you, to learn about holiday meals and to check out Dee's Place catering options.

from After the band got situated on the stage overlooking the dining room, David “Dawi” Williams and his jazz band — Dawi & The Front Street Band — introduce themselves. “Welcome to Dee’s Place,” Williams says. “The best soul food between two oceans.”

Then came the crowd introductions. “What’s your name?” Williams says, pointing to each table. Over plates of barbecue, fried chicken and plentiful bowls of side dishes, the tables’ occupants shout out their names. “That way, everyone feels like family,” explains Dee, owner of Dee’s Place.

This moment brings together everything that makes Dee’s Place a South Elgin gem — people who feel at home, great food and high-quality entertainment. That combination has sparked enormous growth for Dee’s Place, which now has three food trucks and is planning a second location focusing on entertainment. “I’m having fun,” Dee says. “This is not really work for me.”

FOOD Before going on stage, Williams casually mentions he’s traveled all over the world for his music. Dee’s Place, he says, has the best jerk chicken he’s ever had. He likes that it’s seasoned all the way to the bone, not just on top.

Todd Morley, a regular, says he’s tried everything but the catfish, crawfish and alligator, the latter two being new menu additions. “The combinations are spectacular,” he says of the menu’s flavor profiles.

An hour later, after finishing his meal, he returns to the table and provides an update: “I have a new favorite — the catfish with that hot sauce.”

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In addition to the jerk chicken, catfish, crawfish and alligator, Dee’s Place serves a variety of homestyle food, including fried chicken, mac and cheese, ribs and cornbread. Everything is cooked to order and made from scratch.

The drinks are also homemade, whether you’re interested in a blended coffee drink or crafted cocktail with homemade syrups and juices.

Dee’s Place serves Off the Leash coffee, a company started and operated by Natalia WadeRamirez, 21. You can get a cup of hot coffee with a piece of chocolate cake, or try it with alcohol or as a blended drink. “Around the World in Three Coffees” is a delightful blended drink made with the company’s house blend — a mix of Brazilian, Colombian and Papua New Guinean beans — mixed with homemade lavender syrup and homemade whipped cream, topped with mint.

“This is such a fun place to be,” says WadeRamirez, who promotes her coffee and also works at Dee’s Place as a server. “It’s great exposure too.”

ENTERTAINMENT Bringing the highest-quality entertainment to Dee’s Place is a main priority for Dee, whose background in music comes partly from personal experience as a touring performer.

Thursday night is karaoke, Friday night is comedy, Saturday night is blues and Sunday night is jazz.

On Thursday, men and women from various tables get up from their food to belt out lyrics to a variety of genres. People sway and mouth the words in their chairs.

Dawi & Friends play every Saturday and Sunday, accompanied by a rotating cast of instrumentalists and singers. On a recent Sunday, Dee’s Place hosted singer Maggie Brown, the

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daughter of famous jazz musician Oscar Brown Jr. “This is what we’re all about,” says Dee.

GROWTH Since opening in May, Dee’s Place has seen enormous growth, fueled by loyal regulars who advocate for the restaurant to friends and family.

“People from the community who come here feel like it’s a downtown venue,” says Maria NevarezLott, marketing director. “A little bit of the city in their backyard.”

Food trucks have also gotten the word out to new diners. Dee’s Place food trucks partner for local events — businesses, neighborhood subdivisions, etc. — from Tuesday through Thursday, then go to bars and bigger venues (like Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard, for example) on weekends. One of the newest food trucks is geared toward seafood, which goes along with new menu items at the restaurant.

A second location is in the works, this one in Glenview. At 7,500 square feet, this building will be more than twice the size of the South Elgin location, which is already spacious and welcoming. The Glenview location will have a private dining room and patio space, too.

“There’s a need for this kind of food,” NevarezLott says of the rapid expansion.

In addition to the food trucks and the second location is perhaps the most exciting addition of all: Dee’s Place on the Bayou, an entertainment venue that will combine food with big acts every weekend. This will open sometime in 2021, says Nevarez-Lott. The goal, she says, is that every day at Dee’s Place on the Bayou will feel like Mardi Gras.

Regulars Todd and Alane Morley of Elgin really

value the experience Dee’s Place offers. “It’s the idea that you can come so close to home” and see such a “variety of live entertainment,” they say.

LIKE HOME Between the atmosphere and food, it feels like you’re home when you enter Dee’s Place. Add the quality of live entertainment, and it’s almost better than home.

Todd Morley called it a “high-quality establishment that makes it an awesome experience for anyone.” His wife, Alane, remembers a kind stranger who helped Todd sing a song when his pitch couldn’t reach all the notes. “Everybody’s just here having fun,” she says.

Dee takes pride in the diversity and family-like feeling of the guests who dine at his restaurant.

On one particular karaoke Thursday, the restaurant was packed — as packed as it could be with social distancing, that is — and filled with “every nationality singing, laughing and dancing.” That, Dee says, takes the cake for his proudest moment at Dee’s Place, so far.

DINING & ENTERTAINING NOVEMBER 2020

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SOUL FOOD IS PERFECT FOR ANY OCCASION!

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WITH DR. TARUN MULLICK | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GIA MIA

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et’s keep supporting our local restaurants, workers and servers.

Even though it's getting colder, we can still find ways to get takeout and support local.

Just think, if we can wear masks and socially distance, we can still eat out while controlling the spread of the virus. Let’s support our local restaurants by doing takeout twice a week.

I decided to dine at the beautiful setting outdoors at GIA MIA St. Charles: what a beautiful location with a view of the river. It feels divine, almost as if you are in Rome. After I had a chance to take in the view, we turned to the ricotta and honey appetizer. A little bit of this whipped cheese kissed by a touch of local honey drizzled onto a small toast brings you right to a moment of food divinity. I could hear the opera singers in the background!

Next I went for the beet and farro salad. Who doesn’t love this one? You should eat different colors, and these beets sure add some brightness.

This is a decorative piece of red beets, imported farro, pistachios, spinach, balsamic and goat cheese.

Finally, I needed some carbs, so I tried the beef short rib and gnocchi. It’s a bigger plate, but not overwhelming. Thus, the carbohydrate balance is enough for the day ahead but not too much to increase your waistline.

This features the slow roasted beef short rib delicately folded into the red wine, shallots, garlic and light tomato broth. This is served over a few, soft as a pillow Asiago gnocchi.

Viva Italia! There is a little Rome in St. Charles.

 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 of the 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: Recently has the age of colonoscopy for cancer screening changed to 45?

A: Yes, recently a study was done that demonstrated a significant increase in colon cancer for current 27-year-olds compared to a 27-year-old from 40 years ago. This prompted the change of the guidelines for men and women to get screened with a colonoscopy at age 45 rather than 50.

Q: I heard getting a colonoscopy is just for women or men like breast or prostate cancer.

A: Colon cancer affects both men and women, thus colonoscopy is important for both men and women above the age of 45 to get screened. In addition, if you have any symptoms of bleeding, change in bowel habits, weight loss, abdominal pain, request a workup with a gastroenterologist. The colonoscopy is equally as important as any other test for breast and prostate. Please get evaluated to identify polyps and get them removed. While colonoscopy is not a perfect test, it is the best out there.

Q: I have gas bloating, and some of my friends have diarrhea and constipation. Are there any new medications available?

A: In recent years, there are new medicines for constipation that

work well for patients with mild symptoms or chronic symptoms.

In addition, the same is true for diarrhea that is irritable bowelrelated. Prior to giving those medications, a proper evaluation and workup should be done to rule out other diseases like celiac sprue, infections, Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, amongst others. In addition, structural evaluation to rule out reasons are important as well.

Q: Heartburn and gas are bothering me. What should I do?

Should I try over-the-counter medicines, and for how long?

A: It is important to go to a gastroenterologist for evaluation of the heartburn. An evaluation should include an endoscopy to determine the level of esophagitis and rule out a precancerous condition, Barrett’s esophagus. In addition, it is important to identify ulcers and gastritis. Other conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis, which are related to food allergies, can present similarly. Length of treatment and types of treatment, along with lifestyle and dietary changes, can be determined.

Q: Liver disease and pancreas problems run in my family. I

heard that baby boomers and others should get screened for Hepatitis C and other diseases.

A: Yes, baby boomers should be screened for Hepatitis C. There

are great treatments for this now. In addition, fatty liver can occur from diet or alcohol. A periodic evaluation of liver function tests and, at times, an ultrasound are helpful. Go to a gastroenterologist for evaluation and determination of need for other blood tests and workup.

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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.

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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.”

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ANSWERS: Liver, Fatty, Colonoscopy, Telehealth, Cirrhosis

DINING & ENTERTAINING NOVEMBER 2020

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Soy & Lou

IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S A … BICYCLE COFFEE CART

By Amanda Rathe | Photos provided

A

new, veteran-owned coffee business run completely out of a bicycle cart has been serving up fresh brews to Tri-Cities shoppers and the Mill Creek subdivision since opening in late May.

Stefanie and Kelly Swentik, owners of Soy & Lou, offer a simple menu, including drip coffee, cold brew, hot tea, iced tea, and lemonade or hot chocolate for children, available seasonally.

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In addition to the standing menu, they offer unique, rotating specials — think vanilla lavender latte, double coconut cold brew and fall pumpkin flavors.

“We try not to offer too many options so we can perfect our product and have room to grow and incorporate our customer feedback,” says Stefanie Swentik. “Offering rotating items and specials allows us to be creative and keeps

people coming back to see what we might have next.”

Quality products are especially important to the couple. The coffee beans they use are sourced from De Espresso Liber, which bills itself as a “Special Forces veteran microroaster.” They are roasted in small batches and shipped to order, allowing Soy & Lou to use fresh grounds. Even the creams and flavorings

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are made fresh before each opening.

“If we order beans, we get them and are selling them that same week they are roasted, and that makes all the difference in taste,” Swentik says.

This business, named for their two children, Sawyer and Eloise, has been a dream the young entrepreneurs are excited to see come to fruition. Coffee even acted as a major player in the development of their own relationship.

“Kelly and I met in a coffee shop in North Carolina while he was stationed

at Fort Bragg completing a Special Forces qualification course, and I was doing my nursing residency there,” Swentik says.

As a mobile business, it’s important for Soy & Lou to let customers know where to find them. They update Facebook frequently and use the app Glympse, which allows them to share their location in real time.

Despite being new to the neighborhood, Soy & Lou has already started finding its place in the local

market. Other small businesses in the area have been very welcoming and open to collaboration. “Becoming a part of this business community has been the best, most unexpected part of our experience so far,” Swentik says.

Local businesses are not the only ones to welcome Soy & Lou with open arms.

Residents of the Mill Creek subdivision are thrilled to have this option in their own backyards. One resident, Amanda Alfaro, loves being able to get highquality coffee without even leaving

her neighborhood. “They come to you,” she says. “Everything they do is made fresh. They don’t even buy their creamers; they make all of it.”

As the business continues to grow and gain a loyal customer base, hours of operation are varied. Soy & Lou can also be booked for appearances at private events.

For more information, visit their Facebook page, “Soy and Lou on the go brew.”

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BACK TO NORMAL IN NO TIME Less pain, better recoveries for hip, knee replacements at Fox Valley Orthopedic in Geneva

By Chris Walker | Photos by Sandy Bressner

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hile knee and hip replacements are on the rise, the surgeries at Fox Valley Orthopedics are less painful than ever before, utilizing advanced technology in the comfort and convenience of its surgery center to provide its patients with faster recovery and an improved quality of life.

“I think the exciting thing about today is people who have disabling hip problems or degeneration at a younger age don’t need surgeries like years ago with 6- to 12-inch incisions where it took four hours to do and there was a lot of bleeding and blood loss,” says Dr. David R. Morawski, a total joint replacement specialist with Fox Valley Orthopedics in Geneva. “With an advance of technology and instrumentation, special tables and better anesthesia technology, we can do it through a 3-inch incision anterior and we’re not cutting muscle or tendon, so there’s not only less pain and suffering for the patient, lower risk of infection and faster recovery.”

All staff is specialty trained in orthopedics —

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pre-op, surgical, nursing and anesthesia. The surgeon and patient choose the implants, not hospital administrators. Fox Valley Orthopedics performs customized knee replacements that utilize technology.

“There’s different technology out there for knee replacement that’s minimally invasive and patientspecific,” says Dr. Jasper A. Petrucci, a total joint replacement specialist with Fox Valley Orthopedics.

Petrucci says the Geneva office has an MRI that directly communicates with the implant company. A patient comes in looking to get an MRI of their bad knee. The MRI reveals certain things and informs Petrucci of any deformities.

“It tells me the amount of bone to resect,” he says. “The reason I like this is I get to work directly with the engineers from the company and I’m an engineer by training — I was a biomedical engineer at Northwestern — so this gives me a really good way to put a clinical application to what I trained for when I was at Northwestern.”

Those days of being stuck in a hospital for days or

weeks are over. At Fox Valley Orthopedics, you can avoid the hospital altogether and be walking out of its surgery center the same day.

"When we opened our single specialty surgery center in 1994, we were able to only do minor procedures like sports medicine arthroscopy, carpal tunnel, and bunions. Now nearly 20 years later, we are able to perform more complex, larger joint reconstructions like hip and knee replacements,” Morawski says.

“Without violating the canal where a lot of the bone marrow and swelling occurs,” he says. “The patient can get their range of motion quicker and achieve greater outcomes.”

Insurance companies appear to prefer surgery centers like Fox Valley Orthopedics’ because it costs less — 60% less out-of-pocket costs for the patient.

“Now, 20-plus years later, knee and hip and shoulder replacements are being done at surgery centers safely, with less chances of infection with the least invasive techniques,” Morawski says. “Insurance doesn’t want to pay for the hospital costs.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS NOVEMBER 2020

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Outpatient Joint Replacement Care Close to Home At Fox Valley Orthopedics, our board certified joint replacement surgeons are: • Innovative leaders who only do hip and knee joint replacement • Specialists in minimally invasive surgical techniques and joint revision surgery • Experts in anterior and posterior hip replacement • Patient-oriented, and provide a comprehensive treatment plan that results in faster recovery, better mobility

Life is too short to be limited by pain For an appointment, call (630) 584-1400 or visit FVOrtho.com Three Convenient Locations Geneva 2525 Kaneville Rd

Geneva 2535 Soderquist Rd

Elgin 2350 Royal Blvd.

Suite 200 HEALTH & WELLNESS NOVEMBER 2020

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Q&A ‘IT’S MY CIVIC DUTY’

A Q&A with Arlene Gaglione, a poll worker who’s on the job despite the pandemic

By Diane Krieger Spivak

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T

he election is no exception to the list of things affected by the pandemic. This year, Kane County increased pay for poll workers, aka “judges,” to compensate them for working during a pandemic to help people who vote in person Nov 3. Essential in any election — and heroic in 2020 — judges keep things moving in an orderly fashion, working up to 14 hours in one day to do so.

Kane County Clerk John “Jack” Cunningham notes that even before Election Day, the county had already seen historic turnout.

Meet Arlene Gaglione, 68, who has worked many elections, including presidential, mayoral and “everything in between” over the past 10 years. She’s not stopping now. Kane County Magazine caught up with Arlene to find out what motivates her. This interview was done before the election.

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Last Minute Hostess Gifts & Baskets Available Come taste 60 different extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from all over the world. Unique Gift Baskets Available.

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two so we have enough people to cover all the bases.

ARLENE GAGLIONE: I started doing it as what I looked at as my civic duty. I think it’s important that we all do our part to make sure that it’s a fair election and everything comes out right, and that no one is doing anything that should not be done. A friend of mine suggested I work for the City of Aurora Election Board.

I did that for several years. Then I heard Kane County was looking for judges.

 KC: Did you have any misgivings about working the polls this year during the pandemic?

 KC: What does a typical Election Day look like for you?

AG: It's up about 4 a.m., and get to the polling place by 5 so we can set up machines and get everything set to open by 6. We try to rotate in each station every couple of hours, checking signatures, handing out the numbers they key into the machines to get the ballots. We have someone who sits near the voting booth to offer any assistance needed and hand out the “I voted” stickers. At the end of the day, we verify our numbers on machines, match numbers we have manually taken, then tear down machines and get everything ready to go back to St. Charles and turn them in. There’s a minimum of two judges at each precinct. We try to have two and

AG: No. They’ve made it clear they’re doing everything possible to keep everybody safe. Somebody’s gotta do it. I’m considered a bit compromised, but I don’t let it stop me. Two years ago on Election Day while I was a judge, I received a call from my doctor that I had breast cancer. It knocked me for a loop.

I took a deep breath and made a phone call to my husband and kids.

Other than that, there was nothing I could do at that point so I finished.

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 KC: How will this election be different?

AG: We are going to sanitize each booth after each person casts their ballot. Our booths have barriers between. They will be far enough apart for social distancing. For every five precincts, there will be floaters to come and sanitize and verify that sanitizing is taking place.

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 KC: Why do you keep doing it?

AG: I feel it's my civic duty and I love meeting people. I like helping them do their civic duty by voting.

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already BEAUTIFUL GOODS FIND NEW PURPOSE AT GIA BELLA DESIGNS IN BATAVIA

BY ALLISON BILLS | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GIA BELLA DESIGNS

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hat originally started as a farmhouse tray craft at Jill Equi’s dining room table has turned into a blossoming business, Gia Bella Designs, situated on the main floor of an 1800s Batavia mansion.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for a long time, and I felt like I needed some sort of release,” Equi says, noting she was a legal secretary before she stayed home. “I felt like I was losing myself in the moment of raising kids.”

Equi started selling her handcrafted goods at a booth before she outgrew that and moved into a 520-squarefoot space in her friend’s Yorkville salon, Shear. It didn’t take long before she expanded again and moved into her own shop in Geneva.

“Not long after we moved in, my landlord decided to go a different route with the building, so we could either close up shop or move on and go bigger and better,”

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Equi says. “We decided to go bigger and better.”

That’s when she landed in Batavia at the historic Newton House, which became a perfect fit for her shop. “I was trying to find somewhere that an artist market was not very prevalent,” Equi says, noting her husband, Jason, has always been her biggest supporter.

“We saw this space on the hill and we were like, ‘Uh yeah, we’ll take it.’”

The shop’s namesake is her two daughters, Gianna and Bella, but it also has a deeper meaning for her products. “It means ‘already beautiful’ in Italian,” Equi says. “That’s just like everything in my shop. It’s already beautiful and had a purpose, but I’m giving it a new purpose by updating it.”

While Equi still does make her own repurposed items, she has brought in an array of local artisans who specialize in various handcrafted goods. She currently has around 10 other vendors who offer clothing, home

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decor, gifts, tote bags, pet trinkets and much more.

“The shop is better decorated than my own home,” Equi says, laughing. “There’s a lot I would like to bring home.”

Equi has turned her focus to making candles and soaps for her shop while leaving the rest to her talented artisans. “When I get an idea here or there, I try it,” Equi says. “But I’m really focusing on my candle and soap line.”

She currently has a citrus and vanilla goat milk soap and is working on her donkey milk soap. “I know it sounds really weird, but donkey milk soap is wonderful for the skin,” Equi says.

which was once the parlour to the home,” Equi writes on Instagram.

“Imagining the old furniture and tables with the men sitting together — drink in hand, smoking a cigar or pipe — immediately brought a specific aroma to mind!”

For customers wanting to get creative, Equi offers a candle bar at Gia Bella Designs. Customers can make a reservation to make their own custom candle, which includes picking a jar and scent, melting the wax and blending it all together. “Creating a candle is not as easy as you’d think,” Equi says, noting she almost gave up on her scents multiple times. “It’s really a science.”

In addition to the handcrafted soaps, Equi has crafted her own signature candle, “Gia Bella,” which is a blend of violet, amber, sweetgrass and oakmoss, and is working on a “Newton House” line that was inspired by the home where her shop resides. The line is a blend of tobacco, cognac, cherry, butterscotch and sweet vanilla.

It’s only been a few months since relocating her shop to 11 N. Batavia Ave., but she’s already feeling confident in her new space and loving the community.

“Creating this scent was a fairly easy project, as I sat in my candle bar,

“It’s more a homey, close-knit feeling in Batavia.”

“It’s been wonderful having new faces pop in,” Equi says. “The customer base is growing, and it feels like more of a home here.

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BEWARE THE BAD BENEFICIARY!

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hen an investor opens a qualified account (new 401(k) account, new IRA,

new life insurance policy, etc.), an

important part of that process is to designate a beneficiary. In most cases, the account owner is required to provide a primary beneficiary and is able to provide a contingent beneficiary as well. Unfortunately, this may be the last time the account owner thinks about the beneficiary (beneficiaries) that have been designated and this can lead to disastrous consequence.

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 BENEFICIARY: A person or entity who is the recipient of or will receive some or all proceeds of money or property held by the current owner upon a specified event or condition. Such vehicles as life insurance policies, inheritances, annuities or trusts may require that a beneficiary be named.  CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY: Should the primary beneficiary precede the account owner, a contingent beneficiary if so designated would be next in line.

“What problem could possibly arise?” you may ask. Consider Bob. Like many people today, as Bob has honed his skills over his career, he has pursued newer and better opportunities resulting in Bob

changing employers about every five years. As happens often, Bob was so busy changing jobs that in each case he left his 401(k) account back with his former employer. Each of his “orphaned” 401(k) accounts were all but forgotten over time as he figured he’d just “clean this up” later when he approached retirement. Along the way, Bob got divorced and never went back to update his beneficiary despite remarrying. Unfortunately, there was a terrible accident that claims Bob’s life. When presented with the death certificate, the custodians of each of his “orphaned” 401(k) accounts dutifully payout to the designated beneficiary, who is his ex-spouse.

What can ensue is a legal battle between the ex-spouse and others like

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a subsequent spouse who thought they should have been entitled to those assets. Not pretty.

Another common scenario involves the death of a spouse. For example, Susan’s husband, Todd, dies of cancer, leaving Susan and their two children as survivors. Susan continues to work and several years later marries Henry, and they have a child together. Susan had an IRA Rollover from a job change prior to Todd’s death and never updated her beneficiary. Susan predeceases Henry. Who does her IRA distribute out to? Her surviving spouse, Henry? Todd’s and her two children?

Are you sensing how messy this can become?

When there is not a clear, surviving beneficiary, the distribution

typically is based on the Custodian’s Order Rules. This is spelled out in the Customer Account Agreement, can vary by custodian, and may not mirror the wishes of the deceased account owner. Seemingly benevolent parties who felt they were rightful beneficiaries can soon find themselves mired in legal proceedings that seldom result in a “winner.” That’s why we say, “Beware the Bad Beneficiary.”

We can’t encourage you strongly enough to periodically confirm that your designated primary and contingent beneficiaries are consistent with your wishes. If you are not sure how to go about this task, call your financial advisor for assistance, or you can call our team and we’ll be happy to help!

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.

Photo by Indre Cantero

FILE# 3288954.1

 Tom McCartney and Sharon Piet are teammates at My Advisor & Planner and are Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives with M Securities. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are 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 Sharon can be reached at info@mapyourfuture.net, at 630-457-4068, or you can visit them at www.mapyourfuture.net.

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AREA NONPROFITS STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY With Chrissy Somers, www.FamiliesOnTheFox.com Photo provided by Joshua Tree Community

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e are lucky. The Tri-Cities have a plethora of nonprofits that contribute to the betterment of our communities. These are nonprofits that serve the underserved, that enrich access to technology, that provide additional resources to taxpayers.

Much of the work they do is behind the scenes.

These organizations seldom get the recognition they deserve because of their humble nature.

But every nonprofit in the area could use your help.

Volunteer. Donate. Give. However you help, it’s important that you simply help in whichever way best fits your ability to do so.

The nonprofit organizations listed below are just a small tasting; for a full list and links to each one’s website with more information, visit www.

FamiliesOnTheFox.com/charities-nonprofits.

ST. CHARLES

 BEN SMILES FOUNDATION This organization, created by a mother whose son Benjamin was diagnosed with cystic encephalomalacia, donates adapted toys, switches and other devices to kids with motor or development challenges. Most insurance companies don’t cover these products, and that’s where Ben’s Toy Closet steps in, doing it all in Benjamin's memory.

 TRI CITY HEALTH PARTNERSHIP I’ve visited the offices of Tri City Health Partnership in person to witness all that they do for the community. Their mission is to provide quality health care to members in the community who don’t have the means to pay for services. Along with these services that are free to the patients, they also provide free education and preventative care. The schedule varies, but several area doctors and specialists volunteer their time at Tri City Health Partnership to provide their community with excellent care.

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GENEVA

 JOSHUA TREE COMMUNITY The Joshua Tree Community is a not-for-profit day program for adults with disabilities. Again, I have sat in on the programming as a fly on the wall, but was quickly immersed into the activities and warmly invited by the program attendees! These individuals enjoy having new local experiences and getting behind-the-scenes interaction with several area businesses like the Kane County Cougars, Graham’s Chocolates and more!

 LIVINGWELL CANCER RESOURCE CENTER If you or someone you love has been impacted by cancer, then they (or you) need to know about LivingWell Cancer Resource Center. They provide compassionate care that empowers, encourages, supports and offers hope to patients with cancer and their friends and families who have been emotionally impacted from the diagnosis as well.

They even have a private room for patients who are dealing with hair loss to go in, try on several different wigs and choose any one they’d like, free of charge.

BATAVIA

 CHIP IN BATAVIA Chip In Batavia supports students of Batavia Public School District 101 who find themselves in temporary housing situations. Chip In also supports these students while they are transitioning to permanent housing, ensuring that students who are facing poverty can be successful in school. They have provided furniture to families who were in need during their transition, cars for families who did not have any means for transportation and extra assistance around the holidays to help alleviate stress for those families.

make the arts more accessible to the Fox Valley region and beyond. The studio provides classes, artist studios, gallery exhibitions, free programs for under-resourced families and schools, and events in the historic venue. Water Street Studios wants the community to learn about art in a nonintimidating arena while also learning from art by demonstrating all that it can do for us mentally and emotionally.

While Families on the Fox wishes we could have spoken on behalf of all the other organizations, we encourage our readers to support an organization that speaks to them — one that appeals to your heart, or one that may benefit someone you know.

It doesn’t matter how you choose the organization to support — just choose one and #SupportLocal.

For more CHARITIES + NONPROFITS, visit www.

FamiliesOnTheFox.com/charities-nonprofits. Be sure to follow FOTF on Facebook and Instagram @FamiliesOnTheFox to stay in the loop with what’s going on in the Tri-Cities!

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

Photo by Katie Kaltz Photography

 WATER STREET STUDIOS Water Street Studios is more than a local art gallery. It’s an art center for the community.

Located in downtown Batavia, its mission is to help

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Grab a Picture this: homemade soup simmering on the stove and a captivating book in front of you. Even a few minutes of reading can ease some of the stress of remote learning or working from home. Here are two recommendations for your November reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

 FOR YOUR KIDS OR GRANDKIDS: “Best Babysitters Ever” by Caroline Cala

 FOR OUR READERS: “The Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern

Three friends, no parents, unlimited snacks and occasionally watching other people's children — what could possibly go wrong? "Best Babysitters Ever" by Caroline Cala is a hilarious middle grade book suitable for readers ages 8-12. The story begins when Malia decides to form a Babysitter's Club with her friends Bree and Dot, just like Kristy does in the classic book series.

Malia and her friends will use the money they earn to throw an epic triple birthday party. The trouble is, the three of them are terrible businesswomen.

Even when they do make money, it's hard to save it for a party instead of blowing it all on a shopping trip.

Then Malia's plans fall apart when her perfect older sister, Chelsea, creates her own Babysitter's Club.

Chelsea’s club is fancier and more profitable. Can Malia, Bree and Dot save their business? Will Malia's plan for revenge on her spotlight-stealing older sister lead to disaster? And will the children in the neighborhood be scarred for life by the girls' terrible babysitting? Find the answers in “Best Babysitters Ever”!

If you're looking for a little bit of magic and a deep appreciation for the written word, check out the timeless romantic fantasy "The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern. Fans of Morgenstern’s first book, the New York Times bestseller “The Night Circus,” will relish this novel. In the book, we meet Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a graduate student in New England who discovers a mysterious book in the university library stacks. Captivated by the fascinating stories he finds as he turns the pages, tales of a subterranean land of books, hidden doors and key collectors, he also discovers the story of his own childhood — which he's never shared with another soul. Determined to find out more, Zachary finds himself caught up in a secret life-and-death world of intrigue that involves pirates, lost loves, cats, time travel and spies — all tied together by a mysterious underground library beside the starless sea. Beautifully written with a cast of authentic and complex characters, this novel is a love letter to stories and readers.

— Lexy Jones, librarian

— Lauren Maxwell, librarian

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Time Flies in the

GARDEN P

hew ... well that was a whirlwind spring, summer and fall. Seems like just yesterday we were freaking out about snow in April and finding a home in July for all the plants we fell in love with. With impending doom approaching … er, I mean winter … I always take time to reflect on the garden season before I put the garden to bed and turn my thoughts to what I’m going to do next year. Here are some things to do in the garden in the late fall/early winter to make sure that all your hard work from March through October wasn’t for naught.

• Check for critter damage and protect your plants. Were the rabbits eating a certain plant every.

Single. Week? If so, I will wrap a little chicken wire “collar” around the plants I know they will keep after once I’ve gone inside for the year. It never hurts to protect

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hydrangea, chokeberry, burning bush and even the trunks of young trees from the raging taste buds of rabbit and deer. Spray repellents work, but you have to keep applying, and we all know that you are not going outside in February to spray your hydrangea … so pick up a roll of chicken wire and just make small collars around each plant you wish to protect (make sure you secure the collar with some stakes or zip ties). You can start applying the spray repellents again in early spring when plants start poking through the soil, and that will keep the starving rabbits from eating all that new growth.

• Note plants that didn’t do what you expected them to do. The plant could be struggling due to the drought we had and will need a little extra help next spring with fertilizer and regular waterings. Or, it could mean that a plant is aging out and will need to be removed next year because it’s past its prime.

I always have a list of two or three things that I want to give “one more chance.” Real estate is prime in my garden ... and it’s survival of the fittest.

• Set reminders for yourself to apply pesticides,

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fungicides and/or fertilizers, as timing is everything. I know it sounds a bit simple, but come April next year, you will be busy and totally forget to watch your crabapple so you can spray it for apple scab or apply the systemic Japanese beetle control in May or the fungicide for sudden needle drop on Colorado spruce in June.

And by the time you remember, it will be too late to spray, you miss a year and the plant declines. Just set a date about two weeks earlier than you would want to spray to remind yourself. The weather factors in a bit, but usually there is a week or two window allowed for spraying.

• Make plans to contact our landscape designers early if you have just gotten fed up with your yard! With the pandemic, many people have been home and have started to really look at their outdoor spaces. Those spaces may need some attention that is a bit more than a shrub here and a perennial there. Don’t wait until spring hits, or you will be waiting until summer to see any improvement. Our calendar fills up fast, so contact us in February or March if you want to be first on the list for spring rejuvenations!

• Put some thought into your wish

list of plants for planting in 2021.

I have seen so many misplanted plants this year. Folks fall in love with that cute little spruce at the big box store and don’t take the time to investigate its habit (or the fact that blue spruce are dying from a fungal disease and shouldn’t be planted!). Next thing you know, you are paying thousands of dollars to have a 30-foot spruce removed that is three feet from your foundation. I’m a stickler for spacing with plants, and believe me, you will be around longer than you think and that plant grows fast!

Always, always check the mature size on a plant. You will not be able to keep something small that doesn’t want to be small. It’s like trying to keep my teenage sons from eating every 30 minutes — not going to happen, and they will just keep growing whether I hide the Oreos or not.

Let us grow them into the garden of your dreams.

It has been such a great season despite the drama around us. We have met so many new gardeners and seen familiar faces again too. Don’t stop gardening! Keep experimenting and stopping by to tell us of your successes and failures. The coffeepot is on yearround and we welcome all of you to our tribe! (Plus, we have more time to chat in the winter, so we love to hear from you!)

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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STC UNDERGROUND

TEEN CENTER CONNECTS PEERS, HELPS TEENS SUCCEED

By Sara Carlson | Photos provided

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ucked into the basement of the Baker Community Center is a dedicated space for teens to socialize, to play games and to have fun, but most importantly: to be themselves.

Through multiple opportunities and engagement, they learn respect and integrity while having fun,” he adds.

Popular activities that bring teens together include regular gaming tournaments. This winter, they can look forward to Super Smash Bros tourneys from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.

Known as the STC Underground, teens have been flocking to this space since its inception in 2001.

With more than 1,400 members and averaging 5,500 visits per year, teens enjoy the variety of programs tailored to their age group.

From in-house Minecraft and Smash Bros tournaments and trips to local arcades, to study nights, movie marathons, anime events and more, staff provide teens with a variety of activities to participate in a relaxed space, free of bullying and peer pressure. Even when there aren’t scheduled activities, teens are welcome to stop by to shoot pool, surf the internet or just catch up while lounging on comfy couches.

“The STC Underground is a safe environment and a dynamic space where teens can enjoy the company of their peers and feel like they are part of the community,” says Chris Holling, the newest teen recreation supervisor.

The center offers free memberships to students

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Video game events will always be part of the regular programming, but Holling says it’s important that the teen center be more than a gaming destination.

“We want our offerings to be diverse, catering to all interests and demographics,” he says.

ages 11-19 in middle or high school residing within the boundaries of St. Charles Community Unit School District 303.

The teen years can be tough, Holling says, as kids are trying to figure out where they belong and what they want to pursue in life.

“The STC Underground can be that guiding entity to nurture those interests and help them succeed.

“We strive to also incorporate the theatre and cultural arts into our programming, to engage the different areas of the brain to bring out creativity and imagination,” says Holling, who has a degree and working experience in the theatre arts.

This winter, the teen center is hosting a Bob Ross Painting Party from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 11, where teens will learn to create a masterpiece step by step.

The fee to participate is $30. Also in December, teens will enjoy holiday classics during the free month-long Holiday Movie Marathon program on Wednesday nights. Advance registration is required

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DONATE YOUR VEHICLE

for both activities.

Throughout the school year, the center also holds study nights from 6 to 7:45 p.m. every Tuesday. This is a dedicated time where teens can focus on their studies and then break for pizza and drinks.

Other regular programs include the weekly drop-in activities: 2:30-4:30 p.m. Tasty Tuesdays; 5-7 p.m. Bingo Wednesdays; 5-7 p.m. Teen Trivia Thursdays; and 7-9 p.m. karaoke Fridays.

“STC Underground is a positive force

in the community, and I encourage all teens to take advantage of the welcoming space and programs to socialize and have fun with their friends,” Holling says.

The St. Charles Park Foundation has partnered with CARS, a vehicle donation program, to support your parks. CARS does it all with flexible scheduling of vehicle pick up and final sale negotiations. Proceeds to the Park Foundation are expedited after the sale. Donors receive a thank you letter with pertinent tax information.

Start Your Donation Process!

Call toll-free 24/7 today: 855-500-7433

To help continue teen center programs and maintenance of the facility, as well as provide supplies used by members, tax-deductible donations are welcome.

STC Underground staff is adhering to CDC guidelines during the pandemic.

For more information on teen center hours and programs, visit www. stcunderground.com.

For more information:

stcparkfoundation.org Heated Tent

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HOLIDAY om a distance fr

From light shows to parades, these holiday happenings are sure to brighten the season

By Vicki Martinka Petersen Photos provided by Geneva Chamber of Commerce, courtesy of Karen Muehlfelt of Keeping Moments Photography; and The Morton Arboretum

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OUT & ABOUT NOVEMBER 2020

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YS e

I

t’s comforting to know many beloved holiday traditions will continue this year, even if they look slightly different. If you could use a dose of good tidings and cheer, here’s a listing of nearby holiday events. Be sure to check the websites closer to the event dates for the latest information related to COVID-19 safety guidelines.

 WINTER LIGHTS WHEN & WHERE: Nov. 20, Downer Place in downtown Aurora LEARN MORE: www.aurora-il. org/1247/Winter-Lights This free family event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with an illuminated holiday parade featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus. Be sure to arrive early, as streets will begin to close at 6 p.m. for the parade. Following the parade, the newly crowned Little Mr. And Miss Aurora will illuminate the city’s holiday tree. Other activities include a fireworks display, costumed characters, photo-ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and food trucks.  ILLUMINATION WHEN & WHERE: Nov. 20-Jan. 3 at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle LEARN MORE: www.mortonarb.org/ illumination-event/2020 This year, visitors will be able to safely see trees from the comfort of their own vehicles. This year’s 2-mile driving experience (about 30-40 minutes) reimagines favorite scenes and presents five newly designed sights displayed among the Arboretum's trees. This year, the exhibition will stay open later — until 10 p.m. Sunday

through Thursday, and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost per vehicle is $29 for members and $39 for guests on a standard night, $39 for members and $49 for guests on peak nights. Tickets must be purchased in advance.  HOLIDAY HOMECOMING WEEKEND WHEN & WHERE: Nov. 27-28, virtual and in downtown St. Charles LEARN MORE: www. stcholidayhomecoming.com This annual festive event has served for many years as the official kickoff to the holiday season in St. Charles.

This year the lighting of the lights will be a virtual ceremony, which will be available to watch at 5 p.m. Nov. 27. Also included in the weekend is the kickoff to the Holiday Tree Trail, a window contest on Main and First streets, and Santa’s House, located in the First Street Plaza. Check the event’s website for more details and COVID-19 safety guidelines.  CHRISTMAS WALK WEEKENDS WHEN & WHERE: weekends Dec. 4-20, Third Street in downtown Geneva LEARN MORE: www.genevachamber.com In the era of social distancing, this

year’s Christmas Walk will be held over the course of several weekends.

Each weekend will feature a different holiday experience, including chestnut roasting, carols, Santa and a “cocoa crawl.” Visit the chamber website for more information closer to the event. Note the annual Holiday House Tour, typically held the same weekend as the Christmas Walk, has been canceled this year due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

“This event has become a tradition for families and we look forward to seeing everyone in 2021,” says the chamber’s website announcement of the cancellation.  WINTERFEST ART MARKET WHEN & WHERE: Dec. 11-13 at Windmill Office Center, 160 First St. in Batavia LEARN MORE: www. downtownbatavia.com/winterfestart-market Get a head start on your holiday shopping while supporting local artisans during the Winterfest Art Market in Batavia. The fine art and craft sale will be held from 4 to 7 p.m.

Dec. 11; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 12; and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 13. Masks are required for vendors and shoppers.

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LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUMS ARE WORKING TO PRESERVE THE YEAR’S MEMORIES

BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE

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hile there’s humor is saying no one wants to remember 2020, the truth is this year has been quite memorable. From the introduction of new vocabulary (“social distancing”) to wearing masks, there’s a lot that will certainly be recalled for years to come.

While the staff and volunteers at history museums often spend their days preserving and researching the past, they also work diligently to document current events for future study and understanding.

The Geneva Historical Museum closed its doors in March, but staff and volunteers weren’t idle for long. They began to reach out to the community and invite residents to share their experiences of 2020. Markie Striegel, curator of collections and exhibitions, says the museum staff invited people to share journal entries, both in written form as well as through videos and in social media. “We got a pretty good response,” Striegel says. “We had old school journaling and 21st century with social media.”

Striegel says journaling has long been a wonderful way to collect thoughts

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and memories. Through the years, the museum has acquired journals as well as a collection of letters, which in the past often provided a window into people’s worlds.

The community responses to the museum’s invitation for journals and video messages can be viewed on the museum’s website blog. Additionally, it invited people to share photographs to further document the moment and brighten the museum’s windows.

The museum receives copies of the Kane County Chronicle, and volunteers photocopy noteworthy stories about Geneva, Striegel says. Newspapers can yellow and diminish through the years, and the photocopies provided a better way to preserve the articles, she says.

At the St. Charles History Museum, staff is inviting people to share their memories in the COVID Community Journal. Launched in May, the journal invites people to share stories, photos and emails regarding their impressions and memories of 2020, says Lindsay Judd, executive director for the St. Charles History Museum.

As the year winds down, Judd says she’d love to have people share the impressions of the year, looking back at the many events that made headlines including COVID-19, protests and elections. “I’d love to put together an exhibit that showcases everything

that has happened,” she says. “We’re not only collecting artifacts from the community but internally as well how our museum has adapted.”

When it comes to our own history, Judd and Striegel say it’s never too late to gather the stories, photos and memories of our family. With many of us likely to find more downtime than usual, it’s a great opportunity to catch up on our journals, scrapbooks and family photo albums.

“We have objects, photos, but without information it’s hard to know its importance,” Striegel says.

Along with noting headlines, the museum staff has collected some artifacts from this year, including the popular face mask with the Geneva High School Vikings logo.

“Every object has a story, has a meaning,” Striegel says. “It’s important we are doing this now because we’re living through it and we can add our own notations.”

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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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THE AURORA AREA OF ILLINOIS

Plan your visit with the Aurora Area Go Guide In print and online at enjoyaurora.com

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