THE PEOPLE ISSUE NOVEMBER 2017

‘WILD’ RIDE LOCAL TV STARS DISCUSS FILMING SERIES FOR NAT GEO PAGE 14

TRAVEL: EXPLORE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS’ SHAWNEE WINE TRAIL PAGE 37

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT WITH STYLE GURU MALLORY SILLS

Bathrooms Kitchens Basements Siding Windows Doors Three Season Rooms Decks Architectural Enhancements (inside & out) Whole House Remodels

Whatever the project, the McDowell team looks forward to helping you through every step of the process...

INSIDE THE PEOPLE EDITION

PEOPLE 8 STYLE GURU Image consultant Mallory Sills helps women find confidence through fashion 12 ‘IT’S NEVER TOO LATE’ A desire to learn leads Jen Stanley to discover her inner artist 14 ‘WILD’-LIFE SHOW GIVES COUPLE STAR TREATMENT St. Charles animal wranglers featured in Nat Geo TV series ‘When Nature Calls’

34 YORK FURRIER Pairing style with tradition at thirdgeneration family business

16 GETTING TO THE HEART OF HISTORY Childhood stories inspire author Kevin Gaffney to memorialize veterans in ‘Kane County – The War Years’

36 THE GLASS-HALF-FULL GUY: The wind that carried her to ride beyond herself

18 FIRE ON ICE Elite athlete Chloe Ryan overcomes illness and injury to take national title

HOMES & LIFESTYLE

OUT & ABOUT

22 REQUISITE FOR RECOVERY Fall drought calls for damage control

42 BE BEDAZZLED Hemmens Cultural Center’s rendition of ‘The Nutcracker’ indulges in the ‘mystical and magical’

26 ANIMAL HOUSE VETERINARY HOSPITAL Compassionate care for your pets

DINING & ENTERTAINING

Photos provided

37 WINE HAVEN IN THE HILLS Lush forests, rolling countryside make up Illinois’ scenic Shawnee Wine Trail

40 HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST Ten not-to-miss, seasonal events

BUSINESS & CIVIC

TRAVEL

20 CONFIDENT AIRE: Caring for your home since 1992

25 PERFECT FIT Wagner Plumbing serves St. Charles for a century

‘WILD’-LIFE SHOW GIVES COUPLE STAR TREATMENT St. Charles animal wranglers featured in Nat Geo TV series ‘When Nature Calls’

FASHION & BEAUTY

27 FIT FOR FOODIES Food and drink fests, events and tastings to please your palate 28 UNITED NATIONS (OF BEER) Global Brew Tap House patrons can ‘fulfill all their craft beer needs’

HEALTH & WELLNESS

46 ON THE JOB Park district provides positive work experiences for teens 49 BOOK NOOK Stories of love and loss 50 SOCIAL LIFE Class of 2017-18 Women of Distinction honored 52 ARTIST SHOWCASE Batavia resident Greta Bell shares oil paintings of local landmarks 54 CALENDAR See what’s happening this month in Kane County!

30 ROBOTIC GUIDANCE Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital offers new alternative assistance for traditional knee and hip replacements 33 JUNK FOOD GIANTS Seven things a nutritionist would never eat

4 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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Editor's Note We all try to find meaning in our day-today lives. As human beings we often turn to one another for guidance, self-worth, happiness, hope, reassurance. Grand sweeping questions involving the purpose of our very existence often cause strife and confusion, but there is a way to simplify – even something as far-reaching and insurmountable as how to live each day with meaning. In “The Book of Joy,” the world’s most preeminent spiritual leaders happened to shed some light on the subject by saying that living with meaning is simply living each day to serve or help others, or – at the very least – not to harm others. We are perpetually in motion, constantly coming into contact and affecting one another, and each interaction – no matter how small – can create a ripple. Just seeing someone doing something nice for someone else, oftentimes results in your own good-doing. And a smile from a stranger has the ability to momentarily brighten your day. And, of course, the same is true at the other end of the spectrum. Sometimes not harming someone is all that we’re capable of on any given day, which – in itself – is actually an act of kindness.

This month’s issue is the “People” edition, and we are shining a light on those who make us all want to do better, be better, follow our dreams, work hard and persevere. Cover girl Mallory Sills, a St. Charlesnative, coined the phrase “Find your style, find yourself.” Six years later, the style guru’s image consulting business has helped countless women find confidence through self-expression via fashion. An author, artist, athlete and TV series stars round out the list of locals who contributed their stories to this month’s magazine. Since the holiday season is upon us, just remember to share moments with the ones you love, a smile between strangers and offer positive thoughts to those who need them most. Happy Thanksgiving! And thanks for reading,

DIRECTOR OF NICHE PUBLISHING Laura Shaw 630-427-6213 lshaw@shawmedia.com EDITOR Kara Silva 630-427-6209 ksilva@shawmedia.com

, Kara Silva, Editor

DESIGNER Carol Manderfield 630-427-6253 cmanderfield@shawmedia.com ACCOUNT MANAGERS Sandra Petti 630-313-0251 spetti@shawmedia.com

on the

COVER

Helping women discover their personal style while transforming how they feel about themselves is the mission behind Mallory Sills’ six-year-old business, Image Success. Find out how the St. Charles native used fashion to overcome her own self-esteem issues, on Page 8. Photo by RON MCKINNEY Salon Services by MARIO TRICOCI Stylist - CARLA Makeup - TRISHA 6 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

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

Tricia Walter 630-845-5272 twalter@shawmedia.com CORRESPONDENTS Kelsey O’Connor, Kevin Druley, Diane Moca, Allison Horne, Peter Stadalsky, Aimee Barrows, Allison Manley, Elizabeth Harmon, Kelli Murray PHOTOGRAPHERS Missy Donovan, Ron McKinney, Sandy Bressner, Bill Ackerman

Kane County Magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send payment information and address to Kane County Magazine, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.

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“Clothes were my creative outlet. But when you dress differently as a kid, it’s not cool, and there were people who didn’t ‘get’ me.” – Mallory Sills, owner of Image Success

Style

guru

IMAGE CONSULTANT MALLORY SILLS HELPS WOMEN FIND CONFIDENCE THROUGH FASHION By ELIZABETH HARMON Photo by RON MCKINNEY Helping clients discover their personal style and transforming how they feel about themselves is the mission behind Mallory Sills’ six-year-old business, Image Success. The St. Charles native says clothing has a subtle but powerful impact on our selfimage. “People often think of clothing as a superficial thing, but our emotions are affected by the clothes we wear,” she says “They’re a powerful tool to help us feel amazing – or not.” Client Katy Morris of Wheaton, a financial services professional, believed that to work in a male-dominated field she needed to adopt a plain, masculine style at work. “I would go into a store and have them help me put something together, but I’d get it home, and it didn’t look like me,” Morris says. Working with Sills helped Morris discover that her personal style was bright and feminine. “I still look professional in blazers and pencil skirts, but it’s more colorful,” she says. Our clothing choices are often dictated by outside forces, such as our industry, age or fashion trends, rather than our personal likes and dislikes, says Sills.

-Continued on page 10 PEOPLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 9

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PEOPLE

-Continued from page 9 “The clothes need to be appropriate for the work environment but, at the end of the day, it’s not what feels good on us,” she adds. It’s something the St. Charles native understood at an early age. “I’ve always been super into clothes. Even in preschool, my mom remembers it was a big thing getting me dressed in the morning,” she says. As a child, Sills’ ease at relating to adults set her apart from her peers. So did her passion for fashion. While her classmates preferred 1990s looks, such as jeans and sweatshirts, Sills’ tastes ran toward dressier items and unique outfits she would put together. “Clothes were my creative outlet,” says Sills. “But when you dress differently as a kid, it’s not cool, and there were people who didn’t ‘get’ me.” By her senior year at Burlington High School, Sills knew she wanted to pursue a career in fashion, but knew little about the industry. Her dream became clearer after she enrolled at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago to study fashion merchandising. “I loved it. There were all these [other people] who loved clothes as much as I did. I felt like I’d found my people,” Sills says. Determined to break into the highlycompetitive industry, Sills took advantage of internships during college. One brought her to New York to work with stylist Stacy London, host of the show “What Not to Wear.” For Sills, the experience “was like a light going on.” “Stacy [London] was helping women feel good about themselves again, and I knew that this was what I wanted to do,” Sills says. After graduation, Sills worked in retail, while launching Image Success. “I was 22; none of my friends were starting businesses – my parents are business owners, but in the construction industry – so [it] was very different,” she says.

Image Success offers one-on-one styling packages and ala Carte services, which include personal shopping, closet cleansing and make-up consultations. She also is a speaker, blogger and has a podcast – “Style Success With Mallory Sills.”

live in style, your style

Most of her clients are women, though she works with a few men, and many are going through a significant life change, such as returning to work, entering a new field, or going through a divorce, an illness or even a significant weight loss. The process begins by spending time with a client and getting to know them. “I ask questions; we hop on the phone. There has to be trust,” Sills says. “What I do is personal and the more comfortable they are with me, the better.” Often the most difficult part of the process is having to inventory the closet of a client. “People get very nervous, but I’ve heard and seen it all. I’m not there to judge,” she says. Client Kim Conti of Chicago, a selfdescribed jeans and T-shirts lover, knew she needed a new wardrobe to go with her new life, but didn’t know where to begin.

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“It was such a relief to take something off my plate and put it in the hands of a professional,” says Conti. The closet purge process helped her jettison old, worn out items. “Mallory has the nicest way of saying, ‘I think it’s time to let this go,’” Conti says.

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“Mallory described my style as ‘funky business professional.’ I can totally pull off a suit, but now I look professional and memorable,” Conti says. “She listened to my likes and dislikes and where I was willing to take risks. Now, for the first time in my life, when I go out, I can pick and choose from things I feel good in.”  For more information about Mallory Sills or Image Success, visit mallorysills.com.

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 11

‘It’s never too late’

A DESIRE TO LEARN LEADS JEN STANLEY TO DISCOVER HER INNER ARTIST By ALLISON HORNE | Photos by MISSY DONOVAN

When Jen Stanley first moved to St. Charles eight years ago, she set out to adorn her new home with pieces of art. With $300 in her pocket, she ventured to Target to explore her options. It was a shopping trip that would change her life. “It was all just stuff that didn’t resonate with me,” Stanley says. “It was just to cover my walls with something.” Instead of spending the money on some generic art, Stanley put that $300 towards an art class, something she had always been interested in trying. “It was the best $300 I’ve spent,” Stanley says. Stanley’s first art class was a drawing class at Water Street Studios in Batavia, which she followed with oil painting classes with Carol Zack at the Fine Line Creative Art Center in St. Charles. She has since stuck with the medium, and mostly works with oil pastels. “She had never drawn before, but she just had a good eye and followed instructions extraordinarily well,” Zack says. “She had success quickly because of that.” While Stanley always thought you had to know how to draw to be able to paint, she notes that it’s simply not true. Stanley says she struggled with drawing when she began, but flourished when she picked up a paintbrush. “I love how oil pastel never dries,” Stanley says. 12 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

“I can let a mistake sit for a long time and know that I can go back and change it.” Stanley notes it takes around 30 layers of pastels to complete a painting, and that you start with dark layers on the bottom and build the bright, light colors on top of it. “It’s very meditative for me to have a longer process with the medium,” Stanley says. “Plus the fact that it’s so forgiving.” From the beginning, Stanley has always been interested in drawing figures. One of her favorite places to get inspiration is riding the CTA bus, and Stanley has been using traveling as a big resource for her paintings. Most times, she’ll just snap a photo with her iPhone and recreate it later. She also has used her great uncle’s black-andwhite photographs of her ancestors (he was an amateur photographer) and transformed them into oil paintings. “Originally I was drawn to the figure,” Stanley says. “That’s because it’s relatable to me. This past year, I’ve focused more on the cityscapes and nature, but my heart has always been in people and people doing everyday activities. That’s what I gravitate towards. Everybody can relate to the activities or the moments I’ve captured.” One of the artists Stanley looks up to is Mary Cassatt, an impressionist painter who focused PEOPLE

on women. “She did a lot of women and children doing household activities,” Stanley says. “I resonate with the simple. I think when we paint people that we know, and we do them in an activity we’ve seen them do before, it makes it more memorable and feels more like home.” Painting is a regular activity now for Stanley, who works full-time as the owner and founder of From Scratch Wellness, a natural wellness center with locations in St. Charles and Wicker Park. “During the week, I get up before I have to leave and go to work and I’ll paint for a couple of hours,” Stanley says. “It’s a great way to start off my day. It’s better than coffee or exercise.” Stanley has branched out over the years and has started working with soft pastels and has even played with acrylics. One of the activities she’s been involved with this summer has been painting with the Plein Air Painters of Chicago, which is a group that meets every Saturday morning and uses chalk pastels to paint the cityscape. “It’s a fantastic experience,” Stanley says. “You’re painting on site, capturing the light before it changes and using all of your senses to try to translate the smells and the business of the day. And you think, ‘how do I take all these experiences I’m taking in right now and transfer them to a 2-D medium?’” www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

“During the week, I get up before I have to leave and go to work, and I’ll paint for a couple of hours. It’s a great way to start off my day. It’s better than coffee or exercise.” – Jen Stanley, St. Charles artist

Photo provided

Her ability to capture such moments has earned her a Best in Show award for a piece, entitled “Dining Out,” at the Norris Art Gallery, and second place in the Brady Street Quick Paint category at Milwaukee Plein Air’s Art in the City. “She’s got high standards and great control with the medium,” Zack says. “It’s just a joy to watch her create and it’s fun to see what she loves to paint. And she does it well.”

Photo provided

paintings, two oil pastels and two soft pastels. “It’s never too late,” Stanley says. “I never thought I could be an artist; I thought you had to be born an artist. If you have any interest at all, you just have to take the time learning it, honing it and getting better at it. If you have something you want to do, I encourage everybody to go out and try it. “You have that inclination for a reason.”

Stanley will be appearing in the Yellow House Artists’ “Wish You Were Here” art show through Nov. 19, which will take place at the Elgin Artspace Gallery – a place where Stanley lived from 2012 to 2014. She will be featuring four www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

PEOPLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 13

‘WILD’-life gives couple star treatment

St. Charles animal wranglers featured in Nat Geo TV series ‘When Nature Calls’ By ELIZABETH HARMON

In the “Beaver Fever” episode of “When Nature Calls,” which airs on the Nat Geo WILD channel, an elusive beaver keeps Brad and Katy Lundsteen on a two-day hunt to remove him from a Geneva neighborhood. Along the way, they rescue a trapped rabbit and a snapping turtle that chomps on a furry microphone cover. For the owners of St. Charles-based Suburban Wildlife Control, it’s all business as usual. The Lundsteens have made a successful career of capturing and relocating wild animals from suburban neighborhoods, shopping centers and business parks. “In every situation we do our best to see that the animals are cared for and relocated to places where they’ll have a better life than they would have had in town,” says Katy Lundsteen. As professional wildlife re-locators the Lundsteens practice humane capture. “With animal families, we’ll wait until the mom and all the babies are together before we move them. A lot of people don’t go to that effort,” says Brad Lundsteen. Brad Lundsteen, who grew up in rural Elburn, became interested in wildlife when he helped a neighbor trap raccoons in his barn. “I put the traps on the handlebars of my bike and rode out, what seemed like, a long way to release them,” he recalls. “But it wasn’t really all that far, and they probably came right back.” In 1988, at the age of 18, Brad Lundsteen started Suburban Wildlife Control. Katy Lundsteen, who studied Media Design at Elgin Community College, now works with him rescuing wildlife, and she also produces video that’s posted on SWC’s website and YouTube 14 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Photos provided

Channel, Suburban Wildlife TV. Not only do the videos educate potential customers, they also have attracted the attention of television producers and the news media. Suburban Wildlife Control has been featured on A&E’s “Billy the Exterminator” and Animal Planet’s “When Animals Invade,” as well as local and regional news and radio shows. Earlier this year, the Lundsteens were contacted by the Washington D.C.-based “When Nature Calls” producers, who asked the couple to complete a brief questionnaire. They decided to go above and beyond, and create an audition PEOPLE

video with the help of a friend and film school graduate who followed them throughout their workday. Katy Lundsteen spent the weekend editing the footage in order to meet the Monday submission deadline. “I went two days without sleep, and I was like a zombie,” she says. “I sent it to them Monday night, and right away they called and said, ‘We love it!’” More preparation followed, including an extensive background check. “They interviewed hundreds of different www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

“They followed us through our regular workday. We would tell them what jobs were coming up, and they decided what to film.” – KATY LUNDSTEEN, owner Suburban Wildlife Control in St. Charles

Photo by Missy Donovan

companies,” Brad Lundsteen says. “It was a long process so it was a big deal to make it all the way through to the final cut.”

“But others wanted to be, which was great,” she adds.

“They followed us through our regular workday. We would tell them what jobs were coming up, and they decided what to film. When they didn’t want to film, they stayed in their van. We had a little caravan going,” Katy Lundsteen says.

did it because we enjoy it, and we were going out on the jobs anyway.”

The Lundsteens also did advance “pick-up” interviews which were interspersed into the episodes to offer narration and background information.

“We wanted to be surprised like everyone else,” says Brad Lundsteen.

The clients who appeared on camera were not The production company, Outrun the Sun, arrived paid. The Lundsteens were, but “not much,” says in August to shoot footage of the couple on the Brad Lundsteen. job. “That’s not why we did it though,” he says. “We

Katy Lundsteen says that the clients were comfortable with having removal jobs filmed, though some asked not to be on camera.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Before “When Nature Calls” aired, the Lundsteens were invited to see the episodes, but decided not to.

episode was Beaver Fever. Though Season 1 has concluded, full episodes are available online at channel.nationalgeographic. com/wild/when-nature-calls or via the NAT GEO TV app. As for the show’s future, ratings will determine if there is a season two. “They’ve already told us … we’ll be in it,” says Brad Lundsteen. The TV exposure could also help with an ongoing challenge; finding safe places for the animals they relocate.

“We have different release sites, but we can Katy Lundsteen, who contributed film footage to always use more, so if there’s anyone reading several episodes, was impressed with the quality this that loves animals and has a big piece of land, we’re interested,” Brad Lundsteen says. and accuracy of the show. “We were really happy with how it came out,” she says, adding that the couple’s favorite PEOPLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 15

Getting to the heart of history

Childhood stories inspire author Kevin Gaffney to memorialize veterans in ‘Kane County – The War Years’ By KEVIN DRULEY | Photo by MISSY DONOVAN Kevin Gaffney internalized the war stories he heard from his father, Charles, and grandfather, Joseph, while growing up in St. Charles. He embraced their insight into World War I and World War II culture, then learned even more when his uncles and family friends chimed in about their own experiences overseas. In that respect, Gaffney, 60, considers the recent publication of his book, “Kane County – The War Years” almost elementary. To be sure, his heart was in a familiar place throughout the researching, writing and publishing processes. “My emphasis was just to keep the history alive as to the sacrifices of the men and women in both wars,” Gaffney says. “My background … growing up around the (American) Legion hall, the VFW hall and being around veterans, it’s kind of a giveback in my mind out of the service of those who have served.” Gaffney, who authored an earlier book about veterans in his hometown, worked with Mount Pleasant, South Carolina-based Arcadia Publishing on the project, an amalgam of pictorial and narrative accounts of both wars. He lauded the hospitality and support of various community historical societies, including the Kane County Veterans Memorial in Geneva and the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. Cognizant of an impressive collection of wartime photos available through the Illinois Digital Archive, Gaffney – a former history professor who works for the Office of Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – could merely ponder those pictures. His publisher would not accept reproduced images, leaving Gaffney to seek original images from sources. Gaffney first approached Arcadia officials about a World War I-centric book a little more than a year ago. Their response helped steer him 16 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

toward a more image-heavy presentation. “They said, ‘Well, you could expand it out to both wars,’ and I knew their word count was around 18,000,” Gaffney recalls. “I said, ‘Oh, this is going to be challenging to try to cover.’ “I never had done a pictorial, so I think that was fulfilling. Obviously, when you’re doing something and going through and trying to publish or put something in an article or book, you’ve got to leave things to the side. And that was especially hard with Cantigny, because they had so many excellent photos, so I had to draw down which ones to actually use. … You can’t cover everything, just [with] the enormity of the wars.” Gaffney was willing to try nonetheless. He embraced history from an early age, studying political science at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1981. He received his MPA in public administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago in 1996. His educational background includes teaching history and government at Christian schools in Delaware and Florida, as well as a position as an adjunct professor of criminology at Judson University in Elgin. The book takes a chronological approach to major battles in both world wars while spotlighting the 1st Infantry Division, the Illinois 33rd Infantry Division and the 129th through 133rd Illinois Infantry Regiments. From the outset, Gaffney says that he uncovered a number of new insights to augment his previous knowledge and understanding, namely from World War I. Whereas World War II-era Americans and those who served often are known as “The Greatest Generation,” Gaffney says he found new PEOPLE

appreciation for soldiers in World War I, who may not have emerged with such an iconic label. “A lot of the men trained but never made it out of the camps because of influenza,” Gaffney says. “It kind of reminded me that a lot of the things we take for granted health-wise, they couldn’t. And many of the men, when the 1st Division went over in July of 1917, were relieving primarily the French and British in the front lines, and, many that were gassed and wounded, were resent to the front lines. So, there was a repetition of even though you had major injuries, you were still sent back into battle. And sadly, many did not survive the trench warfare. The brutality of World War I is just incredible.” Gaffney also explores life inside soldier training camps in Elgin and Rockford in the book. The latter locale, Camp Grant, is commemorated through a museum and restaurant. With the centennial of the end of World War I looming in 2018, Gaffney says that he is eager to promote the book via speaking engagements around the region. He previously spoke about the book at the St. Charles History Museum. “I really didn’t take a backwards look as to how both wars shaped Kane County,” Gaffney says. “The conclusion was more on hearkening back to the memorial and remembering the sacrifices of the men and women of both wars. “The fulfilling aspect is just the memorializing. Getting it out there.” www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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FIRE ON ICE

Elite athlete Chloe Ryan overcomes illness and injury to take national title By ALLISON HORNE | Photos by MISSY DONOVAN St. Francis High School sophomore and Geneva resident Chloe Ryan won the 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Association National Solo Ice Dance Championship in Colorado Springs in September. She finished in first place for both the Pre-Gold Pattern Dances and the Junior Combined Dances categories.

But after fighting through injuries and illness, Chloe Ryan finally came out on top this year. “It’s still going to make me cry,” Nancy Ryan says. “It really was the highlight of all of the work she’s done. We believed in her always, and we knew how good she was and how close she kept coming. She worked so hard and this year it all came together. It was really spectacular.”

It wasn’t an easy path for Ryan, who fractured her knee in February before getting mononucleosis and cytomegalovirus over the It’s been a long but satisfying journey for summer. Chloe Ryan, who first starting skating when “My mouth is she was 5 years old. She had previously kind of dropping taken gymnastics, but struggled with the talking about intensity of a high-level training program at what she was such a young age. So, her mom set out to able to do,” says find something else for her to do. her mom, Nancy “I took her to Fox Valley [Ice Arena] for a Ryan. “She had public skate and she was joyous,” Nancy these things that Ryan says. “It was absolutely clear it was kept getting thrown something that she wanted.” in her way that she needed to overcome in After her first skate, Chloe Ryan insisted on going back to the rink the very next day. But order to first qualify for after falling so many times, she was covered nationals, and she did it in bruises and her mom was concerned so easily and won.” she called the doctor. It’s the third consecutive year Chloe Ryan has double- “The doctor said, ‘No more skating for you medaled at nationals and the girls right now,’” Nancy Ryan recalls. “And Chloe burst into tears. I knew then that this second year in a row she’s earned the most points possible was something she was going to do.” in qualifying competitions (and Nancy Ryan immediately signed her up for the most points in the Midwest), skate school classes and, after a short time, but she had yet to finish in first at a coach approached them about private nationals before this season. lessons. “Not winning the past few years has been Now, Chloe Ryan spends three hours a day, frustrating because I felt I was really close,” five or six days a week, at the rink – mostly Chloe Ryan says. “I had extra motivation before school. going into the season.” 18 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

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“Some mornings, it’s really hard,” Chloe Ryan says. “But you kind of get into a routine, and I know I’m going to see all my friends at the rink and that makes it easier.” While she originally started as a freestyle single skater, she transitioned over to ice dance (a division that is void of jumps) in 2014 due to injuries.

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“It was almost like a switch turned off and another went on,” Nancy Ryan says about her daughter’s transition. Part of the reason the change came so easily to ice dancer was because of her current coach Jamie Whyte, a 13-time British National Champion. “He is really what made this happen, aside from the natural talents she was born with,” Nancy Ryan says. “He really relates well to her, and they work well together. They really are a team.” “Each season has its highs and lows, especially towards the end,” Chloe Ryan adds. “It gets very challenging. Coaches start to push harder and be more critical, but you just have to remind yourself it’ll be worth it at the end.”

Masquerade Party and Marquee Fundraiser for Water Street Studios

While she spends a lot of time in the rink with her teammates working toward competitions, she always finds time for normal kid stuff, too – yes, that includes homework.

Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 6-9:30 p.m. Water Street Studios 160 S Water St., Batavia

“I do attend a normal school, so keeping up with that is quite the challenge sometimes,” Chloe Ryan says. “But I love to read, take my dog, Coco, on walks and hang out with my friends.” And now that she’s achieved her goal of being a national champion, she can kick back and enjoy herself a little more. “As an elite athlete sometimes having fun can get lost in the process because you’re focused on winning,” Chloe Ryan says. “While there’s an incredible amount of pressure on me, from my coaches and myself, now I have the time to enjoy my sport a little more and appreciate it.” www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Masks required & can be purchased on the website or at the event. Artist: Richard DeVeau

PEOPLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 19

Confident Aire:

CARING FOR YOUR HOME SINCE 1992 By AIMEE BARROWS

ith almost 35 years of experience, Confident Aire, Inc., brings expertise in heating, cooling and plumbing to the most important place - your home. The company prides itself on meticulous preventative maintenance, proper procedures and the safety checklists that most companies don’t provide. And with locations in Batavia and St. Charles, customers can rest assured knowing that Confident Aire offers 24-hour emergency service, seven days a week.

realizes that there is a level of this industry that our competitors will never achieve,” Wangler says. Wangler enjoys solving all problems, including those that other companies have failed to fix. He knows that Confident Aire technicians are sure to find an affordable, creative solution. He believes that his employees and technicians are the company’s most valuable assets, and encourages other young people to consider working in the industry.

Owner Thomas Wangler Jr. cares deeply about his employees and customers, putting their safety and satisfaction first and foremost. He says this sense of caring builds trust between the business and the customers, which leads to many long-term business relationships.

“One challenge is the attitude of America toward labor and the devaluation of craftsmanship. Trades people are suffering what may be the biggest shortage of skilled labor in history,” he explained. “There are an untold number of skilled labor jobs with high salaries and full benefits “I’m inspired by my customer’s smiles and ‘thank that go unfilled.” yous.’ I get excited when a newer technician 20 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HOME & LIFESTYLE

It’s clear that Wangler and his team are skilled craftsman who have provided a necessary and valuable service to their clients from the moment they enter a customer’s home. Confident Aire thoroughly analyzes your homes needs for heating, cooling and water heating systems to provide you with the most advanced, energy-efficient solutions, making them a leader in home comfort and energy conservation while saving you money.  Confident Aire has two convenient locations: 416 E. Wilson St., Batavia and 504 E. Main St., St. Charles. For more information, visit www. confidentaire.com or call 630-326-6400.

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HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 21

REQUISITE FOR RECOVERY Fall drought calls for damage control with MEAGAN PROVENCHER

This fall’s drought has wreaked havoc on gardens sprinkler, and water larger shrubs and trees for across the Fox Valley area. at least 30 to 45 minutes and smaller plants for There hasn’t been measurable rainfall in months, 15 to 20 minutes. plants are going dormant early, and some plants have thrown in the towel and just croaked. Lawns looked terrible, bugs were out in full force, and we’ll have some killing frosts to add insult to injury. So, what to do in the aftermath of such a painfully difficult time for plants? Now is the time to prep your garden for winter.

HELP STRESSED PLANTS READY FOR WINTER  Continue to water ALL of your plants until the ground is frozen. Many irrigation systems are turned off already so use a hose and a sprinkler to soak your trees. You can run a sprinkler under a tree for hours and it wouldn’t be enough water. Even if your trees have no leaves, they still can use some water. Water your smaller plantings either by hand or use a 22 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

 Mulch tender plants and check on plants with fungal issues. Mulch tender plants, such as roses and perennials, after the ground is frozen if necessary. It’s also important to remove any leaves from plants that have had fungal issues this year. Peonies, lilacs, ninebark and roses are some examples of plants that have had some fungal problems all summer long due to the wet spring. Remove any damaged foliage and throw it away rather than compost. Sanitation is key when trying to keep a fungus-free garden.  Fall pruning. You can do fall pruning in November, as HOME & LIFESTYLE

it’s easier to see the plant’s structure without leaves. Just don’t prune any flowering shrubs, such as lilac and viburnum, as you might end up cutting off all of their flowers for next spring. Don’t trim evergreens this late either; wait until after a new growth appears next year, as this will help prevent burning. A good rule of thumb is “Prune in June” for evergreens and flowering shrubs.

WHAT’S NEXT? Once spring comes and temperatures start increasing, watch for signs of stress. Fertilize again with a mild fertilizer and apply systemic insecticides to prevent Japanese Beetle damage. (Use Bonide Annual Tree and Shrub Insect Control in May and say goodbye to beetles in July!). Next year, start watering plants in late spring if we go a few weeks without rain. Get on a regular watering schedule starting in June. If any of your plant material is showing signs of damage, www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Get ready for the Holidays at Wasco Nursery & Garden Center

Your Holiday Decorating Y Headquarters

Find a huge assortment of Christmas greens, branches, berries, and boughs plus wreaths, garland and fresh-cut Christmas trees. Pine cones, seed pods, glittered, painted and metallic accents are also available to help you create beautiful holiday décor.

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Mule-Drawn Carriage Rides M stress or other “weird” characteristics, send a photo or bring in a sample to the garden center. We are always happy to diagnose and help keep plants in tip-top shape. If you catch issues soon enough, we can usually guide you on the road to plant recovery.

¢ Meagan Provencher is the Sr. Landscape Designer for Wasco Nursery and Garden Center in St. Charles. She can be reached at design@wasconursery.com or 630-584-4424. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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Wasco Nursery Gift Certiﬁcates are W available in any amount. aalways l

92 “Meeting your growing needs since 1925.” 41W781 Route 64 | St. Charles | 630-584-4424 | wasconursery.com HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 23

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Wagner Plumbing and St. Charles have been a perfect fit for a century By DIANE MOCA | Photos by BILL ACKERMAN Starting and maintaining a business is challenging enough, but keeping it running and profitable for a century is a rare feat few ever achieve.

working for my father. I like the satisfaction of a trade, what you accomplish when you’re done. You make things work.” Though all businesses have their ups and downs, RL Wagner Plumbing suffered a catastrophic loss when Jack Wagner’s brother, Paul, was crushed to death by falling dirt while working in a ditch in the 1980s. Despite the tragedy, the Wagners kept the business open but decided to use subcontractors for any excavation work after that.

JL Wagner Plumbing and Piping has done just that, working in countless buildings in and around St. Charles – the town where president and owner Jack Wagner was born and raised. “We build relationships, and they stick with you,” says Wagner, adding that he’s proud to be celebrating the centennial of the company his grandfather founded. “I think that my father and my grandfather taught us if you treat people right, people will treat you right. That’s our philosophy.”

side of the business. Dan Wagner is the fourth generation to join the business since Roscoe Lewis Wagner originally created RL Wagner Plumbing in 1917.

In 2005, the company evolved again when one of Jack Wagner’s four children stepped in to modernize the business.

“I updated estimating software, pricing systems, servers,” says Dan Wagner, who is training “My grandpa [Roscoe] says be involved in the for his plumbing license. “I had a business community, pay back, give your time. I’ve been degree focused on IT. I did like my father did. I “You treat it like a family and not a corporation. doing that all my life,” says Jack Wagner. “I was was in college and, when I got back, I started We don’t go out and hire people to run the involved with our trade associations, the St. business; we do it ourselves,” says Wagner. “We Charles Chamber of Commerce and service clubs appreciating the customers and the work and saw this as a pretty good opportunity. Not are proud to be a union contractor and hire fully throughout my career.” everyone can take over a business like that.” trained and professional plumbers when we need Jack Wagner got his feet wet under the tutelage them.” Especially one with a 100-year history. of his father, Bob, and his grandfather, Roscoe. The company’s connection to the union is Roscoe Wagner’s son, Bob – who became a something Wagner’s son, Dan, says he will partner in 1950 – ran the business until Jack JL WAGNER maintain when he likely takes over some day. Wagner took over and changed the name to JL PLUMBING AND PIPING Plumbing and Piping in the 1990s. “Tradition is important to me,” says business 920 Cedar Ave., Suite No 4B manager Dan Wagner. “My dad was grooming me for it,” says Jack St. Charles Wagner, the eldest of 10 children. “I went to 630-584-1181 While Jack Wagner says 85 percent of his college to be an engineer, but I wasn’t the jlwagnerplumbing.com business is commercial and industrial, Dan engineer type. I came back (in 1968) and started Wagner is now trying to boost the residential Wagner also attributes the company’s longevity to taking care of his employees.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 25

ANIMAL HOUSE VETERINARY HOSPITAL:

Compassionate care for your pet By KELLI MURRAY Photos by BILL ACKERMAN Pet owners across the Fox Valley have been relying on the compassionate care and veterinarian skill found at Animal House Veterinary Hospital in St. Charles for more than 20 years. The veterinary hospital has five veterinarians and a team of 20 employees able to focus on the care and comfort of their pet patients and their families. Owners and veterinarians Peter Ammon and Patrick Sage ensure the hospital offers a personal touch in a relaxed and positive atmosphere, and strive to develop great communication with families. In fact, they have an after-hours on-call phone so pet families may be able to reach one of the veterinarians at all times. As an animal hospital, the vets and staff members understand pets are cherished members of the family, and work to build personal relationships with all the families and companions who enter Animal House Veterinary Hospital. That care and support has not gone unnoticed, as clients have recommended their friends, family and neighbors to turn to the animal hospital when they are looking for animal care. “Word of mouth referrals are the ultimate testament to the care we give,” says Dr. Sage. “It is the best thank you for being part of the community.”

occasionally the realization that despite any type of treatment some illness cannot be cured but only managed well with dignity and care. “Sometimes support and a willingness to talk is the biggest gift for the pets and their families,” says Dr. Sage. Dr. Sage has worked alongside his wife and veterinarian Dr. Tracy Gebhard for the last ten years, a venture that they both enjoy. “This is truly a family-owned business,” Dr. Gebhard says. “Dr. Sage and Dr. Ammon have been business partners for years, and they both worked hard to make this a successful practice.” She says that hard work has translated into a tightly knit family at the hospital. “We really value our staff and have worked hard to create a compassionate and experienced team,” she says.

ANIMAL HOUSE VETERINARY HOSPITAL 2079 Route 38 St. Charles, IL 630-443-1472 www.animalhousevh.com 356 N. Randall Road North Aurora, IL 630-701-1372

While the veterinarians offer their clients a variety of advanced care for cats and dogs, 26 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

BUSINESS & CIVIC

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

FIT FOR FOODIES FOOD AND DRINK FESTS, EVENTS AND TASTINGS TO PLEASE YOUR PALATE

 LeVigne Winery Tasting trucks this holiday season. With

The beer dinner will include pairings from Chef Rick Kaniuga and wild brews by Penrose Brewing Company in Geneva. The menu will include multiple pairings, The man behind the acclaimed LeVigne including Stainless Series Brett Saison Winery will play host at Fiora’s LeVigne with Nibbles Goat cheese, house cured Winery Tasting. Attendees can relax, bacon and butternut marmalade, mingle and deepen their wine savvy crostini; and Barrel Aged Barley quad with veteran winemaker Michael with Waterzooi Traditional Belgian fish Barreto, as they enjoy four LeVigne stew with haddock, shrimp, clams, favorites paired with hearty appetizers mussels, leeks and potatoes in a creamy  Artisan Craft from Fiora’s culinary team. Wines will beer stock, and more. The cost to attend be available for retail purchase. Call 630- and Food Fair WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 is $65. 262-1317 for reservations. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12  Winter  Polish Polka Fest WHERE: Heritage Prairie Farm, Wonderland Tasting WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 2N308 Brundige Road, Elburn WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17 Nov. 2 WHERE: Wine Exchange, 1 Illinois St., St. Heritage Prairie Farm will host its WHERE: Prisco Community Center, Charles ninth annual Artisan Craft and Food 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora Fair, featuring both new and returning The Wine Exchange in St. Charles will The Polish Polka Fest will feature Polish vendors. The festival takes place in host one of its last big wine events of food and live entertainment. Lunch will three locations on the farm grounds: in the year with the Winter Wonderland consist of mushroom soup, salad, roast a heated event tent, newly renovated Tasting, featuring four vendors and chicken, beef brisket, Polish sausage, barn and greenhouse. Vendors from about 25 wines. The cost is $15 a sauerkraut, potatoes, veggies, cakes, previous years have included Watershed person, which can be applied toward a and coffee and tea. The event is for Soaps, Cake and Flower Paper, Mary’s wine bottle purchase. adults ages 21 and older. The cost is $80 Wholesome Living and Typology.  Thanksgiving Dinner for residents and $89 for non-residents. For more information, visit www. at Oscar Swan For more information, visit www. heritageprairiefarm.com. WHEN: 12:30 and 3 p.m. seatings foxvalleyparkdistrict.org. Thursday, Nov. 23  Morsels and  Fox River Distilling Masterpieces Art Show WHERE: Oscar Swan, 1800 W. State St., Company’s WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 Geneva Three-Year Anniversary WHERE: LivingWell Cancer Resource Thanksgiving at Oscar Swan will feature WHEN: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 Center, 442 Williamsburg Ave., Geneva a roasted farm-raised turkey with WHERE: Fox River Distilling Company, LivingWell Cancer Resource Center old-fashioned stuffing with cornbread, 204 Dearborn Ct., Unit 110, Geneva will host its first ever Morsels and rosemary and thyme. Other dishes will Fox River Distilling Company will host Masterpieces Art Show fundraiser. include potatoes with mashed carrots, a special anniversary edition of its The juried show will feature more than turnips and garlic; squash dressed with First Friday event for November. Scott 30 local artists in a variety of media. cinnamon, maple syrup and country Mackay from 95.9 The River will be in Admission is $40 for an evening of butter; a vegetable medley with broccoli attendance. There will be tastings from fine art, music, appetizers and drinks. and cauliflower; roasted Brussels a handful of local businesses, including Patrons can meet exhibiting artists, sprouts; and cranberry compote. There Stockholm’s, Craft Urban Kitchen, ask questions about their inspirations, will be a dessert bar with pumpkin pies, Dainty Delights, Galena Garlic Company, commission a specific piece and, of pecan pies, fruit of the forest pies with Deane’s Deli and Market and Colleen’s course, purchase existing fine works bourbon whipped cream and ice cream Better Than Breadsticks. For more of art. Alongside the fine art displays cakes. Royal Kona Coffee and assorted information, visit www.foxriverdistilling. will be food and drink from some of the teas and spiced apple cider also will be com. finest restaurants in the Fox Valley area. served. There will be live music and a  Mother Truckin’ The Mary Hunt Duo will provide musical cash bar. The cost is $54 a person, $20 Beer Fest entertainment. For tickets or more for children ages 8 and younger, and free WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 information, visit www.livingwellcrc.org. for children ages 2 and younger. WHERE: Sears Centre Arena,  Penrose Wilds and 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Barrel-Aged Beer Dinner Estates WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 The Mother Truckin’ Beer Fest returns WHERE: River’s Edge Bar and Grill, with the gift of craft beers and food 12 N. River St., Batavia WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1 WHERE: Fiora’s, 317 S. 3rd St., Geneva

each ticket, attendees will receive a commemorative tasting glass, 25 tasting tickets and full access to the beer festival, which includes craft beer, a cascading Beering-ham fountain, Santa’s Little Hoppers Workshop and specialty food trucks. Tickets cost. General admission is $45. For more information, visit www.mothertruckinfest.com.

DINING & ENTERTAINING

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 27

United Nations [of beer]

Global Brew Tap House patrons can ‘fulfill all their craft beer needs’ By KEVIN DRULEY Photos by MISSY DONOVAN

he world’s best in craft beer is only a tap away at Global Brew Tap House in St. Charles.

The recent addition to the Tri-Cities bar scene, located at 2100 Prairie St., offers more than 50 beers on tap and about 200 more options by the bottle, catering to seemingly every kind of palate – even the persnickety ones. “The niche is more of the limited offerings from different breweries – making sure we’re representing globally, imports, the larger domestic brands and local breweries,” says Geof Newton, owner and general manager. “It basically gives the customer one place to go to basically fulfill all their craft beer needs.” Global Brew opened its doors June 8, joining a franchise that also includes locations in downstate Edwardsville and O’Fallon. Franchise officials encourage keeping seven handles that stay consistent over time, which Newton says is “usually a roundup of a good selection of different beers that covers basically most of the styles,” but patrons certainly have found themselves branching out beyond staple brews like Lost Coast Great White witbier and Strongbow Cider. With so many options, it’s difficult not to, especially if changes are afoot during the course of a day at Global Brew.

28 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

“Any time a tap goes empty, we put a brand new one on almost immediately,” Newton says. Sometimes, a tap maintains the same selection of beer that just ran out. Sometimes, it’s filled with a different brew of the same style, whether it be witbier, stout, IPA, Belgian ale, sour beer or otherwise. It simply depends on the backups in stock. Seasonal offerings are bountiful. With fall soon transitioning to winter and the holiday season, Newton says that customers should expect various winter ales and Christmas ales to supplant the pumpkin and Octoberfest offerings of autumn. Newton and his colleagues have been pleased with the developing clientele at Global Brew. A visible location along the Randall Road corridor and positive word of mouth from visitors have helped the operation enjoy early success. Newton was especially pleased given the establishment’s summer launch.

attraction, which is dog-friendly, enjoyed extra exposure thanks to unseasonable fall warmth, but – naturally – will go on hiatus for the winter. Global Brew is a BYOF, or Bring Your Own Food, establishment. Perpetuating the neighborly St. Charles vibe, Newton keeps menus and fliers from nearby restaurants for hungry customers to consult. Leaf through the pile of menus long enough and you may even find catering options for a future endeavor at Global Brew. The venue also offers space for birthday parties, meetings and charity events.

 IF YOU GO Global Brew Tap House 2100 Prairie St., St. Charles 630-549-0397 www.globalbrew.com

“The customer reception is great,” he says. “Obviously, the summer months, people … have a lot of other things to do with vacations and cookouts and everything. Business has just been steady throughout.” Many patrons flocked to Global Brew’s large outdoor patio when weather permitted. The DINING & ENTERTAINING

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

DESIGN ESSENTIALS Fine Furnishings & Interior Design

Join the (beer) club The Global Brew United Nations is the tap house’s rewards program. To sign up, register your card (for $15) and then for every new beer you try, you get a point. The more points you accumulate, the sweeter the rewards. For example, 50 points adds up to a “50 Beer Club” T-shirt and 500 points is a $500 Global Brew gift card.

“I’d just like it to be known that it’s a good place to bring a big group,” Newton says. Small parties are welcome, too, of course. Either way, patrons can’t help but branch out upon consulting the beer menu. “All the customers that come in are there for a reason,” Newton says. “It’s all positive comments – [excitement] about all the different craft beers that people look forward to.”

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 29

ROBOTIC GUIDANCE

Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital offers new alternative assistance for traditional knee and hip replacements By ALLISON HORNE

Traditional hip and knee replacements are so last year. Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital and William R. Sterba, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics, have teamed up to bring the community the Stryker Mako Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System. Mako robotic arm assisted surgery is a breakthrough solution for adults suffering from painful degenerative joint disease. It utilizes real-time feedback, CT scans and 3D modeling to help patients receive more accurate placement and positioning in unicompartmental joint cases, such as hip replacement, total knee and partial knee replacements. “In this age, the technology is there for us and we’ve just started to get into it,” Dr. Sterba says. “There will be a lot more people adopting it as time goes on because of the accuracy it provides.” Delnor Hospital is just one of two hospitals in the western suburbs to have the technology, and one of only 10 hospitals in Illinois to adapt it. “I believe in it, and that’s why I’ve partnered with Delnor to bring [Mako] to the hospital so they can be a differentiator,” says Dr. Sterba. “Delnor has been very open to the technology and that is what sets them apart from other places.” West Chicago resident Lee Prince underwent a partial knee replacement with Dr. Sterba on May 23, two days after his 50th birthday. He had no cartilage left on the inside of his right knee, and after a year of trying cortisone shots, Prince gave in and decided to have the surgery. “My doctor suggested talking to Dr. Sterba,” 30 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Prince says. “He suggested the Mako surgery, and after doing some research, I thought it’d be the best option. So far, I’m thrilled with how it has worked out.” The entire process starts with X-rays to determine if the patient is a candidate for the surgery. If a patient decides to go down that route, Dr. Sterba does a CT scan to get detailed images of the knee, hip and ankle. “It allows us to construct a virtual knee,” Dr. Sterba says. “We align everything to the joint – the center of the hip and the center of the ankle which cross in the middle of the knee.” That imagery is what Dr. Sterba uses when he goes into surgery with the Mako technology. It helps the surgery to be minimally invasive (especially for partial knee replacement) and allows the surgeon to keep healthy bones and HEALTH & WELLNESS

ligaments intact while replacing the damaged part of the knee. “What we are able to do is make very precise cuts in the bone, so when we put the new knee in, it fits perfectly,” Dr. Sterba says. “It is really remarkable how well and accurate those parts fit the bone and how once everything is done, the balance of the knee is perfect. That’s the advantage of the robotic arm assistant.” The robot itself is 800 to 900 pounds and has an arm that Dr. Sterba controls entirely during the surgery. Although the Mako technology is designed to reconstruct the knee, Dr. Sterba notes that he’s always there to do clinical modification if needed. “The robot is guiding where the arm goes, but I’m holding my finger on the trigger,” Dr. Sterba says. “I’m still there, very much in control.” www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

“The robot is guiding where the arm goes, but I’m holding my finger on the trigger. I’m still there, very much in control.” – William R. Sterba, MD

So far, Dr. Sterba has done around 20 procedures with the robotic arm but has another 20 scheduled in the next three months in addition to his traditional orthopedic surgeries. While it does use new technology, patients should expect to recover in a similar timeline as a traditional knee or hip replacement. “I am looking ahead to the long term survivorship of the knee,” says Dr. Sterba. “Yes, I want the short term recovery to be as quick and as painless as possible, but we predict that the accuracy the Mako robot provides will result in patients that are happier with their knees and hips, and hopefully result in a replacement that survives for a long time.” So far, so good for Prince, who has resumed his usual activities. “I’m back to ballroom dancing,” Prince says. “I can walk around without pain – I go for nightly walks around the neighborhood and I used to not be able to do it.” While the idea of a robot assistant may be a little intimidating, this is the future of orthopedic surgery and Dr. Sterba and Delnor Hospital are just ahead of the game. “We used to use a compass and map for directions, which worked well” Dr. Sterba says. “However, today we use navigation and GPS to provide pinpoint accuracy and direction.”  For more information about Mako surgery at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital or to make an appointment with Dr. Sterba, visit mako.nm.org or call 630-225-2663. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

THE PATH TO BETTER STARTS HERE. Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage and Delnor Hospitals offer specialized orthopaedic care, close to home. And when we say specialized, we mean it. If you injure your knee, you’ll see a knee specialist. Injure your shoulder, you’ll see a shoulder specialist. If you injure your hip, well, you get the idea. What else would you expect from a hospital ranked nationally for orthopaedics?* Learn more at rmg.nm.org/orthopaedics.

*Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital ranked #25 in Adult Orthopaedic Hospitals byU.S. News & World World Rep Report, ort, 201 2016-17 6-17

HEALTH & WELLNESS

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 31

SERVICE LEARNING GIVES YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE By Anderson Animal Shelter Featured Sponsor DePaw University Canine Campus

For children and teens looking for ways to help animals, Anderson Animal Shelter is happy to offer service learning opportunities. Opportunities exist for children of all ages to create and execute a service learning project on their own. Examples include creating a fundraising project, collecting items from the shelter’s wish list, making animal toys or blankets, or collecting and shredding newspapers. Students often have a requirement for service hours for school or a group they belong to and service learning projects can be used to meet this requirement. Groups of children can also complete a service learning project.

and was correlated with a lower rate of teen pregnancy and criminal activity. Lastly, research demonstrated that students across the country who completed service learning showed an increased sense of pride and self, and increased their desire to complete high school and contribute positively to their community. For more information contact Carrie Frost at Anderson Animal Shelter at (847) 697-2880 x51.

Students learn a great deal and build character in completing their service learning projects. Shaan Dungrani, age 13, says, “I learned that nothing is easy to do. But when you know you are making a difference in an animal or person’s life, that’s all you need to keep going.” There are a multitude of beneﬁts for children who engage in service learning beyond helping their communities. For example, AmeriCorps reports that an extensive study completed in Michigan showed that 5th graders who engaged in service learning demonstrated signiﬁcant gains in writing and social studies state assessment scores. Furthermore, three different studies showed that children who engaged in service learning developed enhanced problem-solving skills and a greater understanding of complex issues. In Florida, service learning students got in trouble less,

The school age children at Bowes Road Kindercare in South Elgin completed a service learning project. These enterprising youths made craft projects which they sold, then used their proﬁts to purchase some much needed supplies for the animals.

HOW PETS CAN

Positively AFFECT PEOPLE On an emotional level, owning a pet can decrease depression, stress and anxiety; health-wise, it can lower your blood pressure, improve your immunity and even decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. We can in turn help our pets with socialization with other pets! DePAW Daycare allows dogs the ability to exist in their most natural state: in the company of other dogs. Regular socialization lowers a dog’s stress levels and often reduces or eliminates many behavioral problems.

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JUNK FOOD GIANTS

SEVEN THINGS A NUTRITIONIST WOULD NEVER EAT By KELSEY O’CONNOR Your diet, like your life, is all about balance. Occasional indulgences are essential, but there are certain foods that have no place in even the healthiest of diets. While complete restriction isn’t always realistic, it’s best to avoid these worst offenders as much as possible. “You have to look at your overall diet,” says Tiffanie Young, director of the Centegra Healthy Living Institute. “It’s OK to treat yourself now and then, but you have to look at what you consume on a daily basis and make sure the focus is on nutritionally dense foods.” Here are the food and drink items that Young recommends cutting out of your regular diet: 1. SODA This is typically one of the first things people cut out of their diet when they’re trying to get healthy – and for good reason. “It’s loaded with sugar and high fructose corn syrup,” says Young, who’s also a registered nutritionist and dietician. “It’s a lot of calories without any nutritional value.” Young recommends swapping out that daily pop with a calorie-free option. Water is always a great choice, but if you’re looking for more flavour, try reaching for one of the many sparkling water brands available on supermarket shelves. 2. PROCESSED MEAT There’s no denying that cold cuts and hot dogs are convenient options to throw in your shopping cart. But many of these processed proteins are hiding preservatives and nitrates.

Young. “They market them as being a healthier option, but they’re nutritionally comparable to a milkshake.” Skip the morning sugar bomb by opting for fresh fruit or oatmeal instead. If you crave the convenience of a smoothie, look for one that’s made with a real fruit base. “Ask the restaurant, ‘How do you make that smoothie?’” suggests Young.

3. FAST-FOOD SMOOTHIES Think your morning drive-through smoothie is harmless? Think again. “Most of them are not made with real fruit or the real fruit content is relatively small,” says www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

6. 100-CALORIE SNACK PACKS At first glance, these convenient little packs might seem like a smart grab-and-go snack. But in reality, they won’t do much to quell those hunger pangs.

4. HYDROGENATED OILS This often-overlooked offender is particularly dangerous because it can lurk in many everyday foods. It’s typically found in pantry items with a long shelf life, such as baked goods, crackers and biscuits.

“A lot of clients tell me when they have a 100-calorie pack they don’t feel satisfied afterwards,” says Young, who likens many of these treats as “air crisps.”

“It’s a man-made fat, also called trans-fat, and it’s the worst fat for our heart,” explains Young. “It has a hardening effect on our arteries.”

“If you’re craving chocolate, eat one real cookie instead of a whole [bag of chips],” she says. “Have a little bit of real food instead of processed food without nutritional value.”

Luckily, there’s also an easy fix. A quick scan of the ingredients list will help identify what products contain hydrogenated oils.

“Nitrates can have a cancer-causing effect,” says “There are a lot of options that exclude that Young. ingredients,” says Young. “It may be as simple Fortunately, there are meat products available as picking up the boxes and reading the that skip the nasty preservatives. ingredients.” “If you’re looking for a convenient lean meat option, there are lunch meats on the market that are nitrate-free,” says Young, adding that cooking chicken and turkey breasts at home is a smart option.

Instead, hold off on the sugary syrups and ask for non-fat milk. Many shops now carry healthier dairy-free options, such as coconut or soy milk as well.

Her advice? Listen to your cravings (in moderation).

7. HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP This manmade sweetener is found in many common processed foods, but it can be tough to identify by taste alone. “This one can be sneaky because it’s in a lot of things that aren’t sweet,” says Young.

5. SPECIALTY COFFEE DRINKS You’re morning caffeine fix might include a lot more than you bargained for. Specialty coffee drinks can be loaded with sugar and calories, thanks to ingredients like whole milk, cream and flavored syrups.

That means everyday foods like bread, ketchup and sauces can be surprisingly laden with the sugary substance.

“When coffee shops had to start labeling calorie counts on their menus, everyone was really surprised how many calories some of those lattes and frappes contain,” says Young.

“If you eat it often, it adds up over time,” she says.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Why cut back? Research points to high fructose corn syrups as a culprit for stimulating fat production in the body, says Young.

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 33

York Furrier pairs style with tradition

at third-generation family business By ALLISON HORNE | Photos by MISSY DONOVAN

It’s been more than 86 years since York Furrier first opened its doors in 1931 at the York Street location in Elmhurst. There’s no secret behind the business’ success. The third generation family-owned retailer, which is adorned with co-owner Kathy Rezny’s family crest, is known for its dedication to its craft, personalized customer service, and an extensive selection of gorgeous furs, stylish fine outerwear and luxe accessories. Clients travel from Chicago, the North Shore, Far Western Suburbs, and throughout the Midwest to shop for new fashions and to service their own fur and outerwear garments. “As a community member for over eight-and-ahalf decades, the York Furrier staff offers clients the ultimate in personalized, attentive service,” Rezny says. “We really know our cherished clientele – customers who become dear friends.” Rezny and her husband and fellow co-owner, John, work with a staff of around 30 people to provide both sales and a full range of services in both the Elmhurst City Centre location and in the Deer Park Town Center store, which opened in 2004. York Furrier’s extensive selection includes styles for both men and women created from furs (mink, sheared furs, fox, lynx, sable, chinchilla, 34 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

etc.), shearlings, cashmeres, leathers, down and skiwear. Or, clients may opt to work with the York Furrier Design Team to create a custommade fur garment, home décor (fur pillows, throws, blankets or chair covers) or accessory items (fur scarves, a fur clutch, trim leather gloves, or a pair of boots or shoes). “The York Furrier 86th Anniversary Collection is very extensive, and features innovative designer fashions, as well as our own classically-inspired signature styles,” says Rezny. Ensconced in the elegant wood display cases, clients will find the creative designs of Zac Posen, Derek Lam, Dominic Bellissimo, Norman Ambrose, Monique Lhuillier and Michael Kors.

the pelts will be in good condition, and we will be able to rework, restyle or repurpose the pelts into a better fit, new style or perhaps create a mink Teddy Bear or accessory item,” Rezny says. And for those that are no longer in love with their older fur coat, York offers a generous trade-in allowance for old furs toward a new fur purchase. “At York Furrier, we’re the perfect blend of trend and tradition,” says Rezny. “The York collection features both innovative fashions and classic styles.” There’s something “FUR” everyone.

For clients’ own fur and fine outerwear garments, York Furrier provides a full range of professional, on-premises services: summer storage in secure, humidity and temperature controlled vaults, cleaning and conditioning, repairs, alterations and complete re-styling of older fur garments. When it comes to older fur garments, the York Furrier design team is able to refurbish Grandma’s full-length mink coat into a shorter, walking coat length with a slim silhouette for a granddaughter that lives in the city, says Rezny.  YORK FURRIER 107 N. York Street, Elmhurst “As long as a fur coat has been well cared for, 630-832-2200 | YorkFur.com FASHION & BEAUTY

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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The Glass-Half-Full Guy:

THE WIND THAT CARRIED HER TO RIDE BEYOND HERSELF By PETER STADALSKY

Marisol Gomez stopped by my little house in the west suburbs of Chicago while on a bike ride. Most people wouldn’t have believed that she rode her bicycle all the way to my place from Long Beach, California, by herself.

other people or bad luck, but rather weeding out her own negative thoughts. Her journey brought her to a deeper understanding of herself. One mile at a time, Marisol peddled in and out of people’s lives, all across the country. It started as one person on a bike connecting thousands of us in the spirit of her charitable causes. Marisol demonstrated that we all have the strength and fortitude to give back. The good is all around us. That same love and strength that’s in Marisol is in me. The same love is in you.

Marisol relentlessly shattered every obstacle that might stop a person from traveling – being a solo female traveler, who is riding a bicycle without a motor coast to coast unsupported. I hosted her halfway through her 3,300-mile adventure and was able to connect up months after she made it to the New York City coast.

We all have incredible fear that pushes back on our biggest dreams. No one is bereft of the challenges required to dig deep for courage and fight through fear.

Every traveller has an inspiration. Marisol’s personal adventure was intertwined with the mission to help other people along the way. Paraphrasing writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, she said, “We all have a will, but it’s really just a thought if we don’t take action. So, I decided to do just that. I wanted to make a difference.”

I asked Marisol how she found the courage to take on such an incredible adventure, she said:

“The wind carries me… It truly is meditation to travel and experience new areas, talk to She rode for 10 different charities, and was able people, help others. Later in life, I never want to give them each a gracious check. to say, ‘I wish I did this or that.’ I want to share trust GPS!” she says that she learned to accept experiences and hopefully inspire others to Many people thought Marisol’s journey was a help from strangers. During a time when it’s easy joke. Others begged her not to go in fear she that to feel divided by politics or beliefs, we still have challenge themselves.” she lose her life. After making social media posts a common bond of humanness. Marisol and I and as her fundraiser Internet page started to agreed that superficialities aside, we are not so climb, many of the skeptics started to believe. different after all. The quest led her through the deserts, over the Continental Divide and through the treacherous side winds of Kansas. Her days covered up to 94 miles, and she found quiet fields to pitch her tent. Getting lost, road blocks, storms and close calls with semi trucks was all parts of the adventure. Most of us adventurers can agree that one of the most surprising parts of any adventure is how kind strangers can be. When I asked Marisol what she learned on the way, besides “Do not 36 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Stories like Marisol’s help keep us balanced in our world view. With the current tragedies, it’s necessary to step back and see all of the amazing things happening in tandem. Otherwise, we fall prey to believing we exist in a terrible world. Marisol is living proof that the world is good. The only bad news to report back was being chased u Peter Stadalsky is an Aurora resident by a Jack Russell Terrier for the longest half hour and adventurer. He shares his travel of her life, she says. experiences with a “glass-half-full” view of Her greatest challenge was not dealing with the world. TRAVEL

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Wine haven in the hills

LUSH FORESTS, ROLLING COUNTRYSIDE MAKE UP ILLINOIS’ SCENIC SHAWNEE WINE TRAIL By ALLISON HORNE

Photos provided

From the rolling hills to the tree-lined lakes, you might forget that you’re in Illinois while spending time in the 280,000-acre Shawnee National Forest. Not only does the forest provide plenty to do outdoors, but it also has created an environment that nurtures grape growing, fostering a wine haven in the Shawnee Hills. The Shawnee Wine Trail, which was the first of its kind in Illinois, is located along a 45-mile loop in the Shawnee Hills and is made up of 11 award-winning wineries.

 Hobbit-style house at Rocky Comfort Cabins in Makanda

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

“It’s really a beautiful drive and they’re all relatively close together,” says Brandy Nance, executive director of the wine trail and

marketing director for Blue Sky Vineyards. “Over a couple of days, guests can visit the entire trail.” The trail first started in 1995, when the owners of Alto Vineyards, Pomona Winery and Owl Creek Vineyard decided to team up and create a unique experience for all visitors to enjoy. “When people think of Illinois, they mostly think of Chicago,” Nance says. “The further south you go, the landscape changes. Here you’re in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest with rolling hills and grapevines. It’s really a gorgeous setting.”

-Continued on page 38 TRAVEL

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 37

“We’re along the same lines as the Loire Valley in France. The climate is similar, we’re on the same longitude, and grapes that grow there grow very well here.” – Brandy Nance, executive director of the Shawnee Wine Trail

-Continued from page 37 Not only is it a gorgeous setting, but also the climate is ideal for growing wine grapes. “We’re along the same lines as the Loire Valley in France,” Nance says. “The climate is similar, we’re on the same longitude, and grapes that grow there grow very well here.” Nance also notes that most grapes like when their “feet are dry” and they have to work to grow. The rolling hills allow for good drainage and loose soil, which lets the vineyards have a longer growing season. Chambourcin grapes, which create a red wine with a full flavor and deep body, are popular in the Shawnee Hills, as well as Cabernet Franc, Chardonel, Vignoles and Seyval. Some of the wineries, like the Pomona Winery, use locally grown fruits, such as strawberries, currants, blackberries and apples. They don’t make wine using a single grape and each winery has something different to offer. “Even if people come to the trail once or twice a year, they can go to a winery that they haven’t been to or try a wine that is out of their wheelhouse,” Nance says. “It kind of gives you a little push in trying something different.” At Orlandini Winery, Randall Feather and his wife, Renée, who are both physicians, are busy keeping up with the demand of owning a winery. Although the Feathers recently purchased the property in June, Gary Orlandini, the original owner, was thought to be one of the pioneers of the wine trail. He originally worked for Alto Vineyards as a grape grower before working as a grower and wine maker at Blue Sky Vineyards. He eventually realized the potential that opening his own winery had, so he opened Orlandini Winery in 2001. 38 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

The vineyard sits on 20 acres with four acres of grapes growing as of this fall, but Feather has purchased additional land connected to the property with the hopes of expanding – eventually. The vineyard also will rebrand itself as “Feather Hills Vineyard” in the winter. “We were crazy enough to buy it,” Randall Feather says. “I grew up in southern Illinois and most of my family members are farmers, so I always grew up around working outside with my hands.” Orlandini’s 2013 Reserve Chambourcin is a popular wine, but it also produces a semi-sweet Saluki White, Saluki Red and Saluki Blush, both of which are named after the Southern Illinois University mascot. One of the Orlandini’s employees is actually the husky dog trainer for TRAVEL

SIU, and – often – he brings the dogs out on the weekends. While many of the vineyards grow similar grapes, each winery specializes in its own kind of wine. “Don’t be afraid to explore different wines,” Feather says. “We get so many people that come in and say, ‘I only drink sweet wines’ or ‘I only drink dry wines,’ but there are so many different kinds. Just be open.” While there are various kinds of music and events that take place each day at most of the wineries, a trail-wide food-pairing event will take place Nov. 4 and 5. The event, which is inspired by the fall harvest, features a dish paired with wine at each winery for $35. Fall is harvest season and is generally the busiest www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Trailside B&Bs FOR YOUR WINE WEEKEND ESCAPE

With such a vast selection of Bed and Breakfasts within walking distance to many of the Illinois Shawnee Wine Trail wineries, you don’t have to go far to find the comfort of home. From small hobbit houses to rooms on winery grounds, there’s plenty to consider for a night or an entire weekend.  ROCKY COMFORT CABINS 295 Panthers Den Road, Makanda 618-967-7236 | rockycomfortcabins.com No need to dream about staying in a hobbit house – Rocky Comfort Cabins makes it a possibility. Cabins come complete with a private hot tub, grass roof and fireplace. The Cove and the Hollow also come complete with circular doors and arched doorways. “It’s got a round door and everything,” Nance says. “You can literally walk out of the door to the hobbit hole and walk to Blue Sky Vineyards. It’s a nice little country-style walk.”  ALTO WINE TRAIL LOFT 5 Elm St., Alto Pass 618-698-7474 | altowinetrailloft.com Housed in an historic building that was originally constructed in 1912 as a general store, the Alto Wine Trail Loft is an environmentally friendly loft that sleeps up to 20. The Alto Pass Quetil Trail is located just steps away from the loft for easy outdoor access, and it also is located conveniently along the wine trail.

time of year across the wine trail, but Nance notes that really any time of year is perfect for a day or weekend visit.

 DAVIE SCHOOL INN 300 Freeman St., Anna 618-833-2377 | davieschoolinn.com Sleep in the spot where students once studied in 1910, and what is now the Davie School Inn. The building was fully remolded into a unique venue in 2002, and now houses eight suites and three luxury suites.

“We’ve got wetlands, rock climbing and antiques,” Nance says. “There are opportunities for something for everyone to enjoy, from the wine to the outdoors to the local shops; it’s really a great time.

“You’re literally staying in a classroom,” Nance says. “They’ve done a really good job of making that stand out.”

“The scenery itself is so much different than the rest of the state,” she adds. “We’re kind of a gem in the Midwest.”

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

The Lincoln Heritage Winery and Blue Sky Vineyards and Winery are within walking distance, and the Shawnee National Forest, with plenty of outdoor activities, is nearby, as well. TRAVEL

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 39

Holiday bucket list By KELSEY O’CONNOR

The holidays are a joyous but fleeting time. Make the most of the season by checking out all of the activities and festivities Kane County has to offer. Here’s a roundup of 10 not-to-miss, seasonal events to check off your holiday bucket list:

Kick off the season at the Holiday Homecoming Electric Parade WHAT: This annual spectacle transforms downtown St. Charles into a glittering winter wonderland. The parade is part of a weekend-long series of events, including holiday movies, sleigh rides and visits from Santa. WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 WHERE: Main Street, between 6th Street and 4th Avenue, in downtown St. Charles

Find the perfect gift at the Christmas Collective WHAT: Browse through the wares of local retailers, artisans and vintage purveyors at this unique holiday-themed pop-up market. WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 9, through Saturday, Nov. 11 WHERE: Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia

Experience the magic of the season at the Celebration of Lights Festival WHAT: Bask in the glow of twinkling holiday lights and enjoy free hayrides, a holiday craft market, old-fashioned ornament-making, a community sing-along, and more. Don’t miss Christmas Tree Lane, a display of 25 trees decorated by local organizations. WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 26 WHERE: Batavia Riverwalk and Peg Bond Center, 151 N. Island Ave., Batavia

Attend a Christmas show at the Steel Beam Theatre WHAT: The intimate venue will feature two holiday performances. “It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show” is a 1940s-broadcast-style version of the beloved film, and “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” is a spirited retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. WHEN: “It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show”: Nov. 24-26; Dec. 8-10, 22-24 and Dec. 30. “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol”: Dec. 1-3, Dec. 15-17, Dec. 29 WHERE: Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St. (second floor), St. Charles

Tour beautifully decorated homes during the Holiday House Tour WHAT: Have you ever walked by a home and wondered what it looks like inside? Check out this year’s featured homes, each one architecturally unique and adorned in festive holiday decor. WHEN: Dec. 1 and 2 WHERE: Various locations. (Tour map available at genevachamber.com)

Catch your favorite holiday flick at The Paramount Theatre WHAT: The annual Movie Monday holiday series is always a hit. Watch your favorite seasonal movies – like “White Christmas” and “Home Alone” – for just a buck. The theatre also will host two live shows: “Second City’s Holiday Revue” and “Elf the Musical.” WHEN: FILMS: “Planes, Train and Automobiles” on Nov. 27; “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Dec. 4; “White Christmas” on Dec. 11; “Home Alone” on Dec. 18. SHOWS: “Second City’s Holiday Revue” from Dec. 1-23; “Elf the Musical” from Nov. 22 to Jan. 7 WHERE: The Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora

Enjoy a musical extravaganza at the Elgin Symphony Orchestra WHAT: Immerse yourself in the sounds of the season during the family-friendly Magical Holiday Concerts. The musical extravaganza will feature a full orchestra, cash bar, plus a visitor from the North Pole. WHEN: 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 WHERE: Elgin Symphony Orchestra, 20 DuPage Court, Elgin

Catch a one-of-a-kind, holiday concert at the Arcada Theater WHAT: Each year, the historic theater hosts a variety of holiday musical acts. This year, you can catch a few Christmas concerts, including The Lettermen, Ides of March and Bret Michaels. WHEN: The Lettermen Christmas show is Sunday, Dec. 10; Ides of March Christmas show, featuring Jim Peterik, is Saturday, Dec. 16; and Bret Michaels Christmas show is Friday, Dec. 22 WHERE: Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles

Stroll through the Geneva Christmas Walk WHAT: This annual event turns downtown Geneva into a bustling celebration of all things Christmas. Enjoy classic holiday festivities including a visit from Santa, the lighting of the Great Tree, roasted chestnuts, strolling carolers, a live nativity, carriage rides and more.

DEC. 1 &2

Let the Festivities begin! ‘Tis the season to be jolly… especially in downtown Geneva! Join us Friday, December 1st at 6pm when Santa lights the great tree and sparks a Christmas to remember.There’ll be chestnuts roasting, carolers strolling, a live nativity and candy cane pulls. On Friday and Saturday, December 2nd, you can tour ﬁve spectacular houses decked with holly and innovative Christmas decorations. For HouseTour tickets and a complete schedule give us a jingle or visit genevachamber.com. Geneva. Where the spirit of Christmas comes alive.

A picture postcard .

™

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a f an!

630-232-6060 • genevachamber.com

the vintage market

Home Decor & Vintage items span 12,000 square feet and fill 2 Levels with over 50 Vendors

Save the Date Nov. 11th & 12th

Christmas Show

WHEN: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 1 WHERE: The Courthouse Square in downtown Geneva

Take a ride on the Polar Express WHAT: Families are invited to travel to the North Pole with Santa and friends. Board the Polar Express for a pajama storytime, then return to Geneva to enjoy a lunch/ dinner and holiday picture. WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3 WHERE: Geneva Train Station, 328 Crescent Place, Geneva

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211 S. Lincolnway St., North Aurora

630-229-6821 Tues.-Sat. 10am– 6pm, Sun. 11am– 4pm Closed Mondays KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 41

Be bedazzled

Christmas season, “The Nutcracker” graces hundreds of Hemmens Cultural Each stages all over the world. The beloved fairytale ballet has told story of Clara and one magical night to generation after Center’s rendition of ‘The thegeneration. And, after years of absence, the show is returning to Nutcracker’ indulges in the the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. Chicago Ballet Conservatory will perform the show at ‘mystical and magical’ The 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Linda By KELSEY O’CONNOR

Cunningham, founder of State Street Dance Studio in Geneva, will direct the beloved ballet. “I personally have directed, produced and danced in so many ‘Nutcrackers’ in my life, it’s hard to remember how many I’ve done,” says Cunningham. “I want to raise the bar and bring ‘The Nutcracker’ back to the Hemmens.” While the Chicago Ballet Conservatory version remains true to the heart of the classic fable, this year’s version of “The Nutcracker” will be totally unique. Cunningham says she was inspired by the theme of “mystical and magical.” “I want the audience to be bedazzled,” she says. “It will be technically and visually dramatic. We have new costumes that are coming in; we have unbelievable chorographers. And there’s going to be a lot of magic and flights and all sorts of things that this audience has never seen before.” The enchantment will begin before the first curtain rises. Prior to the show, the Chancel Choir from Chicago will be singing holiday carols on stage before both performances.

-Continued on page 44

“It reminds people of a time of love and family and tradition. The Tchaikovsky score – that, to me, is timeless and timeless beauty never fades.” – Linda Cunningham, director

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-Continued from page 42 “From the minute you walk into the theater, you’re going to feel some magic,” says Cunningham. The level of talent also will set this rendition apart. Featured dancers include Joaquin De Luz, a principal dancer from the New York City Ballet, Abigail Simon from The Joffrey Ballet, and Roani Xavier from the Bolshoi Ballet in Brazil, which is widely considered one of the best dance institutions in the world.

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44 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

“The Nutcracker” is the perfect show for the entire family, says Cunningham, and a great way to introduce youngsters to the ballet. It’s very engaging for all ages,” she says. “The Nutcracker is a shorter ballet; it’s very colourful and really clips along. It’s a great way to kick off the holidays.” The child of two professional ballroom dancers, Cunningham has been dancing since she was just 3 years old, and she has taught dance in the area for more than 40 years. “I’ve been around the dance floor my whole life,” she says. “I’m extremely passionate about what I do.” The beloved Christmas tale was originally set to music by celebrated Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky in 1892 and has remained one of the most popular Christmas ballets for more than a century. What has given the fairytale ballet a staying power that has spanned time and location? “It reminds people of a time of love and family and tradition,” says Cunningham. “The Tchaikovsky score – that, to me, is timeless and timeless beauty never fades.”

The Hemmens Cultural Center is located at 45 Symphony Way in Elgin. Tickets are now available and start at $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cbcnutcracker.com.

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On the Job Park district provides positive work experiences for teens

Ask almost any teenager what is the one thing that he or she wants to do during his or her summer or holiday break from school and the answer may surprise you. Most teens of an employable age want just that – a chance to work. They crave the independence a job offers and, let’s face it, can always find a use for the income such work provides. For a teenager residing in St. Charles, one of the most coveted employment opportunities has been a position with the St. Charles Park District. With hundreds of young employees working in many facets of the park district, from camps to pools and beyond, it’s clear that the park district provides many options for employment. For interested teens, applications for the 2018 season will be available in late November. The park district begins posting specific job requirements before the end of 2017 and can even begin conducting interviews for summer 2018 employment during Christmas break. “We are a huge employer of youth for the community,” says Jennifer Bruggeman, assistant superintendent of recreation. “In 2017, we had 534 employees, aged 16 to 21. A lot of them are seasonal employees, but some work year-round on a part-time basis for us. And, in our parks and maintenance departments, we even have some full-time workers.”

the stage for future work experience by instilling good work habits, such as punctuality and responsibility, while also bolstering selfesteem and even introducing workers to an area of expertise that can lead to lifelong careers. “Almost all of our recreation staff got into this field because we loved our part-time park district jobs when we were younger,” says Bruggeman. “Almost all of us worked at a park district when we were in high school and college, and that experience is what secured the idea for us that this is the field we wanted to go into.”

According to the U. S. Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nearly all young people – 98.6 percent – hold at least one job between the ages Job positions with the St. Charles Park District can range from outdoor maintenance work, such of 18 and 25.” as watering planters and mulching playgrounds, These first employment experiences can set 46 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

to jobs that require a lot of public interaction, such as working the front desk at the community center, answering phones and helping people register for programs. And, of course, there are the traditional youth summer jobs working as camp counselors and pool lifeguards, according to Bruggeman. Regardless of their area of responsibility, all youth employees at the St. Charles Park District receive training, not only in the specific tasks associated with their particular job, but also in guidance in essential life skills. “I feel we are teaching workplace skills, such as professionalism and time management, customer service and even how to build effective team relationships, which are all key things in making them employable adults,” says Bruggeman. The on-the-job training youth employees receive is reinforced by on-the-job feedback. Teens work with peer mentors who help introduce them www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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“We pride ourselves on coaching all our supervisors to give feedback immediately and consistently so there are no surprises when it comes to a performance review,” says Bruggeman. “It is the first time many teens are receiving a document that evaluates them for things like punctuality, helping teammates, customer service and knowledge of work area.”

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Hiring top-notch employees is critical to the park district’s mission, and Bruggeman cites essential qualities interested teens should possess when applying for a job. “Our most employable teens are personable,” says Bruggeman. “They are comfortable speaking with adult supervisors and working with teammates their own age or older. We look for employees who possess a good sense of right and wrong – integrity or trustworthiness, if you will.”

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 For more information about youth employment opportunities with the St. Charles Park District, contact Jennifer Bruggeman at 630-513-4337. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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800-BIG-RAIL OR 815-923-4000 OUT & ABOUT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 47

KIDS KORNER Sylvan Satellite of Geneva

FOX VALLEY ICE ARENA | 1196 S. KIRK ROAD | 847-841-1771 | SYLVAN.SOUTHELGIN@SYLVANLEARNING.COM Confidence is the best tool you can give your kids to set them up for school success. Make this year one of the best yet with a personal learning plan to fit your family’s busy schedule - and budget! Sylvan Learning, located at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva and on Randall Road in South Elgin, offers programs for all learning needs for children in grades K-12: reading, math, algebra, writing, homework help, ACT/ SAT test prep, and more. Students receive a personalized learning approach and experienced tutors. Sylvan delivers proven results to help your child truly see that “success starts here.”

School of Rock Geneva

Teaching the World To Rock On Stage And In Life 15 WEST STATE STREET | GENEVA | 630-355-7625 | GENEVA.SCHOOLOFROCK.COM Welcome to School of Rock Geneva, where students learn to rock their worlds. Perfectly positioned in the heart of the Fox Valley, School of Rock Geneva has the right teachers, instruments and programs students needs to jam their way to success. School of Rock isn’t just about creating killer musicians with a lasting love for all things rock. Because life isn’t a solo act, we’re equally focused on creating awesome bands of friends. School of Rock Geneva is as much about creating a community in the Fox Valley

as we are about building confidence, extraordinary teamwork, and achieving excellence through the school’s unique teaching method. Everyone deserves to feel like a rock star. School of Rock is a place where students learn to create face-melting music while developing the skills they need to do so much more. Contact the school for a free trial lesson at geneva. schoolofrock.com. Follow the school on Facebook for BIG Black Friday 2018 Summer Camp Discounts.

48 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Book Nook

STORIES OF LOVE AND LOSS By ALLISON MANLEY

Monsters? Mushrooms? Reaping? The titles of my November book recommendations don’t sound like they would be plausible picks for the “People” issue, but the opposite is the case. These reads are all about the people we love, how we are grateful for them and how we show it.  “MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS (BOOK ONE)” By Emil Ferris You can tell that “My Favorite Thing is Monsters” is a work of genius as soon as you open it to the first page. This graphic novel, set in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood in the late ’60s, is not only lushly illustrated, it’s also a story as intriguing as the drawings that help tell it. Karen Reyes, a 10-year-old girl who loves drawing and all-things horror, is distraught when her beautiful neighbor Anka dies under mysterious and likely-murderous circumstances. Determined to find the killer, Karen digs into Anka’s sad history, and finds that many people – Anka’s husband, neighbors and even Karen’s mother and brother – all knew more about Anka’s past than they let on and are potential suspects. Ferris’s drawings are unique, expressive and just plain stunning – every one of them could be up in an art museum, but – instead – Ferris has used them to tell a story that is partly inspired by her experiences growing up in the city. If you read “My Favorite Thing is Monsters,” chances are you’ll want to immediately pre-order Book Two (with a tentative April 2018 release date).

 “MEN WE REAPED” By Jesmyn Ward Jesmyn Ward’s memoir, “Men We Reaped,” is her account of 2000 to 2004, a period of her life in which five men she knew and loved died each year. She also puts the deaths in context by sharing the details of the years leading up to them, growing up in a big and torn-apart family in Mississippi, as well as the years of mourning and healing that follow. Ward doesn’t hide anything, and “Men We Reaped” leaves you raw as she makes herself vulnerable. As you see her personal journey, you are right there with her when she asks the question over and over: “How could this happen?”

 “MYCOLOGY” By Joan Wilking Mycology is the study of fungi, but Joan Wilking’s novel “Mycology” is only incidentally related to its mushroominspired title. The up-and-coming artist Charlotte, the modest pianist Martin and the extraordinary escort Luca are all brought together through their mutual affection for Haze, a harsh but passionate dancer who interacts with the three of them in very different ways. The book goes easy at first, introducing you to the principal players and familiarizing you with the pace and setting (starting in the ’50s and moving through to the ’80s AIDS epidemic). Like the mycelium of a fungus, however, “Mycology” goes on to weave the stories of the three characters in a natural but intricate way.

The book makes a compelling case that institutional racism and economic inequality was at play in the deaths of all the men she honors in this book, but as much as she writes about the unjust causes of the deaths, she also writes about the effect the tragedies have had on her and the people she loves.

Allison Manley was born in Georgia and raised in Island Lake. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in creative writing. She loves opera, craft beer, and (of course!) reading. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

OUT & ABOUT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 49

SOCIAL Life Wonder women

Class of 2017-18 Women of Distinction honored The Women of Disctinction Class of 2017-18 were honored Oct. 11 at the St. Charles Country Club. The awards ceremony was hosted by Shaw Media, publisher of Kane County Magazine. Honorees include Karen Schock, Debora McKay, Cynthia Wade, Mary Oâ€™Connor, Theoni Limouris, Esther Roby, Sharon Schmidt and Tara Burghart. Kane County Law Library Director Halle Cox is not pictured. Each month, Kane County Magazine will run a story featuring these award-winning women, beginning in December. Photos by Sandy Bressner

50 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 51

 From left: ‘Rocket Park Slide,’ Oil Painting ‘Fabyan Color Mill,’ Oil Painting

52 | NOVEMBER 2017 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Artist SHOWCASE

GRETA BELL | BATAVIA ‘BAKER MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH’ OIL ON CANVAS

Greta Bell was born to a family who loved art and those who created it. Bell’s parents would bring the family (all five kids) on adventures to visit artists at work in their studios. The Batavia resident grew up living with, seeing and loving art created by craftspeople, folk artists and fineartists that she met during her travels. Those artists “made a lasting impression,” Bell says. To be creative, authentic and passionate was admired and fostered in Bell’s childhood home and has continued on throughout her life. Whether she is painting in oils, making marionettes or masks, printmaking, or – her latest endeavor – creating claymation movies, the various media in which she works allows for a sense of wonder and – often – fun follows, she says. Bell will be exhibiting her work at the St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. 6th Ave., through the end of November. For more information or to view more of Bell’s work, visit gretabell.com.

To submit an entry to Artist Showcase, email artwork, title of piece, name and village of residence of artist, a two- to three - sentence description of the piece, short bio and artist photo to KaneCountyMagazine@ shawmedia.com, subject head “Local Artist Submission.”

SM-CL1465099

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

OUT & ABOUT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 | 53

CALENDAR NOVEMBER 2017

JANE AUSTEN’S ‘SENSE AND SENSIBILITY’ WHEN: 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 WHERE: Fermilab Ramsey Auditorium, located at Pine Street and Kirk Road in Batavia Aquila Theatre Company will stage Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” at Fermilab in Batavia. “Sense and Sensibility” is a romantic comedy that cleverly illustrates the effects of economic uncertainty brought about by the common practice of the first-born male inheriting entire family fortunes, often leaving the rest of the family to fend for themselves. Tickets cost $38, and $19 for those ages 18 and younger. For tickets, visit events.fnal.gov. OOH LALA CHOCOLATE 5K WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 WHERE: Kane County Court House, 100 S. Third St., Geneva The USTAF certified course is chip-timed and follows one of the most scenic routes in the Fox Valley. Runners and walkers receive a hoodie, custom finisher medals and a fresh pain au chocolate and award-winning hot chocolate from the All Chocolate Kitchen in Geneva. For more information, visit www.allchocolatekitchen.com.

ART AFFAIR WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 WHERE: Geneva Golf Club, 831 South St., Geneva Art Affair will celebrate the mission and artistic endeavors of the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, as well as the wealth of artistic talent in the community. Guests will be treated to a cocktail party and silent auction. For more information, visit www.geneva.il.us/672/Art-Affair. CHRISTMAS COLLECTIVE WHEN: Noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 WHERE: Congregational Church in Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia Christmas Collective, formerly the Holiday Market, is a three-day, annual pop-up market that features holiday-themed items and vintage, and one-of-a-kind wares from downtown retailers and selected artisans. For more information, visit downtownbatavia.com. WATER STREET STUDIOS PROJECT FUSION MASQUERADE WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 WHERE: Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water St., Batavia Water Street Studios’ Artist + Patron | The Big Reveal Masquerade fundraiser will consist of a party where the work of artists that was

commissioned by patrons in April will be revealed. Tickets cost $50 in advance or $60 at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets and masks for the masquerade, visit projectfusionblog. com. THE GENEVA WOMEN’S CLUB 43RD ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 WHERE: Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave., Geneva The Geneva Women’s Club will host its 43rd annual Arts and Crafts Show, featuring handcrafted items for holiday gift-giving from roughly 100 different booths. Admission is $5 and children under age 12 will be admitted free of charge. For more information, visit www.genevawomensclub. org. HOLIDAY HOMECOMING WHEN: Friday, Nov. 24, and Saturday, Nov. 25 WHERE: Main Street, between 6th Street and 4th Avenue, in downtown St. Charles Holiday Homecoming is a two-day event in downtown St. Charles that includes a holiday movie, visiting Santa at Santa’s house, horsedrawn sleigh rides and an electric parade at night. The event is free to attend. For More information, visit www.downtownstcharles.org/events/ holiday-homecoming. EIGHTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHTS WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. Daily from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31 WHERE: Mooseheart Child City and School, Mooseheart Road and Route 31, Mooseheart The annual event will feature 1.8 miles of holiday light displays. Santa visits will take place 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9-11; and Dec. 18-20. Admission is $10 per car. Santa visits, crafts, games, hot cocoa and cookies are included in admission. For more information, visit www.mooseheart.org. CHICAGO POP-CULTURE CON WHEN: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 WHERE: Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles

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OUT & ABOUT

The annual holiday pop culture convention will feature celebrities, artists, lectures, games, prizes and thousands of pop culture memorabilia for purchase. Admission for one day is $10 and two days is $15. For more information, visit www. chicagopopculturecon.com. CHRISTMAS ON THE FOX ART AND CRAFT SHOW WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 26 WHERE: Prairie Events Center at Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles The indoor arts and crafts show will feature the work of about 100 artists and crafters. For more information, visit www.artoftheheartland.com.

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