Issuu

OCTOBER 2020

PICTURE PERFECT Tips for memorable family photos PAGE 36

THE W(HOLE) STORY New donuts delight at Grahamâ€™s 318 Coffeehouse PAGE 24

home

HEARTH section starts on page 8

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Editor's

NOTE Hey — happy fall! As I edited this home & hearth edition, memories of my most recent home renovation experience came flooding back. A lifetime ago — in March, that is — the beginning of the pandemic coincided with the renovation of our whole first floor, from carpet and tile to hardwood. The soundtrack of those days was the whack, whack, whack of pneumatic nails hitting wood. Needless to say, the floors were finished before quarantine was. The project ended up being a nice distraction with beautiful results! This issue of KC Magazine has the same spirit; after staying home much more than usual, you might have a sizable list of potential upgrades. We’ve got tips if you’re looking to update your home in small but noticeable ways (P. 8) and also the scoop on adding a pool if you’re looking to make a bigger splash (P. 12, pun intended!). My story this month centers around the new, delicious, enormous donuts at Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse. I discovered

Graham’s — both shops, chocolate and coffee — shortly after moving. I quickly became a follower of their donut lineup, which changes weekly and never disappoints. It was a fun (and delicious) story to write; check it out on P. 24. Also new to this issue of KC is a monthly book review from the Geneva Public Library: a recommendation for you and one for your little ones. I’m a lifelong reader, so I’m excited to add this to our list of meaningful stories. (I’m also looking for a book club in the area, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you know of one.) As always, thank you for reading!

Hannah Hoffmeister, Editor

on the

COVER

The great room of this sprawling ranch features a vaulted ceiling with arched beams. Photo courtesy of Havlicek Builders in Geneva. Next month: We honor the heroes who have sacrificed and worked harder than ever to help others this year.

OCTOBER

2020

PUBLISHER Daily Chronicle & Suburban Weekly Group Laura Shaw 630-709-4497 lshaw@shawmedia.com EDITOR Hannah Hoffmeister 630-427-6263 hhoffmeister@shawmedia.com DESIGNER Allison LaPorta 630-427-6260 alaporta@shawmedia.com LOCAL SALES MANAGER Kane County Chronicle & Niche Publishing Jaclyn Cornell 630-845-5234 jcornell@shawmedia.com CORRESPONDENTS Kevin Druley, Chris Walker, Jonathan Bilyk, Louise Treeny, Allison Bills, Vicki Martinka Petersen, Diane Krieger Spivak, Melissa Rubalcaba Riske and Nick Kelly. This magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send your request with payment information to Shaw Media, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.

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

INSIDE

What's

HOME & HEARTH:

BUSINESS & CIVIC:

8 THIS WON’T BREAK THE BANK Low-cost upgrades that make a big difference

28 ARE WE THERE YET Tom McCartney and Sharon Piet on staying the course on your investment strategy

12 JUST KEEP SWIMMING A Q&A with Cada Pools and Spas on their “busiest year ever” 14 UNEXPECTED BACKYARD DELIGHT In a summer unlike any other, this Superdad’s pool brought needed relaxation 16 TOTAL MAKEOVER Family columnist Chrissy Somers highlights a recent home renovation 18 A LOVE AFFAIR WITH FALL COLOR Yellow, orange and burgundy hues — what you need in your fall garden 21 CUSTOMIZE YOUR VISION West DuPage Cabinets and Granite boasts high-end products, affordability

2020

32 FALL TRENDS Fashion insight from Apricot Lane Boutique in Geneva 33 VERY UNCOMMON Fine Line Creative Arts Center will host its fashion show virtually

FAMILY IN FOCUS: 35 GRAB A BOOKMARK Book recommendations for your October reading list 36 PICTURE PERFECT What you should know before you schedule family photos

22 EAT HEALTHY, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT Digestive expert Dr. Tarun Mullick visits Lupita's Cocina for shrimp tacos

OUT & ABOUT:

26 FOOD FOR THOUGHT From vegan to plant-based diets, these eateries serve up inclusive menus

OCTOBER

30 BABY BOUTIQUE Ruby Jane offers clothing and accessories for Batavia’s youngest residents

DINING & ENTERTAINING:

24 THE W(HOLE) STORY New donuts delight at Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse

FASHION & BEAUTY:

38 TELLING NATURE’S STORY ONE ZOOM CALL AT A TIME Naturalist Pam Otto launches ‘Good Natured Hour’ 41 SAVE THE DATE Three outdoor events to put on your fall calendar

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THIS WON'T BREAK THE BANK Low-cost upgrades that make a big difference BY KEVIN DRULEY

n abundance of caution at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic created a crunch of stay-at-home orders, which in turn produced a plethora of people looking at the same four walls for far longer than anticipated. Some did more than stare. Sylvia Torres, owner of Little Red Barn Door, a home decor shop at 227 S. Third Street in Geneva (inside the Berry House), has seen a surge in onceprocrastinated projects being tackled at last. “Now if you’re working from home, you’re kind of looking at it all the time,” Torres says. “So, you’re like,

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

‘I’m going to go ahead and let’s get those to-do lists going,’ where you are trying to redo rooms and stuff like that. There’s a lot of people doing that right now, for sure.” Kitchens and bathrooms remain popular starting places. Still, with spending a chief concern among many families amid the economic impact of the pandemic, what is a redecorator to do? With help from experts around the Tri-Cities, Kane County Magazine took a look at options for simple, frugal upgrades.  “P” IS FOR PAINT Does something in the kitchen seem stale — that is, other than the potato chips?

FALL CLEAN-UP

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HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

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“Paint is really inexpensive and always a great way to refresh,” Torres says. While white remains a popular color choice, one emerging trend involves complementing and accentuating the room using paint of another neutral color.

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Urban Industrial Chic Farmhouse Upcycled Vintage New

“Everybody is so used to having white trim on the bottom, like those baseboards,” Torres said. “Some people are going with a darker (color). So, if the wall is a lighter gray, the trim is a darker gray.” And some of the kitchen hardware, namely cabinet handles, may be darker still. One thought from Torres: Take a bronze handle and spray-paint it matte black. The piece still retains the metallic look but offers an entirely new attribute.

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 UPDATE THE ISLAND Torres offers several considerations for tweaking the area around or above a kitchen island, including: • “Sometimes just adding the actual drop light fixtures above an island, like a pendant light, you can add those and that makes it look really nice,” she says. • Change the stools or seating around the island.

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HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

• Think outside the box. Use custom furniture or enhance the design of your existing island. “We’ve seen some really cool furniture pieces that have been used as islands,” Torres says.

 “P” IS FOR PAINT, PART DEUX As long as you’re comfortable venturing outside your home, exercising the right side of your brain for a bit may be a sound investment — both for boosting your vision for a possible home revamp and adding a piece to it. At Pinot’s Palette, 3823 E. Main St. in St. Charles, “a lot of people come in and paint stuff for their bathrooms, which is kind of fun,” owner Amy Kumler says. “I think people want to buy their artwork for their living room. They’re a little more willing to put their own up in their bathroom.” Kumler says paintings and prints of jars and glass vases with simple sprigs of flowers are popular. Also, smaller canvasses —8x8 or 8x10 — are preferable to allow for easier framing.  FOOD FOR THOUGHT Balancing what’s hip with what you want while sticking to the constraints of a budget can be a challenge. Torres offers a rule of thumb. “We usually recommend having one statement piece that you splurge on,” she says. “Keep something you really, really love that you’re going to use all the time that’s your splurge, and then (fill in with) things that are maybe on the wall or things that you don’t necessarily have to spend as much money on.”

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Q&A JUST K EEP S W I M M IN G

A Q&A with Cada Pools and Spas on their “busiest year ever” By Chris Walker

n nearly 40 years as a family-owned and -operated business in St. Charles, Cada Pools and Spas has helped transform countless backyards into enjoyable retreats. But never before has there been a demand for swimming pools and spas like this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Today, Cada’s schedule remains full for the remainder of 2020 — and it only has one opening left for new construction for 2021. The Cadas will continue to be busy for a while.

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

Brothers Tom Cada (operations manager) and Brian Cada (sales manager) and nephew A.J. Cada (store manager) answered a few questions about a year like no other in the pool industry. This interview has been edited slightly for length.  KC MAGAZINE: You guys have been in business since 1981 so you’ve seen a lot over the years, but have you ever had a year like this one?

TOM, BRIAN AND A.J. CADA: This has absolutely been our busiest year ever! Once the stay-at-home order happened and all the pools announced they

were not opening, everyone wanted their own pool and hot tub. One day we had over 200 phone calls! It was very overwhelming. There is no preparation for something like that.  KC: What other time (year) can you compare this year to the most, if any?

CADAS: We would say 2005-06 would be the closest to this year. Two hundred forty thousand new pools were built throughout the country.  KC: How have you handled the new business?

CADAS: A lot of overtime. And it has been difficult because of COVID to place and receive orders from our manufacturers. 2020 spa sales have been extraordinary! We have many presold spas and swim spas already for 2021.  KC: While swimming options in public were limited this summer, people must have really missed being around water with family and friends to invest in their own pool or spa. Does that surprise you?

CADAS: The idea of being in water is like being on vacation. Most summer vacations are on a lake or at the beach in summer. It is absolutely no surprise. Swimming pools are a great way to bring family and friends together to unwind and relax. They are like getaways without having to leave your home. We call them staycations.  KC: Pools aren’t just for the youngsters. Why are pools good for adults as well as senior citizens?

CADAS: Swimming in water is a great exercise. It is also good for cardio and has

low impact on joints.  KC: From your consumers’ point of view, what goes into the thought process of adding a pool to the home?

CADAS: We ask our customers the size of the family and what is the pool going to be used for: exercise or for fun? Those questions help in determining the size and placement of the pool. It’s important to put together a solid plan and stick to it and make sure they (the consumer) understand the construction process and timetable. The first part is trying to figure out the cost of building and maintaining a pool into your budget. The next step is: Will a pool fit in the backyard, and what size?  KC: What should people know if they’re interested in financing a pool?

CADAS: It is as simple as getting a home improvement loan from their local bank or adding a home equity loan. We do offer financing through LightStream. They will do between $50,000-$100,000.

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HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

 SUBURBAN SUPERDAD 

Unexpected Backyard Delight In a summer unlike any other, this Superdad’s pool brought some needed relaxation hree years ago, we took the plunge. It’s something, many years earlier, in a quiet, grumbling voice, I had sworn would never happen. No, it didn’t involve marriage — that was more than a decade and a half earlier. There are no regrets in that department. Rather, this missive centers on a pool that, from late May to mid-September, sits in our backyard, just to the right of the swingset. It’s nothing fancy. Just a four-foot deep, by 15-foot round vinyl liner, slung across a metal frame, with a basic filter that never seems to be strong enough to clean that volume of water, yet somehow, miraculously (usually) does. It’s the kind of pool that, most years, is easily available through online sellers or in the seasonal section of the corner superstore from March through July, threatening, like sugar-soaked breakfast cereals in colorful boxes, to trap suckers who wander down the aisle with their kids. And the kind of pool that can be neatly packed away in a corner of the garage each blessed autumn. As a younger me, such pools were close to the center of summertime existence, right there next to baseball, bikes, comic books, watermelon and Popsicles – as in, after a morning of baseball, bikes and comic books, there was nothing better than an afternoon in the pool until evening beckoned us to the backyard or front stoops for watermelon and Popsicles. You dig? But that younger me grew into teenage me, and

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

through the years, the magic of the pool gradually faded as the process of keeping the magic crystal clear and properly chlorinated fell increasingly on my shoulders. By the time college arrived, my soul had been thoroughly disabused of the idea of the backyard pool being anything but a burden and a chore to be avoided, if at all possible. And so it remained for the next two decades. However, about a year after relocating to our current home, I discovered my better judgment had somehow not survived the move, or perhaps it was still packed in a box on a shelf in the basement. In any event, by midJune of that year, there was a pool in our backyard. The first two summers, amid combating algae, storm debris, and again resurrecting the magic of high-quality H2O, the pool brought weeks of warm, sunny, squealing delight to my little ones (and their friends) — a feat that everyone said should make it all worthwhile. But for this dad, the best moments still came moments after discovering there were no leaks at the beginning of the season and the moment the pool was safely stowed away by the end of September. And it remained that way until this year, when, in a move more unthinkable than me purchasing a pool, COVID-19 shut down summer. Most of the other normal accoutrements of a typical summer — backyard parties; trips to amusement parks, zoos, water parks and museums; big road trips; summer blockbusters

at the local theater — were all wiped clean. Sure, we were able to wring out a bit of camping and other fun. But all things considered, we were left with our backyard… including the pool, sitting just to the right of the swingset and jungle gym. So when the heat set in, this dad, in a fit of bemused befuddlement, admitted to his wife and young ones that this year, he was actually grateful for the (almost crystal clear) cool and refreshing time-and-money sink in the backyard. Now, with the pool once again safely stored away, would you please join me in the basement, to help me relocate my better judgment? Nothing fancy, but you’d be high on the list of those invited over next summer for some grilled meat, cold beverages, watermelon and maybe even a Popsicle on the patio, following a refreshing plunge in that pool.

 Jonathan Bilyk writes about the triumphs and travails of being a modern-day dad who legitimately enjoys time with his family, while tolerating a dog that seems to adore him. He also doesn’t really like the moniker “Superdad” because it makes it sound like he wants to wear his undergarments on the outside of his pants. (Also, the cape remains on back order.)

TOTAL MAKEOVER

Before

A grid feature wall is the highlight of this master bedroom and bathroom renovation With Chrissy Somers, www.FamiliesOnTheFox.com Photos provided

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

Before

have a strong marriage with my husband, but if I ever want to test just how strong it is, I add a slightly cumbersome DIY project to his “Honey DO List.”

 RETAIL STORES

Last year, I tasked him with hanging peel-and-stick wallpaper in two rooms. After several threats of “never doing this again,” and “you’re cut off from any more DIY projects,” I now know our marriage is strong enough to handle that task.

$100 — Wall sconces $120 — 28” Round brass mirrors $100 — Bench for end of bed $40 — Water Hyacinth woven baskets for nightstand • $100 — 12 picture frames to create a gallery wall • $100 — Two bathroom prints and eucalyptus wreath ....................................... $560 TOTAL

Last month, I wanted to test our marriage’s strength once more, so I tasked my sweet hubby with creating a symmetrical grid feature wall in our master bedroom. This involves some carpentry work. To be clear, my husband is many things, but a carpenter is not one of them.

If basic project items are not listed, like paint rollers or a nail gun, it’s because we already owned them and didn’t need to purchase it. Please keep the tools you will need in mind as you move forward with this project. If purchasing the tools is not an option, most hardware stores offer tool rentals!

In his defense, he is the type of person I envy: the type of person who can learn something new in five minutes and make it look like he’s been doing it for years in an hour. Creating a grid feature wall was not going to be difficult for him, and I made sure to remind him of this character trait as motivation. After a solid eye roll, he was off to work!

SHOPPING LI ST  HARDWARE STORE • $60 — 10 primed MDF boards at 3” wide and 10’ in length • $8 — Caulk • $105 — 3 gallons of paint (we used Behr paints in “magnetic gray” (feature wall) and “loft space” (all other walls) • $24 — New knobs for bathroom vanity ....................................... $197 TOTAL

• • • •

THE PROJECT

As with any painting project, be sure to go around the walls and fill any holes. Let dry and sand down for a smooth wall. Start by painting all walls except the feature wall. We used the same colors in the master bath as well, and we also carried the color of the feature wall into the bathroom to create a larger visual space. Measure your feature wall. I strongly urge that you work with an even number of columns and rows for a grid wall (we had six columns and four rows) as this helps make the math and measuring a bit easier. Decide on how many columns and rows you would like. This will tell you how big each box will be. Using a miter saw, get your border boards measured (the boards that will create the perimeter of your grid).

Use a nail gun to secure the boards to the wall. We originally tried using both glue and the nail gun for extra security, but the glue was messy and not as forgiving when it came to misplacement. Next, get your center vertical board up. Be sure to install the center of the center board of the “center line.” This ensures your wall won’t be lopsided. Install all other vertical boards to create your columns. Measure, cut and secure your horizontal pieces. These will be smaller cuts. Once the grid is completed, use wood filler to cover the nail holes and seams. Then use caulk to cover where the wood meets the wall. Once all is sanded and dried, paint it!

REUSE & REPURPOSE

 FOX SUCCULENT HOLDER This was a candle from Scentcerely Yours in Geneva. When it was completely burned, I cleaned it and repurposed as a plant holder.  FLOATING SHELVES These gems were tucked away in our storage closet for six years.  TALL WHITE CERAMIC PLANTERS Again, hidden in our storage closet from the day we moved in, as were the greenery inside them (dusted off those bad boys and repurposed them!).  BATHROOM LIGHT FIXTURE With a can of matte black spray paint, I covered the once nickel fixture, installed it upside down and purchased new glass at $5 each. Kept the same bed frame, bedding, dresser, chair, side tables and nightstands.

Surprisingly, the majority of costs to this project have come from decorative items. Because I knew there were certain pieces I absolutely wanted, I had to get rid of the “nice to haves” and repurpose items I already owned into this space.

Now it’s your turn! I would love to see how you guys have done a makeover on a budget in your spaces. Feel free to tag @FamiliesOnTheFox or use the hashtag #FamiliesOnTheFox on social media so I can see how it’s going! And if you have questions, you can find my contact info on www. FamiliesOnTheFox.com!

Here are some items I repurposed:

Happy DIY-ing, friends!

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

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH

Fall Color Yellow, orange and burgundy hues — this is what you need in your fall garden

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

fter all of the bells and whistles of spring and summer flowers and bright, bold colors, I truly welcome fall. It’s always been my favorite season — even though it’s the precursor to Chicago winter, which is 19 months long. The dusky haze as the sun sets. The rich, warm colors of the tree leaves. The ornamental grasses swaying in the wind with glowing seed heads. As a designer, I think it’s equally important to think of fall color in addition to all the spring and summer flowers. Many think a maple tree will be red and that is the end of it. But being married to a biology teacher has taught me a thing or two about the hows and whys of fall color. According to my trusty live-in bio geek, “Although the proportion and specific versions of the array of pigments varies from species to species, plants generally produce all of these pigment types

throughout the growing season in order to absorb as much of the sun’s energy as they can. However, most plants produce an overwhelmingly large proportion of chlorophyll pigments during the spring and summer, which is why the leaves appear green. (But if you’ve ever looked closely at a grass stain, there are definitely yellow, orange and even bluish pigments hidden within all that green.)

“And like all biological things, these pigment molecules wear out over time. The plants constantly build and replace worn-out pigment molecules to maintain their photosynthetic factories. While the days are long, warm and bright, the leaves keep themselves green with huge amounts of chlorophyll while keeping lesser amounts of the red, orange and yellow pigments. However, as the days get shorter, the angle of the sun skews lower and the temperatures drop, plants

Here’s some of our favorite plants with fall leaf color that you definitely need in your garden:  TREES: Paperbark maple (orange/red), tupelo (deep reds, puts maples to shame!), oaks (burgundy, brown, yellow, orange), ginkgo (clear yellow and all leaves fall in one fell swoop — it’s magical), katsura tree (pinks, pale yellows, soft orange — leaves smell like cotton candy when they fall), Kentucky coffee tree (bright yellow), Korean maples (oranges, pinks, reds, yellows)  SHRUBS: Chokeberry (good sub for burning bush), Fothergilla (reds, oranges and yellows all on same plant), gro-low sumac (deep burgundy), "Miss Kim" lilac (burgundy), Deutzia (deep purples/ oranges), Virginia sweetspire (burgundy, orange, yellow), Clethra (clear bright yellow)

Let us grow them into the garden of your dreams.

 PERENNIALS AND GRASSES: Prairie dropseed (glows orange/yellow), ornamental oregano (deep purple), Amsonia (bright yellow & orange), geraniums (red, orange, & yellow), dwarf goatsbeard (burgundy & red), Sedum (flowers late but often leaves turn reds, oranges and yellows, especially on groundcover types), flame grass (deep orange blades with puffs of white, corn tassel like flowers), "Standing Ovation" bluestem (moves our staff to tears at dusk; it’s so pretty!)

respond by not replacing the wornout chlorophylls as rapidly and focusing their attention on those reds, oranges and yellows. These pigments can more effectively help prolong some photosynthesis into the late fall as the sun shifts lower and temperatures drop further. As

the chlorophyll molecules wear down and are not replaced, the secondary pigments begin to show their beauty. All things must come to an end, however, and the plant eventually severs the connection to the leaf and prepares to enter dormancy for the winter.”

Meagan is the Senior Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. She can be reached at design@wasconursery.com. St. Charles East AP Biology teacher, Ben Provencher, contributed to this article.

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

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HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

CUSTOMIZE

YOUR VISION

West DuPage Cabinets and Granite boasts high-end products, affordability By Louise Treeny | Photos provided

hether you’re looking for custom cabinetry (built-in spice rack? Yes, please) or a full remodel of your kitchen or bathroom, West DuPage Cabinets and Granite has everything you need — starting with reasonable prices. It’s what Catherine Sanzeri, owner and president of this Batavia-based company, is most proud of: “the fact that I am able to provide a beautiful kitchen to someone that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it because of the variation of the prices that I have,” she says. “I have beautiful products that are entry price point. I also have custom products. …I can work with people regardless of their budget.” Working with Sanzeri means you’re in good hands; she’s been in the construction and design business for 38 years. Her interior design knowledge goes beyond just thinking something is trendy. She has the knowledge of “what’s going on behind the drywall,” she says. That expertise, in addition to the variety and quality of the cabinetry, granite and flooring available, is what earned West DuPage Cabinets and Granite three Kane County Readers’ Choice awards since 2017. The process of doing a renovation with West DuPage Cabinets and Granite starts with an initial

And if that upgrade expands to new countertops, Sanzeri says marble, quartz and quartzite are all on trend now. Once cabinets and countertops are figured out, pick a tile color that complements both well. Projects range from a few weeks to months, depending on how involved and what products are chosen. For Sanzeri, her job is a dream. “I absolutely love what I do,” she says. “Being a family-owned business — they’re buying from me, which means at the end of the day, I have to answer to the client. My customers know they’re going to be able to reach me,” Sanzeri says. “It’s really important to have good customer service. I think that’s one of the things that we’re able to provide.”

consultation at your house, where a staff member will take measurements and stock of how the room currently looks. From there, you’ll do an in-store consultation, which is when Sanzeri can give you an estimated cost of the project.

The reviews speak for themselves. “I explained what I was looking for when designing a bar for the basement,” says an online review from Kim, a customer. “She was helpful with keeping me in budget yet making it look amazing.”

Is all of this talk of a remodeled kitchen making you consider an upgrade of your own? Go to www. westdupagecabinetsandgranite.com/visualizer and try the kitchen visualizer to test out your options. Gray is still a popular cabinet color, Sanzeri says, but new variants like blue-gray and brown-gray are also rising in popularity. Soft brass or rose gold hardware might re-energize your space if you’re looking for a smaller commitment.

 IF YOU GO WEST DUPAGE CABINETS AND GRANITE 143 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia www.westdupagecabinetsandgranite.com

HOME & HEARTH OCTOBER 2020

I hope you had a great summer full of outdoor dining! Please continue to follow restrictions set in place to avoid the spread of COVID-19. If we can wear masks and follow social distancing rules, we can support our local restaurants even as the weather gets colder. Let’s keep doing takeout twice a week!

In the spirit of the fall timeframe, there are a number of places serving great food around town. But one new hot spot that warms me up like a trip to Cancun is Lupita’s Cocina. Nestled in the Campton Hills section of town is this touted Mexican hot spot. Tasty food and kind service are two staples of their brand. Chef Roberto Barojas truly takes you to a place that you remember and want to go to in Mexico. Serving handcrafted drinks with a wide variety, they offer many delectable delights as well. To start I chose the Queso Fundido, which is melted Chihuahua and Monterrey cheese, chorizo and poblano peppers. This sizzler of a plate is served with tortillas typically; to watch my waist, I just ate it alone with a fork. It’s really the comfort of pillowy cheese that melts in your mouth. Of course, this keeps up the protein and fat with only a few carbs. For the main course, I had heard about these shrimp tacos, so I dove into the Shrimp

DINING & ENTERTAINING OCTOBER 2020

Alambre, which are shrimp, bacon (I mean, who doesn’t love a little bacon?) mixed with crimson red bell peppers, poblano, onion and topped with the snow effect of the Oaxaca queso. Delicious! They say a taco diet is a great one to watch those carbs. It’s hard to gain much weight and you get the blend of vegetables, protein, fat and minimal carbs. You also get texture and taste. Check out Lupita’s Cocina for your next bite!

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

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Ask the doctor

It is my honor and privilege to serve the community and readership of this publication. Our practice’s focus is to care for patients, to help them and tailor their care individually with current therapies. Here are some questions we've recently been asked:

Q: What is NASH? A: NASH is Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. This is a liver disease

where the fat deposits in the liver and turns to scar over time, causing liver cirrhosis. It is truly a rising concern in the world now. If you are concerned, get screened with some liver tests; if elevated, then go to the gastroenterologist. We help several with that problem.

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

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

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

Q: Does colorectal cancer screening work? A: Yes, the data suggest that the effects of proper screening and

surveillance work well. At the Golden Globes, Mel Gibson says he gets one every three years (so he must have polyps). But the key is to get it done and with appropriate follow-up. Don't neglect. And if you have family history, start at 45. And if you have any symptoms, then prior.

Q: Has the screening age of colonoscopy for cancer changed to 45?

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

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

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

Dr. Mullick, I’ve got bloating and gas. Sometimes I have diarrhea or nausea after I eat. Could I have food allergies? My doctor said it’s IBS (irritable bowel). Kristen

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

SAVE YOUR LIFE! TELLYOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Get colon cancer screening. Beatable, Treatable, Preventable in most situations. S. from Geneva. “I am glad I had my colonoscopy done at the American Colonoscopy and Endoscopy center. I had some polyps removed and that will likely prevent a cancer. The facility was wonderful and it saved me money.”

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DINING & ENTERTAINING OCTOBER 2020

ANSWERS: Mel Gibson, Fatty, Colonoscopy, Telehealth, Golden Globes

f o y r o t s ) E L O (H W e h T

GRAHAM'S

S T U N O N EW D Caramel pretzel, spiced carrot cake, blueberry crumb â€¦ this story might make you hungry

By Hannah Hoffmeister Photos by Spencer Plum Photography

DINING & ENTERTAINING OCTOBER 2020

 Caramel apple, cereal milk, chocolate glazed and cinnamon roll donuts.

t 3 a.m., most people in Kane County are asleep. But not the bakers at Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse.

Every morning, the team arrives early to bake and decorate the day’s donuts, which debuted this spring when the longstanding Geneva shop reopened after a renovation. Cherry cheesecake, lemon lavender, cereal milk, mango passionfruit, strawberry lemonade, cinnamon roll — the list goes on, each more whimsical than the last. Adding donuts to the menu has long been a goal at Graham’s 318. They’ve boosted the store during the pandemic, and, since they change weekly, become something fun for the community to anticipate. “My dad and I (have) always loved donuts and just wanted to do some really fun specialty donuts here,” says Jayni Wunderlich, vice president. Her dad, Robert Untiedt, is an owner of Graham’s, which includes the coffeehouse and a chocolate and ice cream shop. “It just wasn’t feasible before in our small kitchen.” The coffeehouse outgrew that kitchen, which had occupied the yellow room on the second floor. While closed last fall for a renovation, Wunderlich and two staff pastry chefs visited New Orleans to check out the food scene. “I think that was a cool

trip just to give them some perspective on what we could possibly be doing here,” she says. By the time the store reopened, the Graham’s 318 team had planned roughly six months of flavors, says Jennifer Farley, the cafe’s general manager. She says it was “so cool to see it come to fruition.” Four flavors — a range of old-fashioned, cake and filled — change each week, while chocolate and vanilla glazed are permanently offered. “Everyone’s like, ‘You have donuts?’” recalls assistant chef Betty Ostrom. She says she loves the communication she gets from customers about their feelings on new flavors. Graham’s 318 donuts resemble some offerings available at Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream, just a few doors down. “What is Graham’s doing that we can turn into a donut?” is how Ostrom puts it. Caramel pretzel, coffee toffee and skälie are just three of many flavors based off a Graham’s counterpart. To get the scoop on what’s available, head to Instagram or Facebook (@318coffeehouse) each Monday. “Changing them weekly has helped us bring people in weekly to try them, which during COVID has been a godsend,” Wunderlich says. She says the support has been humbling. “The best is yet to come,” she says. “So many fun donuts are on the horizon.”

DINING & ENTERTAINING OCTOBER 2020

FOOD for THOUGHT From vegan to plant-based diets, these eateries serve up inclusive menus By Vicki Martinka Petersen Photos provided by Rejoice Lounge, Eatery & Juice Bar

here are many different pathways to eating healthy. For some people, this could entail cutting back or eliminating meat and cheese from their diets and adding a lot more vegetables to their plates. If you’ve toyed with jumping on the

vegan or plant-based diet bandwagon, the first thing to consider is what’s sustainable for you. Vegan is a lifestyle choice where you abstain from all animal products whereas a plant-based diet is derived primarily from plants but you can still eat dairy, eggs, cheese and seafood.

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To help get you started, here are some vegan/plantbased offerings at local restaurants.

“A plant-based diet is an easy first step if you’re thinking of going vegan or vegetarian. If you frequently eat meat, cheese and eggs, jumping into a vegan diet cold turkey might be hard to sustain,” explains Ron Anderson, a leading health and nutrition expert. Last month, Anderson opened Rejoice Lounge, Eatery & Juice Bar, a new plant-based restaurant in Geneva. The mission is to make plant-based eating more mainstream and to be inclusive of

all palates and food preferences. Anderson credits the internet for enabling people to put decisions about their health in their own hands. This includes educating people about food and its impact on their health. Going vegan or plant-based doesn’t mean dining out is off limits. When you eat out, Anderson recommends planning ahead by checking the menu in advance and making sure there’s something that works for you.

 REJOICE LOUNGE 11 E. State St., Geneva www.rejoicelounge.com

 BUTTERMILK 7 W. State St., Geneva www.buttermilkrestaurants.com

Start your day off with the sweet potato breakfast bowl – a mix of roasted and mashed sweet potatoes, nuts, raisins and almond butter. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with the nut butter and jelly chia pudding topped with homemade blueberry compote. The salad selections make a satisfying lunch; they’re topped with hearty ingredients like baked falafel, chickpeas, tempeh, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds and more.

The vegan menu at Buttermilk offers a variety of options for a leisurely brunch. The chia breakfast bowl features chia seed pudding topped with almond milk, bananas, blueberries, gluten-free granola, coconut and almonds. For a hand-held entree, the veggie wrap nestles garlic hummus, cucumber, shaved red onion, cherry tomato and cilantro topped with a balsamic reduction sauce.

 KAVA DIEM 1 W. Illinois St., St. Charles www.kavadiem.com Kava Diem transforms its classic favorites into vegan entrees such as the vegan chickpea breakfast scramble and vegan breakfast burrito. Avocado toast lovers can enjoy a variety of vegan and plant-based toppings from black beans and pico de gallo to roasted tomatoes and pickled onions. For lunch, choose from a variety of vegan wraps, salads and veggie burgers.

 CRAZY FOX BAR & GRILLE 104 E. Main St., St. Charles www.crazyfoxbarandgrille.com Vegan versions of your pub favorites can be found on the menu at Crazy Fox. Choose from tasty entrees including veggie-based burgers, cheesy garlic cauliflower flatbread and loaded jackfruit quesadillas — all made with vegan cheese.

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Are We There Yet?

emember when you were a child on family vacation, and on the way to your destination you could hardly contain yourself as you were so anxious to get there? You may not remember repeating the classic “Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” mantra, but I guarantee you that your parents do. The anguish from what then felt like the incredibly slow passage of time may have been forgotten long ago. What you probably do remember is how awesome it was once you got to where you were heading.

For seasoned investors who know that historically tilting their equity portfolios towards both small-cap as well as towards value stocks is well worth the effort, your current journey can feel as agonizing as when you were packed into the family car as a kid on family vacation and forced to lie across the deck of the rear window. This year’s market recovery from the market’s COVID-19 collapse has been very narrow as it has been dominated by large-cap technology stocks that are definitely in the growth category. If you are a trader, you may or may not have been lucky enough to guess correctly on this narrow target. If you are an investor with at least a five-year time horizon, fear not! Although past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, we believe studying historic trends helps our clients be better positioned for the future. Here is what history shows us:

BUSINESS & CIVIC OCTOBER 2020

Photo by Indre Cantero

 Tom McCartney and Sharon Piet are teammates at My Advisor & Planner and are Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives with M Securities. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer and Investment Adviser, Member FINRA/ SIPC. My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated.

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

As illustrated in my favorite professional football team’s colors, reviewing rolling 1-Year, 5-Year and 10-Year periods shows some pretty strong trends. With many of us working remotely and often finding ourselves with more time on our hands than we are used to and less options for how we might spend that time, it is understandable to find yourself focused more intensely on your portfolio and being tempted to “tweak” your positions more than you might otherwise. We encourage our clients to take a deep breath and stay the course. Just like those family vacations of yesteryear, the journey will soon be forgotten, and the destination should be well worth the wait. Note: SMALL is Dimensional US Small Cap Index. LARGE is S&P 500 Index. Relative price as measured by the price-to-book ratio; value stocks are those with lower price-to-book ratios. Opinions contained herein should not be interpreted as a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment will either be suitable or profitable for a client's portfolio. Economic factors, market conditions, and investment strategies will affect the performance of any portfolio and there are no assurances that it will match or outperform any particular benchmark. This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor, or plan provider. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing risks include loss of principal and fluctuating value. There is no guarantee an investment strategy will be successful.

FILE# 3241245.1

BUSINESS & CIVIC OCTOBER 2020

baby BOUTIQUE Ruby Jane offers clothing and accessories for Batavia’s youngest residents By Allison Bills Photos by Patricia Anderson Photography

hile most people were just trying to make sense of things during the COVID-19 business closures, Batavia resident and business owner Tricia Anderson decided she was going to use her free time to check things off her bucket list. First, Anderson, a professional newborn and infant photographer, bought an old RV and completely renovated it. After she sold it, Anderson moved on to her next venture: a baby store, called Ruby Jane.

FASHION & BEAUTY OCTOBER 2020

“Since I’ve worked with babies, clothing is always something I’ve wanted to do,” Anderson says. “I wish there was a deeper story to the shop opening, but here we are.” Anderson has owned Patricia Anderson Photography for nine years and had a studio in Geneva for several years before opening a new studio in Batavia in January. Her current location has a photography studio in the rear with a seating area in the front, the latter of which has now been replaced by her baby shop, which she

E officially opened in August. “Right now, the space is not even 200 square feet,” Anderson says, noting she carries over 200 different types of items ranging from newborn to 5T. While normally Anderson would be shopping at markets for clothing, that’s not a possibility due to the pandemic. Instead, she’s been doing research and shopping all over the place to try to find clothing she loves. “I’m a die-hard Free People and Anthropologie person and I’m always asking myself why they don’t have a kids’ brand of clothing,” Anderson says. “That’s exactly what I wanted: kind of boho-modern and hipster.” While Anderson thinks a lot of

her clothing is perfect for family photographs (see P. 36), she always tries to make sure it’s practical enough to wear at any time. “My goal is to have a very inclusive brand for everyone,” Anderson says. “I don’t want my price point to be too high so there’s something every type of person is going to relate to and want.” It’s not all just for infants, either. Hearth & Hammer General, another local Batavia storefront, has made Ruby Jane its own scented candle that isn’t sold anywhere else. Ruby Jane also offers other small trinkets, including books, bracelets and accessories. “Even if you don’t have a baby, there are some cute little things you can

have,” Anderson says, noting she is also hoping to eventually expand into more eco-friendly toys, shoes and accessories. Since things still aren’t back to normal, Anderson has adjusted to make people feel safe while shopping. She offers private appointments, free curbside pickup and is regularly adding her inventory, which she can ship, to her website. Currently, Anderson is still doing photography and trying to manage both businesses on her own (with a little bit of help from her mom), so the storefront is only open Thursday through Sunday while she shoots Monday through Wednesday. “It’s just

juggling two businesses, which is kind of crazy,” Anderson says. “But I’m somebody who can’t sit still.” Anderson also has three kids of her own, Lucy, 9, John, 6, and Kate, 2, who she is always trying to get to model some of her clothes for her. (She has the most luck with Kate.) “I had several moments where I was like, ‘What the heck am I doing? This could end very poorly,’” Anderson says. “I actually have been amazed at how much not just friends and family but other businesses downtown and the whole community have been supporting me. “Business has been better than I could have ever imagined.” FASHION & BEAUTY OCTOBER 2020

 She’s wearing a balloon sleeve sweater with tight forearms and high-waisted blue jeans. Puff sleeves are still very trendy this season.

Whether it’s a gorgeous day in the pumpkin patch or a night out, here’s what to shop for

FALL TRENDS BY MARTHA MURILLO, OWNER OF APRICOT LANE BOUTIQUE IN GENEVA | PHOTOS PROVIDED

s the leaves change, so too does fashion. And although your slacks and work sweaters have probably stayed in the closet this year, working from home doesn’t have to mean wearing pajamas all day. In fact,

dressing well might lift your spirits. This fall, go for bold colors and reliable staples like turtlenecks. When it comes to color, apply falloriented hues to your favorite summer trends. Tie dye and floral are still in, but

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FASHION & BEAUTY OCTOBER 2020

consider dressing in deeper, richer colors or darker floral patterns to match the feel of the season. Blues, fired brick — a gorgeous, lush red-brown — and military olive are all on trend, whether that means a blouse or even a layering piece, like a cardigan. The variety in fall fashion this year can work to your advantage. Headed out for a day at the pumpkin farm? Opt for a plaid, bonus points if it’s an unconventional mixed patchwork pattern. Or a night out for dinner? Interesting, tasteful cutouts on your shoulders or waist can add a flare without being too chilly. If you simply want to dress up an outfit you already have, consider a chain necklace or hoop earrings, both of which are back in style. This year has been a whirlwind, but your wardrobe doesn’t need to follow suit — with a few new statement pieces and accessories, you can dress both warm and stylishly this season.

 She’s wearing a turtleneck top with a cute striped print and rushing in the middle. It’s paired well with paper bag leather pants.

ERY UNCOMMO

THE SHOW WILL GO ON FOR FINE LINE, WHICH WILL HOST ITS FASHION SHOW VIRTUALLY By Diane Krieger Spivak | Photos provided

or 33 years Fine Line Creative Arts Center has put on a wildly popular fashion show, and, despite COVID-19, the show must go on this year, too...with a twist. For the first time ever “a very uncommon” Uncommon Threads Wearable Art Runway show, the biggest fundraiser of the year for this not-for-profit school of all things creative, will take place virtually Oct. 18. “Instead of at the Q Center in St. Charles it will be held online,” says Kay Lange, co-chair for the event for 25 years and member of Fine Line’s board of directors. It’s been a concerted effort by the scores of volunteers that have taken the show from a handful of attendees in the early days to an enthusiastic audience of nearly 500. “It’s a showcase for all fiber artists,” says Lange, adding it has become a huge showcase for accessory

artists as well, including one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, leather work, purses, beautiful scarves of dyed silk, and more. “Fine Line is one of the very few places in the country that does a one-of-a-kind juried show that showcases artists from all over the country,” adds Lange. What is normally a three-course luncheon, boutique and runway show where everything is for sale will be different this year in that the runway portion will be prerecorded and available on Fine Line’s website. Individual vendor booths and items for sale will also be online and shipped out from Fine Line. “Creativity is not under quarantine,” says Fine Line’s website. “They get a swag bag of items, then people will be watching on their tablet or streaming it on TV,” says Lange. “They will be able to purchase items immediately. Shopify will take care of it. It will be

FASHION & BEAUTY OCTOBER 2020

like attending the show at the Q Center except it will be all on screen.” Ticket holders can go to any vendor booth online to do shopping. Then all things on the runway will be available for purchase after the show, just like at past live shows. As a not-for-profit, Fine Line relies on support from fundraisers, classes and donations, notes Lange. “This fashion show has always been our largest fundraiser and signature event. It’s very well known throughout the area as well as throughout the country.” Heather Winslow, Fine Line’s department chair of weaving, spinning and knitting, has been involved with the show from the

beginning. “Where we’ve gone since then is quite remarkable,” she says. Fine Line has expanded from textiles to papermaking, pottery, jewelry, glassblowing, and 2D classes like painting, drawing, bookbinding and so much more. “Basically, you name it — we offer it,” says Winslow. Originating as an art store in a little house in Geneva in 1979, Fine Line was started by retired teacher and principal Sister Denise Cavanaugh, a weaver who sold the artwork of the Sisters of St. Francis there. She then started teaching, and the store became a school. Proceeds from the fashion show go to maintain the facility and classes.

Virtual attendees can buy a “WATCH PARTY” ticket at https://fineline.org/products/uncommon-threads-ticket. For more information on raffle tickets, call Fine Line at 630-584-9443.

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Grab a Colder weather? No problem. Snuggling up with a captivating book, soft blanket and a cup of coffee or tea is an excellent alternative. Here are two recommendations for your October reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

 FOR YOUR KIDS OR GRANDKIDS: “This Was Our Pact” by Ryan Andrews “This Was Our Pact” is a great read for graphic novel lovers and kids in grades 3-5. Each year at the Autumn Equinox Festival, everyone in Ben’s town floats paper lanterns down the river and into the Milky Way in honor of a local folk song. Legend has it that these lanterns turn into stars. Ben and his classmates make a pact that this year, they will follow the lanterns all the way along the river on their bikes and see if the legend is true. Their pact has two rules: No one turns for home, and no one looks back. The further the kids go down the river, the harder it is to keep the pact. People start to drop out until there are only two people left: Ben and Nathaniel. Ben is disappointed that Nathaniel is his partner, as Nathaniel never seems to fit in, but the two boys make some truly extraordinary discoveries. This is a book about magic, friendship and adventure. Fans of “The Phantom Tollbooth” will enjoy this story. — Lexy Jones, librarian  FOR OUR READERS: “The Mother-in-Law” by Sally Hepworth The complicated relationship between a woman and her mother-

in-law turns into murder in “The MotherIn-Law,” an absorbing novel by Sally Hepworth. Lucy attempts to become close to her mother-in-law, Diana, especially since she lacks a mother figure in her own life, but it quickly becomes clear that Lucy does not live up to Diana’s expectations. A myriad of hurtful words and slights festers between the two women and balloons into more serious situations and accusations. Then Diana dies, and her suicide note claims she can no longer fight her battle with cancer. However, the events leading up to Diana’s death bring her suicide into question, and the answers to her demise may rest on the secrets between Diana and Lucy. The complex relationship between family members plays a part in this novel, with a particular focus on how dynamics change as families expand through marriage and children. The novel alternates between Lucy and Diana’s viewpoints, giving great insight into their motivations and demonstrating how they interpret situations differently based on their perspectives. This is a slow-burning suspense that shows how small misunderstandings lead to larger consequences. Fans of Liane Moriarty’s “The Husband’s Secret” will enjoy this book. — Erin Wittry, librarian

FAMILY IN FOCUS OCTOBER 2020

Picture Perfect

Fall is a great time for family photos — here’s what you should know By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske | Photos by RCG Photography and Mandy Ringe Photography

her oldest son off to college B sent this fall, she had a request. She efore Kathy Green of Geneva

gathered her three teenage sons and husband to sift through years of family photos, with a special focus on the young man about to start his first year at University of Kentucky. For her close family it was a special moment, bringing out lots of emotions. “Taking the time for these photos and having these photos is the best gift,” Green says. Understanding the sentimental and special meaning of family photos is what drives Green’s

FAMILY IN FOCUS OCTOBER 2020

business, RCG Photography. “My mantra is that I love to capture perfectly imperfect moments because those are the moments that matter most,” says Green. “Behind the lens I can really connect with a family. I like to get authentic moments out of them.” Green started taking photos as a child when her father gave her a disc camera. She’d capture images of her family, friends and her Indian Princess Guides adventures. After the birth of her first son, her husband gave her a camera. It wasn’t long before she went from photographing her family to building a successful photography career.

Each photographer has a different style. Even before Green aims her lens she makes a point to understand her client’s interests. She uses a questionnaire and phone interview to gain perspective on her clients, from the type of location and backdrop they want to what they plan to wear. She uses these insights to create a successful photo session. “I’m a visual storyteller,” she says. Planning is a key tool that also helps Mandy Ringe of St. Charles with her photo sessions. She specializes in newborn and infant photos, capturing tiny infant smiles at around 11 days old and collecting colorful and busy first-year

TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS Green and Ringe share their advice for a successful photo session. • Ask friends because referrals are a great way to find someone. Then, check out the photographer’s website and their social media pages, too. “Social media pages are almost better than a website because a photographer can share multiple photos and you can capture the feel of a session,” Ringe says. “Plus, people’s styles can change, and if their website isn’t updated, it may not reflect those changes.” • Be up front with your photographer. Love an outdoor setting or prefer an indoor location? Want to include grandparents? These are all things you can discuss with your photographer and plan into the photo session. • For newborn photos, start planning around two months in advance to book a photographer. Because of a baby’s unpredictable arrival, a photographer will need to pencil in a few dates and sometimes there is limited availability.

photos of babies laughing, smashing cakes. “First birthdays are chaotic but also so much fun,” Ringe says. “A child’s first year of photos is my favorite.”

Green often lends her services to photograph cancer patients and their families. It’s something that resonates close to her heart and family experience.

Ringe says she incorporates background sets and props in most of her photos, offering clients an array of styles, costumes and settings whether she’s meeting them on location or in her studio in downtown St. Charles.

“I do it to give back and to honor my mother, who died from breast cancer,” Green says. “With my mother I was able to document her time with the kids, and now we can look back on those photos, look back at those moments and the emotions of that time all come back.”

Working with little ones can be unpredictable but Ringe, a mother of two young ones, says she loves it and strives to make parents feel calm while working fast to capture a brief smile, a sly toddler expression. For Green, family photographs are an opportunity to capture a moment in time, even if that moment may seem difficult.

• A good photographer isn’t afraid to refer to a fellow photographer. Green admits she can’t do it all. Whether it’s availability or just not a good fit for her style, she isn’t afraid to share with a client when she can’t do the work and is happy to refer to another photographer who can do it. Ringe initiated the private social media page Professional Photographers of Kane County, where photographers can share referrals, ask questions and even share materials. “We help each other,” Ringe says. “It’s really nice to be able to network.”

And while she spends her days photographing others, Green says she makes a point to gather her family together for their annual portrait sessions, taken by a fellow professional photographer. “For me, it’s super important to be able to look back at the photographs of our lives,” she says.

FAMILY IN FOCUS OCTOBER 2020

TELLING NATURE’S STORY ONE ZOOM CALL AT A TIME NATURALIST PAM OTTO LAUNCHES ‘GOOD NATURED HOUR’ VARIETY SHOW By Sara Carlson | Photo provided

am Otto believes every organism has a story to tell.

during the show with songs and movie clips from yesteryear, recorded video footage in natural areas and “interviews” with animals and insects.

And for the past 12-plus years, the St. Charles Park District’s outreach ambassador and naturalist has been telling those stories to residents: from seniors to preschoolers, to members of civic and social organizations, and to readers of her weekly newspaper column, “Good Natured.”

 NATURE EXPERIENCED VIRTUALLY The COVID-19 pandemic was the impetus for the virtual “Good Natured” program, but it has been a goal of Otto’s for some time. “It has been a dream of mine to share all the things I don’t have room for in my weekly newspaper column and also to supplement the information with video,” she explains.

“Getting those stories out there is what led to what we are doing today,” Otto says. Today, she’s telling nature’s story virtually. Otto is sharing her passion for the environment and all its living creatures during a new weekly variety show, “Good Natured Hour.” The program, held at 8 p.m. every Tuesday via Zoom, takes a deeper dive into Otto’s weekly column published by the Kane County Chronicle, supplementing that topic and others with video, photos, a live look at animals and insects, book recommendations and audience participation. Each variety show covers multiple

OUT & ABOUT OCTOBER 2020

topics. A recent “Good Natured Hour” included a discussion about weasels, lightning bugs, cicadas and bats.

Even when the pandemic is over, she’d like to continue the Zoom program. “This format allows for news about outdoor happenings to be accessible, even if the experience is not. The Zoom platform allows us to bring nature to anyone,” Otto says.

But the show is no mundane science lecture. Otto’s presentation style is conversational, and similar to her column, her quirky personality and humor are naturally woven in — illustrated

“I hope the show fosters a greater appreciation for the environment,” she adds. “Maybe it won’t generate a love for a particular insect, but maybe it’ll lead to someone adding native plants to

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Looking for local bike trails? their backyard, using a little less insecticide or not swatting a wasp.”  NATURE’S CALLING Even when Otto is not working, “work” is always on her mind, feeding her curiosity and potential subjects to present to her audience. “Nature surrounds us wherever we go,” Otto says. “If I’m thinking or wondering about something, most likely someone else is, too. And ‘Good Natured’ allows me to learn about something new and to share it with someone else. That’s a favorite part of my job.” This passion for outdoor education comes across in her column and show; one would assume she’s been in this role her entire life. But that is not the case.

Otto’s curiosity of the natural world began at an early age, always looking at bugs, catching frogs or flipping over rocks to see what was underneath. But when she was discouraged to become a naturalist by a guidance counselor, she took another route and pursued a career in food journalism. When she wasn’t writing, she was outside exploring the great outdoors. Then, 20 years ago, she set out to live the dream she had as a child and started volunteering at a local forest preserve nature center. “The minute I walked in, I thought, ‘This is it. This is where I’m supposed to be,’” Otto says. That experience lead to staff naturalist positions and a master’s degree in outdoor education. Then, 13 years ago, she landed at the St. Charles Park District, where she has served as manager of nature programs and interpretive services and Hickory Knolls Discovery Center manager, until her most recent position as the park district’s outreach ambassador. The fee for each “Good Natured Hour” is $2 to fund the upkeep and well-being of the education animals at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. Register at https://stcparks. ticketleap.com/goodnatured/.

Find the 2020 Fox River Trail Guide at www.foxriverbiketrails.com and at most locations noted below.

w w w. f o x r i v e r b i k e t r a i l s . c o m

The Good Natured Hour featuring Pam Pa Otto

Ages

18+

NEW!

Tuesdays • 8-9pm $2 per person For well over a decade the Park District’s Pam Otto has shared nature knowledge mixed with a quirky brand of humor in a weekly column called Good Natured. But now it’s time to turn it up a notch! Part talk show, part variety show, The Good Natured Hour will each week take a closer look at the column’s current topic, supplementing it with video footage and one-on-one interviews with local characters. The show is hosted on the ZOOM videoconferencing platform. The fee goes toward the upkeep & well-being of the animals at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center.

For more info & to register:

stcparks.ticketleap.com/goodnatured OUT & ABOUT OCTOBER 2020

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e v a S DATE the

These events were organized to be pandemicproof, so it’s safe to mark your calendars

By Nick Kelly | Photos provided by Marklund and the St. Charles Business Alliance

he word “different” might be more common now than ever before.

And that’s no … different for events in Kane County. Many do not look the same compared to past years because of necessary safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But events are still happening. Here are a few ways to get out of the house and have some safe and socially distant fun in October.

 SCARECROW STROLL WHEN & WHERE: Oct. 9-11 throughout St. Charles SIGN UP: www.scarecrowfest.com If Scarecrow Stroll doesn’t sound familiar, maybe Scarecrow Fest will. The St. Charles Business Alliance intentionally changed the name because it won’t be the same event as years past. It will, however, have similar elements. There won’t be 100 scarecrows all together in Lincoln Park. Instead, scarecrows will be spread throughout downtown St. Charles in front of different businesses.

OUT & ABOUT OCTOBER 2020

There will be a scavenger hunt downtown, seasonal beers from local breweries featured and a drive-in concert held Oct. 8. And while many of the event’s usual elements — a craft show, carnival and vendors in Lincoln Park — will not be there, there will be scarecrows. “We thought it was really important for us to still have a sense of pride that our community has with this event that we’ve been doing so long,” Sawicki says. “And it’s important to keep spirits alive and keep hopes alive in our community.”  PROJECT DAFFODIL WHEN & WHERE: Oct. 17 along Route 31 at Mount St. Mary Park SIGN UP: www.projectdaffodilstc.com Believe it or not, it’s not too early to think about spring. At least not for Laurel Moad, the co-chair of Project Daffodil. She is leading an effort to plant 5,000 mixed daffodil bulbs along Route 31 into downtown St. Charles. The River Corridor Foundation, of which Moad is secretary of the board, plans to increase that number to 20,000 bulbs over the next three years, with about 5,000 a year. That’s not a limit, though — just an early goal. “We thought about wanting to do something that would breathe life into our community come springtime,” Moad says. “It was not about raising funds so much as it was creating community

OUT & ABOUT OCTOBER 2020

awareness about rejuvenation. We use the tagline for this project, ‘Giving St. Charles 5,000 reasons to smile,’ and we say that tongue-in-cheek, but we truly believe that when these daffodils bloom come spring, they’re going to be a spectacle in and of themselves.”

“

And it’s important to keep spirits alive and keep hopes alive in our community.

“

Jenna Sawicki, executive director of the St. Charles Business Alliance, estimates there will be 30-40 scarecrows to see, created by individuals, businesses, clubs, schools and not-for-profits. With each one paired with a different business, Sawicki recommends wearing good walking shoes.

To promote safety, they encourage anyone who wants to volunteer to come in either a family or work unit. They will require masks and plan to have 20 planting areas marked with landscape paint with people planting in every other space to ensure social distancing. They will also have two shifts for planting and several spread out check-in tables. Moad says you don’t need a green thumb to be

able to participate. Someone will dig a hole, and someone will place the bulb. Volunteers can also be runners, bringing bulbs to teams, or help at the check-in table.  MARKLUND’S RUN, WALK AND ROLL GENEVA WHEN & WHERE: Oct. 18, virtual — aka, anywhere! SIGN UP: https://p2p.onecause.com/ runwalkandrollgeneva/home The eighth annual Run, Walk and Roll 5K/1 Mile won’t be all together like normal, but there are some benefits to that. Anyone who wants to participate in the race can pick where and when they participate. Participants will time themselves and then log onto the timing site to turn in their time, name and bib number. The honor system will be in place. Natalie Sarby, the race director and community events manager for Marklund, says the goal is to make the race as interactive as possible despite the virtual environment. “I always stress first and foremost that this event serves Markland’s mission that goes toward the direct care we provide every day for individuals with disabilities,” Sarby says. “So, for just a small fee, you’re getting all these goodies and swag, and you’re supporting a cause that is really important.” Marklund, according to its website, is a “nonprofit organization that serves infants, children, teens and adults with serious and profound developmental disabilities and special healthcare needs.” Marklund residents are usually on the course, Sarby says, but this year the plan is to involve them through pictures and videos so that residents can experience the day, too.

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