KCM-1-1-2015

7

Check out our new section, devoted to

business and

civic

topics!

JANUARY

2015

Soul

SISTER Beverly Miller creates a haven for body and mind PAGE 9 HEAD FOR THE HILLS

Discover great spots for sledding, skiing and more!

PAGE 34

Inside

NEW YEAR NEW YOU! Experts on stress, core strength, wellness and more

Improper Splinting Can Make a Child’s Fracture Worse

Between sports, skateboarding, trampolines, playgrounds, and just kids being kids – parents can almost expect a fracture at some point in time.

��������� ���������� ����������� �� ��� ���������� �� �������� School of Medicine determined that out of the 275 emergency room and urgent care center pediatric splint cases they ��������� ������������ ������� ���� ���������� ������� ������� ��� �������� ���������� �� ������� ��������� ������ ���� ���� found:

��� �������� ������� �� ������������ ������� ���� �������� percent of all children break at least one bone before they reach 18. In fact, broken bones in children and adolescents are so common that the Maryland researchers suggest nearly half of all boys and a quarter of all girls will experience a fracture at some point before they turn 16.

an elastic bandage was improperly placed directly on the skin.

Statistics show that about half of all boys and a quarter of all girls will break an arm or a leg before they turn sixteen. If the bones are set right away, most breaks quickly heal. �� ďż˝ ������ ����� �� ��� ���������� �� �������� ������ �� ��������� �������� �� ��� �������� ���� ���� ������ ������� of splinted fractures carried out on children and adolescents in Maryland emergency rooms and urgent care centers were improperly performed. Why is this simple procedure causing so much grief? And should parents be concerned? ��� ������� ����������� ������� ���� ���������� ������������� �� hospitals and urgent care centers aren’t adequately trained in proper splinting techniques. “Fractures are the most common childhood injury requiring ������������ ������ ���� ��� ������ ����� ďż˝ ďż˝ ��������������� ��� ������������������ ������ �������� ������� �� ��� ������ Orthopedics. “Improper splinting can lead to a range of unnecessary discomfort for children, including blisters, an ����� �� ���� ��������� ��������� ��������� ��� ���� �������� ����������������

the joints were incorrectly ������������ , the splint was an inappropriate length.

����� ���� ���� ��� ����� tissue complications.

Splints are used by hospital emergency rooms and urgent care ������� �� �������� ���� ��� ����������� ��������� ďż˝ �������� fracture. Patients are normally referred to an orthopedic surgeon ����� ���� ���� ���� ��������� ��� ������� �� ��� ��� ��� ������� ��� ������� ��� ������� ��������� ��� ��������� ��� ��� ��� ���� ���� ����� ��� �� ���������� ������� ������ says Dr. Mehta, “and spare him the trauma of an unnecessary ������ ����� �� ��� ��������

 Â?Â? Â? Â? Â

“That’s a whole lot of potential for a whole lot of pain and discomfort,â€? says Dr. Mehta. “But by bringing your child to an ���������� ���������� ����� ������ �� �������� ��� ��������� ��� �������� �������������� ��� ���������� ��� ������ �� ���� ���� ����� ����� �� ����� ������ ��� �������� ������ ����

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 3

INSIDE

34

HIT THE HILLS Discover great opportunities for fun in the snow this season.

BUSINESS & CIVIC

HEALTH & WELLNESS

FAMILY IN FOCUS

5 A YEAR IN PREVIEW

9 HAVEN FOR HEALTH

22 UNDER PRESSURE

Join Kane County Magazine and the Kane County Chronicle for an Economic Forecast luncheon, featuring some of the area’s top business minds.

Meet Woman of Distinction Beverly Miller, whose spa and wellness center is helping so many feel better about themselves.

Lifestyle has us feeling more stressed than ever, and our kids are no different.

7 FIND THE RIGHT TAX PRO

10 CUT TO THE CORE

Make this season a little less taxing by choosing the right expert to help you.

Core strength can be the key to balance, posture and overall health. Get tips from the experts, and helpful exercises as well.

Family columnist Michelle Stien discusses making time for that once-traditional time of togetherness.

8 GAMBLER OR INVESTOR? Financial consultant Jeff Martin shares tips to reducing your risk and increasing your worth.

HOME AND LIFESTYLE

12 THE STRESS EFFECT

28 MAKE YOUR HOME “JUST RIGHT”

Wherever stress comes from – work, homephysical ailments – it festers and can affect far more than your mood. Learn the triggers, and how to release your stress and recharge.

30 PLAN BEFORE YOU PLANT

16 COCOONING Pediatrician Ruben Rucoba talks about the importance of immunizing adults to protect kids.

20 ALZHEIMER’S AWARE Experts discuss this disease and its often devastating effects on our loved ones.

4 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

24 THE ELUSIVE FAMILY DINNER

Interior Design expert Michael Grudecki encourages us to shake things up by repurposing décor across our homes.

It may be cold and bare, but Gene Grant says it’s the perfect time to make a plan for your spring landscape.

OUT & ABOUT 32 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Check out a variety of local events, courtesy of our own Planit Kane website!

kanecountymagazine.com

ECONOMIC FORECAST

2015

Economic Forecast 2015 January 29, 2015

Registration 11 am Luncheon: 11:30-1:30 pm Location: Q Center 1405 North Fifth, St. Charles, IL Tickets are $35 per person.

Table of 10 - $350

Kathy Gresey Editor Kane County Chronicle

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Kathy Meisinger Internship Coordinator and Career Development Services Elgin Community College

MAJOR SPONSOR

Rita Tungare Director of Community and Economic Development St. Charles

KEYNOTE SPONSOR

Sylvia Wetzel Chief Learning Officer Bison Gear St. Charles

Panelist

Panelist

Panelist

Moderator

Philip Garber, Ph.D. Executive Director of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Elgin Community College

Dan Stellato President BEI Properties Batavia

Mike Lee President/CEO KCT Credit Union Elgin

Panelist

Panelist

Panelist

Keynote Speaker

If you are looking to learn what is in store for the Kane County economy in 2015, don’t miss the economic forecast luncheon. The keynote speaker and panelists will provide insight into where the economy’s heading and the biggest opportunities and challenges they see facing their industries.

This event will also provide networking opportunities for business professionals.

LUNCHEON SPONSOR

Don Cummings Founder Blue Haven Capital LLC Geneva

HOSTED BY

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If you are interested in purchasing tickets online visit http://kane-county-economic-forecast-2015.eventbrite.com. To sponsor a table, please contact Haley Pitts at 630-845-5237. For event information contact Kelly Buchanan at 319-471-1202 or kbuchanan@threesixtybluesky.com. Priority reservations due by January 22, 2015.

Happy New Year from Kane County Magazine to you and yours!

As we greet 2015, with it comes the promise of a fresh start, a time when many of us gear up, make resolutions, and devote our efforts to a better stronger coming year.

One of the most common of resolutions relates to health, wellness and fitness.

insight into the realities of Alzheimer’s Disease.

January also is a popular to consider finances, and this month, we launch the magazine’s new Business and Civic section, with articles on investing, tax preparation, and an invitation to the 2015 Economic Forecast event.

Looking to heal your spirit from the winter blues? Embrace the chill and have some old-fashioned winter fun. We’ve located some of the best locations for sledding, skiing, winter hikes and more.

Don’t let Jack Frost’s icy chill bring you down, Gear up, get out there and enjoy the season, right here in Kane County.

In this month’s issue of Kane County Magazine, we highlight some of the more common concerns of you, our readers.

Thanks for reading,

We talk to experts about stress, both mental and physical, from the effects stress has on overall wellness to the things we can do to manage it better.

Sherri Dauskurdas Editor

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

Jim Ringness 630-845-5228 jringness@shawmedia.com Editor

Sherri Dauskurdas 630-427-6209 sdauskurdas@shawmedia.com Designer

We talk to fitness trainers about core conditioning, and how a strong and resilient core muscle group can benefit everything from posture and balance to overall internal health.

Carol Manderfield 630-427-6253 cmanderfield@shawmedia.com Magazine Coordinator

Becca Grosso 630-845-5288 bgrosso@shawmedia.com

Pediatric health columnist, Dr. Ruben Rucoba, offers valuable advice about immunizing adults to stop the spread of illness to children, and aging experts offer

Account Managers

Sandra Petti 630-313-0251 spetti@shawmedia.com Tricia Walter 630-845-5272 twalter@shawmedia.com on the

COVER

Meet Beverly Miller, our January Woman of Distinction, and the owner of Tranquility Spa and Wellness Center in St. Charles.

Photo by RON MCKINNEY

6 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Correspondents

Michelle Stien, Elizabeth Harmon, Martha Maddi, Stephanie Kohl, Melissa Riske Photographers

Nancy Merkling, Ron McKinney, Maureen Schwartz, Lorae Mundt 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. kanecountymagazine.com

Finding the Right

TAX PRO

By ELIZABETH HARMON

Do you want to make this year’s tax season a little less‌ taxing? With a bit of preparation and the right person to help, you can approach April 15 with greater confidence and less frustration.

January is the perfect time to get organized, and for many, that means finding the right professional to file their returns. While those with simpler finances, such as single people who are not self-employed, those without children or a complex investment portfolio, often can tackle the job themselves, taxpayers with children, investments, and those who are self-employed may want to consider hiring a professional.

According to the IRS website, tax pros are classified as having either: 1. unlimited rights to represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service in audits and other inquiries 2. limited representation rights.

Those with unlimited representation rights include Enrolled Agents, Certified Public Accountants and Attorneys. Enrolled Agents are licensed by the IRS, have passed a three-part exam and suitability check and must complete at least 72 hours of continuing education every three years. CPAs are licensed by state boards of accountancy, have passed the CPA exam and meet education, experience and character requirements. Tax Attorneys are licensed by the state bar or courts, have earned a law degree and specialize in tax preparation and planning.

Paid preparers with limited representation rights include those who are not Enrolled Agents, CPAs or Attorneys. They may only represent taxpayers whose returns they’ve prepared and signed, and only before certain levels of the IRS. Beginning in January 2015, the IRS will introduce a new designation for paid preparers with limited representation rights.

Under the new Annual Filing Season Program, they must obtain 18 hours of continuing education, including a six-hour refresher course and pass an exam to receive AFSP designation.

All paid preparers must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number. As of January 2015, the IRS website will offer a Directory of Federal Tax kanecountymagazine.com

Return Preparers, listing those with unlimited and limited representation rights who have a valid PTIN. Preparer’s fees can vary widely. Vicki Michalski, a CPA and tax manager with Borhart Spellmeyer & Company, LLC in Elgin recommends avoiding those who base fees on a percentage of your refund, or those who do not have time to meet with you. “Most CPAs charge hourly. If you’re paying for service, you should at least meet them.

Look for someone who will give you the time you need,� says Michalski.

tax organizer, and allow six weeks to collect all documents. “Most forms have been mailed to people by January 31, so if you can get your information to the preparer by mid-February, that’s very helpful,� says Michalski.

Look for a professional who has expertise in the areas most important to you, and also one you like. “If you don’t like them, doing your taxes is going to seem like a huge chore,� says Michalski.

To make filing run smoothly, use your preparer’s

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BUSINESS & CIVICS

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 7

Y

ou can invest in the stock market and greatly increase the chances of achieving your financial goals, or you can treat the stock market like a casino and greatly decrease your chances. Just like going to a casino, there are a small number of people who get rich quickly by gambling in the stock market. However, very few people are that lucky. Most who choose to gamble in the stock market do substantial damage to their financial health.

Are you investing or GAMBLING?

Far too many individual investors go the gambling route, trying to pick individual stocks, hot sectors and time the market.

Unfortunately, all of these approaches are easily guided by emotion and often lead to poor investment performance. For the 20year period which ended 2011, the average individual investor in equity mutual funds generated an annual return of 3.49 percent while the stock market (represented by the S&P 500) generated an annual return over the same period of 7.81 percent.

That is a huge difference. The average

individual investor who started with $100,000 at the end of 1991 ended with $198,594 after 20 years. If you matched the return of the stock market you ended with $449,967. That is an increase of $251,103 by remaining focused on the long-term and not worrying about short-term market fluctuations. (The return information is based on a 2012 study by Dalbar as published in the Wall Street Journal on April 7, 2012.)

You improve your chances of achieving your financial goals over the long-term by diversifying your portfolio, controlling costs and designing an asset allocation appropriate for your situation. You can make a reasonable attempt to get a slightly higher return, say one or two percent per year, by incorporating all of the above, plus Nobel Prize winning academic research, into your portfolio construction. Academic research shows that small and value company stocks have a higher risk and therefore a higher expected return over the long-term. By tilting your diversified stock portfolio to small and value companies, you can increase the long-term expected return.

There are no guarantees with investment returns. By diversifying, controlling costs and maintaining an appropriate asset allocation, you greatly enhance the chances of achieving your financial goals.

KDM Investment Management, Inc. is dedicated to helping you create more wealth through a program that limits costs, diversifies globally, incorporates appropriate new financial products, and minimizes investment related taxes.

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8 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

BUSINESS & CIVICS

Jeff Martin is a Registered Investment Advisor, president of KDM Investment KDM Investment Ma Management and author of Strategic Inc. is dedicated to h Diversification: Retirement Planning that Works. You can find out more create more wealth information about Jeff and KDMaInvestment program that lim Management at www.kdminvest.com. diversifies globally, in

appropriate new fi products, and min investment relate

KDM

321 Stevens Street, Geneva, IL 60134 630-232-9097 www.kdminvest.com

Investment Management Inc. 321 Stevens Street, Suite R. Geneva 630-232-9097 jeff@kdminvest.com kanecountymagazine.com

CREATING A HAVEN FOR BODY AND MIND Beverly Miller brings soothing therapies to patrons and patients

By MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE and what better place to have that service.”

Fourteen years ago, she launched Tranquility Spa and Wellness Center in St. Charles. It was an opportunity for her to create her own business and build her dream. She wanted to provide outstanding customer service, results orientated services and treatments and empower her clients to be their best.

Lescelius said she admires the way Miller and the staff are results driven, and they want to help clients feel better and understand how to care for themselves too. She said Miller carries that philosophy through to her staff, encouraging them to utilize the center’s services.

“We don’t say pampering, that denotes something extra rather than taking care of one’s self,” Miller said. “It’s not just a bunch of fluff. We can truly help people feel better about themselves and see changes in their skin, body and health. That is something we do on a daily basis.”

“She’s always telling the employees if you’re not feeling good how can you give your best to others,” Lescelius said. “She has made Tranquility a healing and peaceful haven not just for the clients but for the staff too.”

In addition to her work as an aesthetician she handled several other roles during those early years, including managing the front desk and running the vacuum. The business grew and in 2003 she invited Loreta Lescelius of St. Charles to become her business partner. They expanded services and moved to a new larger location.

The business continued to expand year after year.

Today, more than 500 clients visit per month and the location offers 15 different services from nails and facials to massages, chiropractic care, and classes in the yoga studio. She has incorporated psycho-therapy, providing an inviting place for people to feel safe and comfortable.

“I wanted to take the stigma off of seeing a therapist,” Miller said. “It’s ok to talk to someone

kanecountymagazine.com

Lescelius was a client of Tranquility prior to joining the business.

“I thought it was the best facial I had ever gotten,” Lescelius said. “Her attention to detail was just amazing.”

Care is even more important to those facing illness, and Miller and her staff have formed a special partnership with the Living Well Cancer Resource Center in Geneva. Tranquility has supported the center, helping with fundraisers and providing a Cancer Survivor’s spa night for the center’s participants for several years.

“We feel it is very important to give back to the community and we strive to do it as a team,” Miller said.

For the spa night, Miller and her staff packed up supplies and donated their services to the center’s clients.

“I was in awe over the giving,” said Susan Lyons, one of the original founders of the Living Well Cancer Resource Center. “It is really a magical night and the participants at Living Well loved it.”

Photo by Nancy Merkling

T

here are plenty of places around the Tri-Cities where women and men can pamper themselves, but Beverly Miller of St. Charles wanted to offer something more for her clients. She wanted a place where people could find a holistic approach to health, body, mind and spirit.

with cancer. Through the years Miller and her staff have been there to support clients who have been diagnosed with cancer.

“We touch lives without even knowing it,” Lescelius said, adding that it’s not unusual to greet clients with hugs.

Miller is more than the owner and operator, with more than 40 years of experience she continues to serve clients with a busy schedule.

“She creates a safe haven where people can come in and let their guard down,” Lescelius said.

Miller and her staff sought advanced training in oncology esthetics to better care for clients

HEALTH & WELLNESS

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 9

Cut to the

CORE

Core strength is key to balance, strength, flexibility

By MARTHA MADDI

From your kid’s gym class to your grandma’s senior center, core strength is the big trend in physical fitness programs and for good reason.

Core exercises have multiple benefits, including improving your balance and stability, reducing back pain and optimizing athletic performance.

actually consists of four major and 10 minor muscle groups. “The core is a large series of overlapping synergistic muscle groups found in the midsection, abdominals, hips and legs that all work together to protect, stablilize and mobilize the human body in all facets of life,” says Bishop.

“The core is the most important component of one’s health, well-being and overall strength as well as a staple in all fitness programs,” says Eric Bishop, ACSM-CPT, a personal trainer at Cadence Fitness & Health Center in Geneva.

uHOW YOUR CORE AFFECTS YOUR OVERALL WELL-BEING Core muscles are so important because they are used in everyday situations in all stages of life. Bishop says they are called upon “from the simplest of activities such as sitting up in bed to climbing into the shower or up a flight of stairs,

uCORE DEFINED Often people think of their core as consisting only of their abdominal muscles, but the core

from bending over to tie your shoe to climbing a ladder and hauling groceries into the house, from going for a jog to figure skating.”

According to Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic’s website, “core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen to work in harmony. This leads to better balance and stability, whether on the playing field or in daily activities.” And this stability can help prevent falls and injuries during other activities.

“Strong core muscles make it easier to do everything from swinging a golf club to getting a glass from the top shelf or bending down to tie your shoes,” Mayo Clinic stated on its website.

The most effective core strengthening exercises

In Bishop’s opinion, the five best core strengthening exercises include:

1

Barbell Sumo Deadlift

Pull bar up by driving feet outward and pulling back until hips and knees are fully extended and torso is upright. Drive shoulders back and chest up at the top of the lift. Return weight to the floor by bending hips back and knees pointe outward, while keeping chest high and the back straight.

2

Barbell Back Squat

Starting with the bar on a rack, position the bar high on the back of the shoulders and dismount the bar, standing with feet shoulder-width apart. Squat down by bending hips back while allowing knees to bend forward, keeping back straight and knees pointed in the same direction as the feet.

Descend until thighs are just past parallel to floor. Extend knees and hips until legs are straight. Return and repeat.

10 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

3

Walking Dumbbell Lunges

Stand upright, feet together, holding two dumbbells (5-10 lbs.) at your sides.Take a controlled step forward with your left leg. Lower hips toward the floor and bend both knees (almost at 90 degree angles).

The back knee should come close but never touch the ground. Your front knee should be directly over the ankle and the back knee should be pointing down toward the floor.

Push off with your right foot and bring it forward to starting position.

This completes one rep.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

4

Barbell Bench Press

Lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor. Grasp the barbell with a wider than shoulderwidth grip, wrapping thumbs around the bar. Hold the barbell at arm’s length above your upperchest area. Then, slowly lower the barbell to the middle of your chest.

In the bottom position the forearms should be perpendicular to the floor.

Pause briefly, then press the barbell to the starting position. During the movement, the upper arms should be about 45 to 60 degrees from the torso and the hips should remain on the bench.

kanecountymagazine.com

uCORE STRENGTHENING AT CADENCE FITNESS & HEALTH CENTER Cadence offers a variety of core strengthening classes, including Group Power, High Energy Athletic Training, Power Yoga, pilates, Piloxing (Pilates Boxing), kickboxing, boot camps and strength camps.

“Many of our classes are geared toward all ages, abilities, levels of fitness, genders and even preference of land or water-based training,” Bishop says.

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5

Bent-Over Barbell Row

Bend knees slightly and bend over bar with back straight. Grasp bar with wide overhand grip. Then, pull bar to upper waist. Return until arms are extended and shoulders are stretched downward. Repeat.

Eric Bishop, ACSM-CPT, a personal trainer at Cadence Fitness & Health Center in Geneva

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uTHE BEST WAY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE Strength training combined with other fitness activities, such as yoga, martial arts or pilates challenge the core in different ways, thereby working more of the core muscles. “Rather than specializing in one area, it is best to incorporate a multitude of different exercises to increase core strength, endurance, balance and performance,” Bishop explained. He added that even some forms of cardio can work your core, such as rowing and playing tennis, basketball and football.

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 11

THE STRESS EFFECT

From the professional to the personal, it’s affecting much more than our moods

By STEPHANIE KOHL With a seemingly endless list of responsibilities and the obligation to remain connected at all times becoming the norm, it should come as no surprise when a person starts to feel overly stressed.

Hart Chiropractic uses gentle alignment to get better movement, utilizes massage therapy and also works on posture and core stability.

Hart says he sees stress deep-rooted into his patients’ day-to-day activities. With more demand on time and a constant bombardment of information, Hart says his patients often find themselves stressed.

weakness in the discs and tissue of the neck.

“People carry stress and it shows in their posture,” Hart says. “… Once we’ve got things “We’ve all heard the phrase that ‘stress is a killer’ moving better, we want to keep them moving better.” and it really is,” says Matthew Hart, owner and chief chiropractic physician at Hart Chiropractic When poor posture accompanies stress, it Center in Geneva. “It’s insidious and it creeps up can cause a multitude of issues. From tension on us.” headaches to arthritic changes to the neck to

Hart added that his patients who are under constant, chronic stress – whether it’s emotional, physiological or mechanical heal slower and take longer to recover. As a chiropractor, Hart deals with the stress as it manifests physically. Uneven pressure on the joints can lead to misalignment and when left untreated, misalignment can cause long-term damage. “In our office, I will see the effects of the stress on the body,” Hart says, adding the stress manifests itself in neck pain, back pain, headaches and more.

12 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Micro-breaks also can offer a time to take a deep breath and clear your mind of stress, to focus better on returning to work.

Psychiatrist Eric Nolan says stress can manifest in a number of ways. While physical manifestations are generally the most uncomfortable, stress also can lead to irritability, moodiness, low energy, poor sleep habits and more.

“People might see a decline in being able to do their job the way they want to do it,” Nolan says.

“The longer you hold that stress, it’s got to go somewhere and eventually something’s got to give,” Hart says.

Oftentimes, that stress can lead to an attitude that skews toward the negative. Nolan added that everyone has everyday stressors in One of the physical stresses Hart is seeing more their lives, but it is when that stress leads to impairment that it becomes a problem. Chronic of is something referred to as “Text Neck,” from carrying the head too far forward. When a person stress can be caused by any number of things, is standing straight with good posture, their ears he says. are aligned above the shoulders. As a person He advised that professionals can help a patient leans over their phone, tablet, laptop, etc., every distinguish between normal stressors and inch they lean forward adds an additional 10 pathological or chronic stress. Signs to seek pounds of pressure on joints. help include a change in function or noticeable Hart advised that one of the best things a person impairment. can do to relieve some of that stress and tension on the neck is to take micro-breaks. Stretch, loosen up and break up the stressed posture of being hunched over a desk.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

“If it gets to the point where we feel like we can’t meet our obligations… that’s where it is really advised (to seek help),” he says.

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Nolan says there are a number of ways to work through stress including physical activity, relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, breathing techniques and maintaining a healthy lifestyle including getting enough sleep and eating as healthy as possible. He also advised it is important to be mindful of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine intake.

Prioritizing obligations can be a big help, too, Nolan says, adding that having the ability to say no to people is an effective way to reduce stress, as is the ability to accept things that cannot be changed.

“The skill of saying ‘no‘ is huge to reduce stress in the moment, day, week, month,” Nolan says.

Therapy is also an option, which offers a cathartic component. Nolan says just having someone to listen with a nonjudgmental ear can be helpful. If all other therapies or interventions are ineffective, there is also the option of medication.

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 13

2015

START WITH A GOAL How to turn a New Year’s Resolution into real and lasting change

E

very year millions of Americans engage in the tradition of making a New Year’s resolution. The tradition, which became popular in America during the Great Depression, has a long history, beginning in ancient Babylonia. The Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. Later, the Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named. In the Medieval era, knights took the “peacock vow” at the end of the Christmas season each year to reaffirm their commitment to chivalry.

While it is estimated that over 40 percent of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions, primarily directed toward selfimprovement, only about eight percent actually keep them. Reasons for defaulting on resolutions are many and varied.

Many people make resolutions as a way of motivating themselves for positive change, unfortunately they really aren’t ready to change their habits. Others set goals that are simply unrealistic or unattainable in the span of a year.

Keeping your resolution is not impossible. If done with thought and preparation, the process of making a resolution can lead to greater insight into your own needs and desires. With that understanding comes a higher likelihood of success. These simple steps can help you to identify attainable goals that will lead to lasting changes.

14 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

u KEEP A DIARY. Before attempting to identify a new goal, take some time to document and review your current feelings and behaviors related to any changes you may want to make. If you think you want to lose weight or become more fit, for example, track your eating and exercise habits for a couple of weeks. Taking the time to get your “base-line” can help you to pinpoint those areas that are most likely to benefit from a behavior change. vTHINK IN TERMS OF SMALLER GOALS. If you want to lose 40 pounds, for example, break the larger goal into smaller pieces, like 4 pounds a month.

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w SEPARATE OUTCOMES FROM BEHAVIORS. Losing 10 pounds is an outcome – eating five fruits or vegetables a day is a behavior. First identify a specific outcome, then develop a behavioral plan to achieve that outcome.

Reviewing your diary can give you the information you need to develop your plan. x THINK ABOUT CHANGING ONLY ONE OR TWO THINGS AT A TIME. Breaking your behavioral plan into smaller segments not only makes the plan less overwhelming, it increases the likelihood that you will follow it. The behavioral changes you select should be simple and achievable.

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y GET HELP. Want to make lasting change? Engage a support system. Tell friends and family what your goals are and how you plan to attain them.

Then, tell them exactly how they can help. If you are wanting to lose weight, for example, tell your family how this will impact their diet – will you be preparing healthier food? Will you be buying less “junk food”? Let them know in advance to pre-empt grocery store battles. Do you prefer to work-out with a friend? Find one and develop an agreement as to the activities and schedule you will employ together. z CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES – BOTH SMALL AND LARGE. It can take between 18 and 264 days to establish a habit (21 days is a myth). In other words, don’t expect your new exercise schedule to become a habit after only a few weeks – establishing a true/lasting habit will take much more work and reinforcement along the way. Identify a reward for engaging in behaviors that are in your behavior plan. Love coffee? Reinforcing an early morning workout with a cup of special coffee may be just enough of a reward to get you out of bed and to the gym. Your reward system should be specific to you – something small for everyday successes (like completing a workout or passing on desert), something larger for larger successes (like making it to the gym every day for a week or not eating chips for a week). They should also be included in your behavioral plan.

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 15

COCOONING Immunizing parents to protect their babies

By RUBEN J. RUCOBA, MD

M

ost of you reading this already are parents. But if you are planning to have another child or know someone who is, then you should know there is something parents of newborns can do to protect their babies: get vaccinated against whooping cough and influenza.

apnea (periods where they stop breathing) and may even die.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, can afflict anyone, regardless of age. For most older children, teens, and adults, pertussis is a nagging, bothersome cough that lasts for weeks or months. It can be treated, but only if treated very early in the course. This usually doesn’t happen, as most people in these age groups don’t go to the doctor immediately when they have a cough. If untreated, pertussis will ultimately go away, but it may take a long time.

Infants get pertussis from siblings and adults who have not been immunized or, more commonly, who were immunized but whose immunity has waned. Even if you had a case of whooping cough in the past, your immunity is not life-long, and you can get it again. Therefore, all those adults who have close contact with newborns (parents, grandparents, daycare workers or nannies, etc.) should get a booster dose of pertussis in the form of a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) shot. This is known as “cocooning.”

But while the person is coughing, he or she can spread pertussis to others. Very young infants are particularly at risk, as the pertussis vaccination cannot be started until six weeks of age at the earliest, and the initial series usually is not completed until six months of age. And when newborns get pertussis, they can have 16 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

In 2012, there were 48,277 cases of pertussis reported in the United States, the most since 1955. That year, there were 20 pertussis-related deaths, with the majority in infants younger than three years old.

A recent article in Pediatrics reported that during a recent pertussis outbreak in Australia, when both parents were immunized, the risk of pertussis in infants less than 4 months old was

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reduced by 51 percent. So “cocooning” works.

Likewise, with flu season just around the corner, it’s important to remember that influenza shots can be given only to those who are six months or older. Infants are particularly at risk for complications from the flu, and are more likely to be hospitalized than older children or adults.

One way to protect infants from the flu is to give a flu vaccine to everyone around them, including the adults.

So make sure that if you have, or are around, a newborn baby, get your pertussis booster and a flu shot.

Dr. Ruben J. Rucoba is a general pediatrician in Wheaton and a member of the medical staff at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Central DuPage Hospital. Rucoba is also a medical writer and the father of four children. This article was originally published in Salubrity, a blog offering of the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. luriechildrens-salubrity. tumblr.com

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 19

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: What You Need to Know

By ELIZABETH HARMON

By Elizabeth Harmon

One of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive and debilitating disease, that affects more than five million Americans. High profile people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease include former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, movie legend Rita Hayworth, and most recently, country music icon Glen Campbell.

One thing it isn’t? Simple old age.

“Alzheimer’s is a neurological disorder where we see the loss of memory, language and behavioral changes. It’s a progressive disorder with no cure, but it can be managed,” says Dr. Kishore Santwani, a neurologist with Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva.

solving, language, memory and other cognitive functions.

Determining whether memory loss is Alzheimer’s or age-related decline caused by other factors, can be difficult. “It can be tough to tell the difference. As we age, we do see a loss of memory because of shrinkage in the brain,” says Santwani.

While Alzheimer’s cannot be cured, exercise, a healthy diet, intellectual and social stimulation have been shown to slow its progression, and may help prevent the disease.

Not only does Alzheimer’s affect memory, but also language and executive function, which is the ability to plan one’s activities. Though most common in those over 65, people in their 40s and 50s can develop early onset Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s progresses through seven stages; normal function, very mild decline, mild decline, moderate decline, moderately severe decline, severe decline and very severe decline.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, www.alz.org, not everyone will experience the same symptoms or progress at the same rate.

The disease is diagnosed using physical examinations to rule out other issues, such as thyroid problems or dietary deficiencies, which can mimic Alzheimer’s, brain imaging, and neuropsychological tests to measure problem

“This type of testing is done by a neuropsychologist. It’s a paper and pencil test that lasts four to six hours and results in a detailed report of what the tests reveal,” says Santwani.

“Exercise slows memory decline, though whether it prevents it remains to be seen.

Intellectual activities, such as reading and socializing, maintain cognitive reserve. In other words, the more we have to start with, the better off we are,” he says.

Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol, quitting smoking, and following a Mediterranean diet, are also helpful, Santwani says.

Music, art and pet therapy can also slow Alzheimer’s progress. Minor home adaptations and interventions, such as keeping lists, can improve quality of life and help those with Alzheimer’s live independently. When living at home is no longer an option, memory care facilities provide living assistance, structured activities, social interaction and security.

many different facilities available and it depends on the person’s needs are,” says Laura Wolst, Director of Sales and Marketing at Autumn Leaves, a licensed assisted living community that specializes in memory care.

Autumn Leaves has a capacity of 46. “The majority of our population are seniors, though we do have a few younger residents. Our youngest is in their fifties. Our residents have mild cognitive impairment, up through end stage,” she says.

For families evaluating facilities, Wolst says the quality of activities and social opportunities is very important. “Studies have shown the progression slows with day to day activities and socializing,” she says.

Interaction between the residents and staff is also crucial. “We’re in touch throughout the day, starting in the first thing in the morning, when we make sure the residents are up, dressed and have their hair combed. We have women who like to be ‘just so’, so we make sure they have their make-up on. We also have to be detectives, because if someone can’t articulate, we have to look at clues, such as if they’re not eating, to know if something is wrong,” says Wolst.

“There are a lot of choices out there, which is good, but it can be overwhelming. There are so

Ten Signs Of Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a printable checklist for your doctor’s visit. Find a copy at www. alz.org/national/documents/ checklist_10signs.pdf

u Memory loss that disrupts daily life.

Challenges in planning or solving problems.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or leisure.

Confusion with time or place.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

New problems with words in speaking and writing.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

Decreased or poor judgment.

Withdrawl from work or social activities.

Changes in mood or personality.

Source: The Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org

UNDER PRESSURE Youngsters feel the anxiety, without the acumen to manage it

I

f you are reading this, you survived another holiday season!! Conversations are now turning to New Years Resolutions. “Manage Stress Better” is on many people’s list. That brought my attention to kids and stress. Anxiety disorders are on the rise in kids. How do we help them? Are we unknowing contributors?

Recently, a 14-year-old girl said in session, “Are you aware the average high school kid has the same amount of stress as a patient in an insane asylum in the 1950s?” I responded that I was not aware of that and had not heard the words “insane asylum” used in quite some time!

According to Dr. Robert Leahy, who discussed this in an article for Psychology Today, this is indeed the truth.

Stress is a normal part of our lives. In small doses, it’s protective and adaptive. It motivates us to do our best and helps us perform under pressure. However, when we always operate in a “State of Emergency”, stress starts to take its

22 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

emotional and physical toll on us. As parents, we want what is best for our children. Sometimes, we may be placing a lot of stress on our kids without meaning to. It can start as early as preschool and continue on through college.

Over the years, educators and kids have told me many things parents have said about their children and education such as: • “My child doesn’t need another year of preschool, he knows all that. He can go straight to Kindergarten.”

• “My 5-year-old is reading chapter books.”

• “My friend is grounded for a month cause she got a C in Trigonometry.”

• “My mom’s going to be so mad because I didn’t get an A on my test.”

Please don’t misunderstand. It’s great a preschooler is so academically gifted and a Kindergarten student can read her parents a novel at night. But we get so wrapped up in FAMILY IN FOCUS

I.Q., we forget the importance of E.Q.-Emotional Intelligence.

The importance of play and a child learning important social skills such as sharing, empathy and resolving conflict peacefully are competencies that can’t be overlooked or rushed. I can’t begin to tell you how many parents (and now kids) treat a “C” as an “F”. By today’s standards, the grading scale should read A,B,F. I am not suggesting encouraging kids to aim low.

There are many who need a lot of motivation.

I’m referring to the kids who are trying their hardest to excel in a subject for which they have difficulty, and a C is their best effort.

Not every child can excel in every subject. Some kids have told me they feel their “worth” is based on their grades.

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The Elusive

FAMILY DINNER It’s Monday at 3:30 p.m.

The kids will be home from school in 15 minutes. I have just a few last moments of peace and quite before all hell breaks loose.

Once my young scholars cross the threshold, I’ve got to hit the ground running.

They need a snack and a dose of SpongeBob. I know the time is ticking before we have to jet out the door, again, but I realize they need to decompress.

The requests start flying. “Mom can I have this?” “Mom can you bring me that?”

At school they don’t have the luxury of having their indentured servant (a.k.a. yours truly). The teachers are stricter about having them perform “life skills” on their own. But once home, they really know how to take advantage of mommie dearest, despite my best efforts.

It seems crazy, but almost immediately after they have a snack, I have to start making dinner.

Colin has wrestling practice at 6 p.m., which begins with some pretty rigorous calisthenics.

We learned our lesson in the first week of practice: food at 5 p.m. and wind sprints at 6 p.m. don’t mix.

I pride myself on being a relatively decent cook, but time constraints and dietary requirements means I am, in reality, a short order cook. Every parenting book, blog and magazine says I should avoid this practice like the plague. But chicken nuggets with homemade mashed potatoes and some fruit beats the drive-thru fast food available along the way.

The challenge: I’ve got one kid who is practically a carnivore. When I ask him what he wants for 24 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

breakfast he replies with a simple, “bacon and bacon.” Then, there’s my other child who prefers carb-loading. So picky, she shudders when I switch brands of mac ‘n’ cheese. I tried to nip it in the bud early on, but it backfired on me. (And when I say backfired, I mean projectile vomiting.

More than once.) I gave up and decided to lower my standards.

While I am flipping burgers and making the most out of a frozen pizza by serving it with edamame, I have to consider “child number three,” otherwise known as my husband. He has pretty strict dietary standards himself, based on his efforts to maintain a more than 60-pound weight loss a couple years back. I also have to make sure I prepare enough food for him to bring to work the next day. Since he eats small meals every three hours, I essentially have to pack him two lunches.

“Eating clean” means no frozen dinners, packaged meals or shortcuts (except for maybe relying on my crockpot, but that requires doing prep-work at 11 a.m.) We’ve already left for wrestling when he gets home from work, so I have his dinner cooked and waiting for him.

towns within an eight-mile radius.

So, between the wrestling, religious ed, my job, school functions, my husbands travel schedule and the general chaos of everyday life … I cherish every chance we get to sit down as a family and eat a meal.

These are the nights when I can cook one thing and serve it all at once (with slight variation).

These are the nights the kids set the table and clear their plates when they are done.

These are the nights we get to catch up on what is going on in each other’s lives, what the kids are doing at school, and where all the best conversations about farts happen.

But altogether too soon, the conversation turns to the game plan for the next day – ensuring everyone gets where they need to go and no one is left standing outside in the cold after a practice.

Tomorrow’s flowchart likely does not include another family dinner. All we can do is savor our meal and these moments until we are all together again.

And while I am making dinner, (or should I say, “dinners”?) I have to make sure homework gets completed, because by the time we get home again, everyone is toast. Common Core math is hard enough when we all are fresh, let alone trying to cram it in after a long day and past bedtime.

Amidst these efforts, I have just enough time to shovel in my own dinner before I leave to take Colin to wrestling and teach my Spin class.

That’s just Monday.

There are other nights where a little religious education or a school play or a work function gets thrown into the mix. I often find myself ping-ponging back-and-forth between various

FAMILY IN FOCUS

Write This Down with Michelle Stien

Michelle Stien is a stay-at-home mom of two children, ages 5 and 7. Her mother always told her to “write this down,” so she is sharing her experiences with other Kane County women to help them deal with the craziness of being “Mom.” kanecountymagazine.com

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 25

PETS

Volunteers make all the difference

By Anderson Animal Shelter

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With every new year comes new resolutions and goals. Why not make one of them volunteering for a local nonprofit? By volunteering, you can make a significant difference in your community and world.

At Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin, Illinois, volunteers are not only important, but they are an integral part of the daily business, operation and success of the Shelter. Over 500 volunteers annually provide more than 20,000 hours of service in a variety of capacities. The individuals or groups that volunteer dedicate time to walking dogs, socializing with cats, cleaning kennels or cages, assisting with adoption events, offering foster care support, assisting at fundraising and outreach events, preparing mailings, sharing expertise and skills and more.

Do you have an hour a week, how about an hour a month? Each volunteer, regardless of their role and amount of time they spend at the Shelter, play an instrumental role in the organization. Utilizing volunteers to assist with daily tasks allows the Shelter to save money and to direct resources and staff time where most needed.

“Our volunteers are incredible,” said Jeff Pal, Director of Volunteers. “On a daily basis you can witness their love and dedication to the animals in our care. They come in enthusiastic to spend time with us and to make the lives of our companion animals better.”

Regardless of the reason, each volunteer is needed and appreciated by the Shelter. In order to provide the highest level of care and

Voted the

comfort to our companion animals, the Shelter uses volunteers 365 days a year and typically between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Every volunteer and every hour makes a difference!

For more information on how you, your group or company can volunteer or become involved with the Shelter by volunteering your time or conducting a donation or support drive, please visit www.andersonanimalshelter.org or call (847) 697-2880.

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Pamper Your Pet Photo provided

p ST. CHARLES PARK DISTRICT

It’s a great time to be a dog. The St. Charles Park District offers three dedicated areas where Fido can frolic to his heart’s content. Pups enjoy making new furry friends, while their human companions can meet other dog lovers who also value their canine companions’ quality of life. For apartment dwellers or home owners with limited space, dog parks offer room to run off all that pent-up doggy energy. Outfitted with dog-friendly equipment, activity stations, water fountains and more, the dog parks are designed for both canine comfort and human peace of mind. Two parks offer separate areas specifically for smaller dogs. Dog parks are open every day from 9 a.m. to dusk, weather permitting. For exact locations and rules, visit stcparks.org.

THE PUDDLE u

Located in the heart of the Fox Valley in South Elgin, the Puddle, - Pet Aqua Fitness and Nutrition, offers a clean, safe and relaxing environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle for your canine and feline friends, through greater nutrition and exercise.

Services include private, canine swimming with a certified swim coach, for rehabilitation, weight loss or simple exercise. Certified, canine massage (in water and out), and a D.I.Y. dog wash; walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed. The Puddle’s fresh food market

provides frozen real food and dry diets along with wholesome treats, supplements and toys. In addition, food consultations are provided through a healthy weight program with complimentary guidance and continuing support.

The Puddle is dedicated to this great community of dogs and cats and the guardians who love them.

1948 GYORR AVE. | SOUTH ELGIN (630) 883-0700 Photos by Lorae Mundt

Photos by Lorae Mundt

p FYDOLAND

The place for canine happiness, wellness, and fun. With three locations in Elgin, Huntley and now in St. Charles, canine parents have one trustworthy place to take care of all of their canine kids’ needs. Are you looking for quality, all natural dog foods, treats, toys and supplies? FYDOLAND has that. In need of daycare, boarding, training, grooming, low cost vaccination clinics and more? FYDOLAND has that too! Voted several times as the best place for pet pampering, boarding, and grooming, FYDOLAND is sure to have the solution for your canine needs. Stop by soon to meet the friendly staff, see the beautiful facilities and see for yourself why FYDOLAND is truly For Your Dog Only (FYDO). For more information visit www.fydoland.com.

ST. CHARLES: 1317 E. Main St. | (630) 797-5778 kanecountymagazine.com

ELGIN: 1999 Larkin Rd. | (847) 695-5058 FAMILY IN FOCUS

HUNTLEY: 11221 Dundee Rd. | (847) 669-9300 KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 27

LIVING BY

DESIGN

with Michael Grudecki

Make your home feel “just right”

Hello sofa with simple pillows, how have you been the past few weeks? Nice to see you entry table, you look so different without that sassy red poinsettia. Empty corner, I forgot how bare you are without our colorful Christmas Tree!

That silver bowl your aunt gave you three years ago may always have worked well in your living room, but it also looks great in your master bedroom on a dresser, in your foyer on an entry table, or even in your kitchen on the island.

Like most people, you have survived another holiday season filled with decorated Christmas trees and wreaths, twinkling lights and little villages. For some, you may have hosted a holiday gathering or two filled with compliments about how beautiful your home looked.

Now, it’s over.

If you aren’t quite happy with your home now that your holiday decorations are down and packed away, you aren’t alone! But now is your opportunity to take advantage of a semi-blank slate. Stop yourself from falling into the same old “this pillow goes on the red chair” pattern for another year. Change things up!

The twinkling lights have been put out, the tree has been taken down, the mistletoe and pine boughs have been pulled from their perches.

Back to the same old “11 months out of the year” look for your home!

Far too often homeowners purchase items for their homes with that just right spot in mind.

The truth is, more often than not there is more than one just right spot. You just need to think out of the box.

Rather than get rid of home accents, make room in a closet for a few overflow accessories. As the seasons change, so will the accessories in that closet. Much like seasonal clothes or shoes, making similar swaps with the accessories in your home will keep your space feeling fresh and allow you to fall in love with your rooms over again.

28 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HOME & LIFESTYLE

Repurpose, Reuse, Redesign Everybody is doing it, why aren’t you? The 3 Rs are a decorating technique used daily. The level at which you use it is about the only unique part kanecountymagazine.com

100+ Lines of Furniture $ Home Accents $ Rugs $ Florals $ Home Staging $ Space Planning $ General Contracting

Why Support Chains and Out of State Stores?

Celebrating 7 Years in Business!

Michael Grudecki of this process. With the holiday season behind us, what’s to stop you from using some of your holiday decorations in another way? Looking at holiday décor items with the 3 Rs approach breathes new life into something old and prolongs the amount of time you get to enjoy it.

Make an arrangement with some of your key floral pieces. Wrap your twig and berry garland into a wreath for your front door.

Consider keeping your flameless candles out and filling your urns or lanterns. While not every item from the holidays will work year round, there are some that will.

Before you get board of your space and run out to get that new “just right piece”, shop around your own home. You will surely find something that in a new location will feel just right!

Vignette Home Decor: Your Locally Owned, Locally Operated Small Business.

St. Charles Resident and Batavia Business Owner

VIGNETTE HOME DECOR

630.482.3000

FIND US ON:

1952 W. Fabyan Parkway • Batavia, IL 60510 (Between Trader Joe’s & Office Depot) • www.vignettehomedecor.com

TIM NELSON ARCHITECT, LTD. Custom Homes • Additions • Remodeling

BEFORE

AFTER

Residential and Commercial

kanecountymagazine.com

421 James • Geneva • (630) 397-5122

tim@timnelsonarchitect.com HOME & LIFESTYLE

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Michael Grudecki is president and senior design consultant with Vignette Home Decor, Inc. Stop in for more advice, and see what's in the store at 1952 W Fabyan Pkwy, Batavia.

New Homes ~ Home Additions ~ Remodeling Decks, Screened Porches and Three-Season Rooms Finished Basements ~ Tenant Build-Outs

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 29

START A DESIGN PLANNING FOLDER Happy New Year Kane County!

January is a great time to think about our outdoor spaces. As we cozy up inside, we have the time to plan for the long summer days that we miss in the winter.

This also is the time of year when our evergreens steal the show. All our maples, oaks and other deciduous trees have dropped their leaves and look rather bare. What is more beautiful than a White Pine with dustings of snow on her branches, or a spruce tree carrying pockets of bright white snow, to reflect the sun?

Perhaps we would like to add more screening, or more privacy. Using evergreens like spruce or yews to delineate our outdoor rooms is a great idea. Just as an open area inside seems smaller when we put in walls, so too the outdoors are made more interesting with a professionally designed plan.

Each type of evergreen will give you a different look. When you walk through your neighborhood, note the ones you like. Take pictures and save to your planning folder.

Think about how you want to use your outdoor rooms. Our Grant and Power website has videos and finished design pictures to help you decide what is best for your own home. From family gatherings to intimate breakfast areas, we can help you transform or remodel your garden.

Your trees and large shrubs are like your basic 30 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

bone structure. They add height and even can soften street noise. Build around that with some shrubs that add softening textures. Then, add accent with splashes of color using perennials.

It is important to use your sight lines. How you use, view and expect your garden to look is a big part of the design process.

Soon our tulips, daffodils and pansies will let us know spring is on the way. Then our time becomes short. Now is the time to go to the library, look at seasonal garden magazines and purchase the ones that you will need for your design planning folder.

Mark the pictures you like, design features that interest you and use colors you find attractive.

Visit websites with job installations and note the ones you desire.

Finally, contact a professional who can make this all come together for you.

Next January, you will be remembering all the good times you had with your new outdoor space.

Of course, you will have time to read more books or see movies you haven’t had time to see.

But there are always changes you will want to make.

Spring is coming – Have Faith.

HOME & LIFESTYLE

Nature News With Gene Grant, CEO of Grant & Power Landscaping Inc.

Gene Grant, is a registered landscape architect with more than 35 years of experience in the industry. Follow this new column in the Kane County Magazine, or reach out to Gene directly with any landscape related questions.

630 231-0069 genegrant@grantandpower.com www.grantandpower.com kanecountymagazine.com

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HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 31

KITCHENS – isn’t it time ?

DOORS SIDING WINDOWS BATHROOMS GREAT ROOMS LOWER LEVELS ROOM ADDITIONS THREE SEASON ROOMS ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS DESIGN BUILD REMODELING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR TO SET A TIME… CALL

630-584-2255 EMAIL : MCDOWELLINC@SBCGLOBAL.NET WWW.REMODELWITHMCDOWELL.COM

Sunday • January 18 1-4pm The newest wedding venue in St. Charles…offering a unique alternative to traditional wedding venues.

Wedding vendors showcasing everything you need to make your big day special, and environmentally friendly.

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OUT & ABOUT

JANUARY EVENTS In

Kane County

JANUARY 9 - A LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE - JIMMY PAGE BIRTHDAY BASH STARRING KASHMIR 8 p.m. - Friday at Arcada Theatre 105 E Main St, St. Charles A Led Zeppelin Experience A Led Zeppelin Experience: Jimmy Page Birthday Bash starring Kashmir. Ticket price: $29 - $39 JANUARY 10 - EAGLES IN OUR MIDST 1 p.m. Saturday at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center 3795 Campton Hills With a wing span of more than 6 feet, bald eagles can be hard to miss. Yet few people realize that these magnificent creatures live among us... right on our very own Fox River! Learn about the fascinating history of these iconic birds. This program will feature stunning images captured

by Ron Dickenson, a local wildlife photographer who has been chronicling our area’s “Mooseheart eagles” since 2008. Price: $10 JANUARY 10 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28 - THE SCIENCE OF SNOW EXCEPT ON SUNDAYS 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Peck Farm Park: Orientation Barn - 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva Did you know a single snowstorm can drop more than 39 million tons of snow? Join us at Peck Farm Park’s FREE Winter Exhibit: The Science of Snow, as we investigate this unique form of precipitation and its role in the environment. To the average human, snow means extra layers: a warm winter coat, hat and gloves, but to your backyard wildlife snow means survival. This exhibit is open to the public January 10 - February 28, Monday-Saturday from 10 am - 4:30 p.m.. For information about scout troops, church groups, field trips and more, call (630) 262-8244.

kanecountymagazine.com

JANUARY 11 - THE FROG PRINCESS Sunday at the Steel Beam Theatre 111 W. Main Street St. Charles Saturday 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m.. Also showing Jan 18-Jan 19 Jan 25-Jan 26. Tickets can be ordered on line, by calling 630-587-8521, or visit us at www.steelbeamtheatre.com.

JANUARY 15 - LITTLE NATURALISTS: SNOWFLAKE SURPRISE! 1 p.m. at Creek Bend Nature Center 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles In this hour-long program for 4 and 5 year olds, children will discover the wonders of nature through stories, nature hikes, songs, games, or crafts. (Note: This is a “drop-off” program; adults and siblings may enjoy the trails or wait in the nature center during program.) In January, we will be learning about snowflakes! Advance registration is required. Please call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com to register. Price: $5 JANUARY 18 - QUEENSRYCHE WITH SPECIAL GUESTS QUIET RIOT 8 p.m. at Arcada Theatre 105 E. Main St., St. Charles 8 p.m. These two phenomenal rock/metal bands are taking the Arcada stage to melt some faces in St. Charles. For information please call 630.962.7000. Visit us at www.oshows.com

JANUARY 31 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1 - ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE MARKETS Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m - 4 p.m. at DuPage Expo Center 4050 E. Main Street St. Charles General Admission: $6.00. Join us for 25,000 sq. ft. of quality antiques and collectibles. 715.526.9769 kanecountymagazine.com

Everyone has retirement questions. So Ameriprise created the exclusive Confident Retirement® approach. I can help you break down retirement planning step-by-step to get the real answers you need. Let’s get started today.

STEVE SMITH Financial Advisor Associate Vice President 3 N. Second Street, Suite 200 St. Charles, IL 60174 630.762.6556 steven.l.smith@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/ steven.smith Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Confident Retirement is not a guarantee of future financial results. © 2014 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (1/14)

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O�ca� Swan Presents Parties Large or Small: • Girl’s Day Out • Anniversaries • Sunday Breakfast • Ghost Hunting • Murder Mysteries • Reunions

• Private Parties • Weddings • Ceremonies • Showers • After-the-Wedding Brunch

Upcoming Events: Please call for Reservations

• Open to the Public for Lunch and Tours on Wednesdays

Valentine Brunch at Noon

Call Tuesday for Reservations

• Private Brunch or Luncheon for 10 or more people Please call for Details

Sunday, February 15th

A Historic

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JANUARY 17 & JANUARY 19 – NUNSENSE Fri. & Sat. 8p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m..at Fox Valley Repertory at Pheasant Run Resort at 4051 E. Main Street St. Charles Call for Thursday dates. Rated PG-13. When the 5 sisters of Hoboken discover that 52 fellow nuns were accidentally poisoned by their cook, Mother Superior desperately stages a variety show to raise funds for the burials. Also showing Jan. 24-Jan. 26 & Jan. 31-Feb. 2. For tickets, please call (630) 5846342. www.foxvalleyrep.org

In retirement, will you outlive your money?

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JANUARY 12 - KANE COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S SHOW 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.. At the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road St. Charles (Dealers in at 5 a.m.) Admission: $5. Legally buy, sell, trade firearms and all related items, war souvenirs, Indian artifacts, swords, knives, loading tools, books, Indian jewelry, hunting gear and more.

All local and state laws apply. Free parking. Call 815.758.2773 or visit us at www.kanesportshow. com

B

up

Lodging

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GENEVA

GALENA

1800 West State Street Geneva, IL

630-232-0173 OUT & ABOUT

3351 Elizabeth-Scales Mound Rd. Scales Mound, IL (Near Galena)

www.oscarswan.com

815-541-0653

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 33

Head for the hills!

As soon as the snow falls, families are pulling out sleds and skis and more for a few hours of frigid fun. We have offered up some of our favorite spots for the season.

SPEED DOWN NEARBY SLEDDING HILLS • Fabyan Forest Preserve

Weather permitting, Fabyan Forest Preserve is open and lighted until 9 p.m. for sledding on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. Entrances on Route 25 and Route 31 north of Fabyan Parkway, near Geneva. This is a perfect spot for family sledding, as it combines a picturesque locale amidst the historic Dutch windmill and the Fox River, offers ample parking as well.

• Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve

• Campton Forest Preserve

Looking for something speedier? Check out Johnson’s Mound at 41W600 Hughes Road, Elburn. The long, steep hill makes for fast sledding and snowboarding, and a handful of handmade jumps make for an exciting afternoon. While the location is pretty secluded, the hill is no secret and can get quite crowded, and a fair number of bordering trees make it not the best choice for small children. But the older ones seem to love it. A warming house on the premises adds to the appeal.

Just south of Rt. 64 at 4N379 Town Hall Rd. Campton Forest Preserve offers rolling hills bordered by lush forest and a 300-acre wide property clear of traffic and obstacle. This popular winter destination is also a hotspot for snowmobilers and horseback riders alike, on marked trails.

Just call Mendel At Mendel, we offer excellent service; that’s why we have grown to be one of the most trusted plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical service companies in the Fox Valley.

Mendel Plumbing & Heating Serving the Fox Valley

(630) 377-3608

ATTACK THE SLOPES AT RAGING BUFFALO • Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park

Officially the world’s first snowboard exclusive terrain park, is located at 19-265 Western Ave (just off Rte. 31) on the border of Kane and McHenry counties. The park’s terrain changes constantly to keep the hills fresh. Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park contains two rope tows, half pipes, kickers, table tops, staircase and a magic carpet on the beginner hill. The Midwest’s First Burton Riglet Park, designed for riders 11 and under, is stocked with Learn To Ride snowboards, boots, and helmets. Regular hours are 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call Raging Buffalo for hours, lessons and other information at (847) 836-7243 or visit www.ragingbuffalo.com

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34 | JANUARY 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

kanecountymagazine.com

Smetana Barber Dvořák

Šárka Violin Concerto Symphony No. 7 D minor

STEP OUT THIS SEASON IN SNOWSHOES Snowshoeing makes it possible to walk on top of the snow without falling through no matter how deep the snow. It’s become a popular pastime and a fitness alternative to cross country skiing. Snowshoe rentals are offered at:

• Red Oak Nature Center 343 S River St, Batavia, surrounded by 40 acres of lush forest and wildlife habitat.

• Hickory Knolls Discovery Center On Campton Hills Rd, west of Peck Rd, boasts 131 acres of natural space and protected wetland.

• Primrose Farm

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More than 100 acres of open agricultural space. Located at 5N726 Crane Road, St. Charles

kanecountymagazine.com

OUT & ABOUT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2015 | 35

Let us create the kitchen of your dreams.

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Fine Custom Cabinetry

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNERS AND ARTISAN TRADESMEN

630.232.9500 • www.genevacabinetgallery.com 321 Stevens Street • Geneva, Illinois 60134 • HOURS: Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm or by appointment