Issuu

Parent Source Serving Kane County

Fall 2021 Resource Guide For Parents

MEET

Cheyenne Talented teen launches photography business

Perfect solution

St. Charles Park District has before/after school options for working parents

Your child’s future Create a savings plan for higher education

Cake pop art

Blissful Bites treats are made from scratch, perfected with love

what’s

INSIDE

to perfect pho e r u t ic p a Have your to share of ndchild child or gra ? ane County K in t u o b a out and .com awmedia ornell@sh jc ed sh to li it b u d Sen e it p ce to hav ! e rc u o for a chan S t Parent in our nex

Distributed by

2 | FALL 2021 | PARENT SOURCE

Fall Colors Are Calling You to Starved Rock State Park

St. Charles Park District Has the Perfect Solution for Working Parents

Your Child’s Future: Creating a College Savings Plan

Talented Teen Launches Facing West Photography

Blissful Bites: Made From Scratch, Perfected With Love

Start Celebrating Fall With Oktoberfest Brat Dip Recipe

ADVERTISER INDEX

LEARNING EXPRESS ��9 MY ADVISOR AND PLANNER ��7

REAM’S MEAT MARKET ��11 ST. CHARLES PARK DISTRICT ��5

STARVED ROCK LODGE ��12 Photo by Cheyenne Anderson of Facing West Photography

PROJECT MANAGER Jaclyn Cornell jcornell@shawmedia.com

DESIGNER Julie Barichello jbarichello@shawmedia.com

Fall Colors

ARE CALLING YOU TO By Kathy Casstevens (Marketing Manager – Starved Rock Lodge)

Starved RocK

t’s easier to say goodbye to summer when you make plans to enjoy the beauty of autumn. Nestled in the middle of Starved Rock State Park is a unique hotel which sits high atop a bluff overlooking the scenic Illinois River. Starved Rock Lodge is more than a day trip. It’s a historic hotel with everything you need for a fall getaway under one roof. The Café opens early and has delicious flavors of ice cream and fudge made at the Lodge. The indoor pool is a favorite for families and multi-generational travelers. Outdoor dining continues into the fall as long as weather permits. The Veranda offers the best view in LaSalle County. Just steps away from the trails is the Back Door Lounge which serves locally made craft beer, music on select Friday nights. There’s no better way to explore the deep sandstone canyons and seasonal waterfalls than with a guided hike offered each Saturday and Sunday at Starved Rock State Park. A boxed lunch is included and reservations are required.

For more information, call (815) 220-7386. Book overnight stays, tours and events on the Lodge’s website: www.starvedrocklodge.com.

A tasty menu of German food, beer, wine and music will be featured at this year’s Oktoberfest Matinees (October 18, 19 & 20) and Dinner (October 17). German tunes will fill the air with music by the Duseldorfers Band. Tickets are $30 for the buffet only or $45 for the buffet, wine/beer tastings and a souvenir stein. Fall Colors Trolley Tours are offered on Tuesday and Saturday (9:30 and 11 a.m.) during October so leaf lovers can get their fill of fall foliage before the

colorful autumn array disappears. “Autumn on the River” cruises depart every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11 a.m. Ghost Tours are back on select weekend nights in October. Board the trolley and experience a spooky adventure as you travel to local haunts in the area. The ambiance of the historic Great Hall makes a lovely setting for a music tribute show by the Neverly Brothers. Tickets for the “old school cool” show include a hot lunch buffet. A variety of tribute and holiday shows can be booked through the Lodge’s website. The Lodge is accepting reservations for Thanksgiving Buffet on November 25. This year, the Lodge will have a new, whimsical theme for Christmas. The Great Hall and Lodge will be decorated before Thanksgiving and the Main Dining Room will be decorated afterward. Tickets are on sale now for the Lodge’s annual New Year’s Eve Party in the Great Hall. The theme is “Throwback Prom.”

PARENT SOURCE | FALL 2021 | 3

PERFECT SOLUTION

FOR WORKING PARENTS

he hours before and after a child’s school day may be few, but they present an enormous challenge in terms of finding safe, stimulating and affordable supervision of children. The St. Charles Park District in partnership with Community Unit School District 303 offers before and after school programs for Kindergarteners through 5th graders with fun activities, healthy snacks and professional staff leaders at reasonable rates. In order to participate, children must be enrolled in the following elementary schools: Anderson, Bell Graham, Davis, Ferson Creek, Lincoln, Munhall, Richmond, Wasco or Wild Rose. Under the supervision of park district staff leaders, students can participate in arts and crafts activities, outdoor and indoor games, do their homework, or just have some quiet time to read on their own. With so many choices and so much going on, those hours before and after school can just fly by. Who wouldn’t be enthralled by the artistic and culinary projects Baker Station staff creates? Paper lanterns and hand-print cards are fun take-home mementoes of time well spent, and cooking crafts such as creating butterflies from oranges and grapes or caterpillars from bananas, grapes and cream cheese not only teach children to look at things from a different perspective, they also demonstrate that healthy food can be fun, too.

4 | FALL 2021 | PARENT SOURCE

BEFORE SCHOOL

When mom and dad have to hit the road for work before their children have to hit the books, there are few options available to parents for safe, supervised yet entertaining early morning care. Before the Bell offers morning care that lets children ease into their day with breakfast snacks and quiet activities, and allows mom and dad to head off to work knowing that their child is enjoying a secure and stimulating environment. Held at either Haines Gymnasium or Bell Graham, this program begins at 6:30 a.m. Transportation to each child’s school will be provided by the school district.

AFTER SCHOOL

Working parents face all sorts of challenges, and most adults work later than when school lets out. What do you do when your kids are done for the school day and you are still at work? What if there is a day or days off of school? Baker Station offers afternoon care at these elementary school sites: Bell Graham, David (includes Richmond), Ferson Creek, Munhall (includes Anderson and Lincoln), Wasco and Wild Rose. Parents need to pick up their child by 6 p.m. For specific details, contact Recreation Supervisor Taylor Krawczyk at 630-413-4331 or tkrawczyk@stcparks.org.

Fall Family Fun at the St. Charles Park District

stcparks.org

Farm Frolic

Celebrate the season with old-fashioned farmyard fun!

Sa • September 18 • 10am-3pm •P Pumpkin ki Patch P t h&P Painting i ti • Petting Zoo & Pony Rides • Straw Maze & Old-Fashioned Games • Tractor-Drawn Wagon Rides • Vintage Tractor & Equipment Display • Modern “Big Truck” Display • Historic Demonstrations Including: Rope Making, Candle Dipping, Blacksmithing, Corn Shelling, Laundering

ALL

Ages

$10 per person • Ages 1 & under FREE Refreshments available for purchase. Advance registration requested.

Purchase tickets: primrosefarm.org/farm-frolic

5N726 Crane Road St. Charles

Scenic views along the Fox River

Sa • September 25

10am-12pm

Truck

Show James O. Breen Community Park Campton Hills & Peck Rds St. Charles

A rare chance to view the inner workings of the trucks, cars, tractors and more! Emergency vehicles, a ALL garbage truck, street Ages sweeper, tractor, and dump truck, may be among the many workhorses on display.

FREE!

Bring your camera!

Fun ‘FORE’ Everonne SPECIAL FALL RATE

OPEN Weekends through Sep 26

11am-7pm

Weekends

beginning September 11 Ages 6+ $4 Ages 5 & Under $3

18 Holes of Challenging Miniature Golf - Par 42 9 Holes Wheelchair Accessible Stanley’s Spin-N-Play Wacky Fun Refreshment Stand In Pottawatomie Park • 8 North Avenue, St. Charles

630-584-1028 • riverviewminigolf.org PARENT SOURCE | FALL 2021 | 5

YOUR CHILD’$

FUTURE CREATING A SAVINGS PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION BY THOMAS MCCARTNEY

ugust is the traditional heart of the family vacation season. You may even find yourself on vacation, enjoying an adult beverage, and reading this article at the end of a long day refereeing disputes between overly-tired kids or grandkids. As you survey your family and reflect on how fortunate you really are, you may find your mind wandering into the future, dreaming about each child’s next steps, and contemplating how some of your dreams for them will be funded. Inevitably, you will allow yourself to think about what your child will do after high school. Your focus may start on what type of school they may attend and what they may choose to study – which are far more pleasant topics than how this all will be paid for. Out of curiosity you may grab your phone, google a favorite college, and look up what it will cost to attend. This is the point where your knuckles turn white as you tightly squeeze both the phone and the glass in your hand.

6 | SPRING 2021 | PARENT SOURCE

TUITION/ ROOM/FEES*

PROJECTED TOTAL COST 2039-2042**

Indiana University, Bloomington (Non-resident)

$51,222

$531,300

Northwestern University, Evanston (Resident)

$78,654

$815,858

The University of Iowa, Iowa City (Non-resident)

$46,789

$485,153

The University of Wisconsin, Madison (Non-resident)

$53,613

$556,123

University of Chicago (Resident)

$81,531

$845,706

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Resident)

$47,444

$492,193

INSTITUTION

*Published annual tuition, room & board, and required fees. **Assume 5% annual increase and student attends for four years starting in 2036.

As the sampling of some popular regional institutions shows, the current published costs of attendance can be intimidating. The picture becomes more serious when you consider the amount you would need to plan for if you have a child born in 2021 who would attend a school for four years starting in 2039. Unfortunately for your wallet, the aid you may receive from the government, colleges and private scholarships often only cover about one-third of all college expenses. The sooner you start saving, the better off you will be in the long run, and even modest savings can grow into significant investments by the time your child is ready to head off to school.

HERE’S HOW TO GET STARTED SAVING P Save money methodically via payroll deduction or via another systematic investment method. (Your financial advisor should be able to help you with this.) P Consult your financial advisor and collaborate to develop a plan with milestones for achieving your child’s educational goal. As your children get old enough, have them periodically accompany you when meeting with your financial advisor, allowing them to learn and become engaged in the process. P When they are old enough to get a job, have your children contribute half of their earnings into their college savings fund. P Save and invest windfalls such as inheritances, income tax refunds or bonuses. P Increase the amount you save by five percent each year to keep up with the college tuition inflation rate. P Ask relatives to contribute to the savings account in lieu of gifts. P Keep your savings and investment plans a priority. P Make sure to not carry credit card debt and to maintain an emergency fund as this will help keep you from having to “raid” college savings to cover other expenses. Strategies for investing for college are many and cannot be adequately covered in this single article. Contact us to discuss ways your money can work as hard as you do.

n Tom McCartney is the Founding Principal of My Advisor & Planner and a registered representative and investment advisory representative with M Securities. Investments in securities involve risks, including the possible loss of principal. My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated. McCartney and his team can be reached at info@ mapyourfuture.net or 630-457-4068.

Photo by Indre Cantero File# 3714661.1

PARENT SOURCE | FALL 2021 | 7

Talented

TEEN

Cheyenne Anderson started Facing West Photography at a young age — and the business has only grown from there n o

By Hannah Hoffmeister Photos by Facing West Photography

ou could say Cheyenne Anderson’s photography business really took off after she put up three photos for sale in Geneva coffee shop Cafe & Barr.

But her family would probably say otherwise. While the teen’s business is new, Cheyenne’s passion is nothing new to them. “She’s always been very artistic naturally and very driven,” says her aunt Jolene Gillis. “Very dedicated to the things she cares about and loves.” The 15-year-old started her photography company, Facing West Photography, with those three nature photos in Cafe & Barr. Word of her talent spread last fall, and now she’s expanded to doing family sessions, portraits and more. “I don’t know if I’ve ever met a 14-year-old as driven,” says Phil Anderson, her dad. (Cheyenne turned 15 between the interview and this article’s publication.) Both father and daughter share a love of being outdoors — Cheyenne likes hiking and camping, which usually leads to nature photographs that highlight her surroundings. “I love making the beauty of nature stand out and just being able to capture something that amazing,” she says.

8 | FALL 2021 | PARENT SOURCE

The two came up with Facing West Photography’s name together, citing the sun setting in the west and her love of nature photography. “I do more (family photography) … but when I travel, I definitely focus more on landscapes and nature,” says Cheyenne, a sophomore at Central High School in Burlington. Gillis and her two young boys sat for family photos with Cheyenne recently. “She’s so patient with little kids,” Gillis says of her niece, noting Cheyenne’s confidence and the way she encourages her clients to “just be you.” In addition to being self-taught when it comes to her camera and editing software, Cheyenne says she and her sister Avery have also done photo shoots to determine what poses work best. Videos with tips on posing, along with funny insights about being a photographer, are available on her Instagram and TikTok, both @facingwestphotography. She’s found a community of other photographers on social media: “Everyone is so helpful and friendly.” While still a few years away, in college the young entrepreneur hopes to study photography and graphic design. She says she’d love to be a photographer in Colorado, perhaps even specializing in weddings and engagements. “I just love seeing the true love that people have … I think it makes beautiful photos.” “She just took off with it,” says Phil Anderson of his daughter’s passion for photography, beginning with her first camera. “I’m pretty proud of her.”

For more information about Facing West Photography, visit www.fwphotography0.wixsite.com/facingwestphoto or www.facebook.com/facingwestphoto

Enjoy %

The Great Outdoors!

PS21

OFF

Any one item in stock! Or 20% off your entire purchase. May not be combined with any other offer, discount or fundraiser. Cannot be used to purchase Gift Cards and excludes prior purchases. Valid in store only at Geneva location. Expires 10/31/21 7/31/21

Stock up on fidgets! Great for travel!

1420 Commons Drive • Geneva • (630) 232-8697 SM-CL1906337

PARENT SOURCE | FALL 2021 | 9

Made Perfected

FROM SCRATCH,

By Kelley White

onderful things come in small packages and local dessert business Blissful Bites by Cynthia delivers! Born from a small twist of fate and grown into a business that perfects the art of customer service, Blissful Bites creates editable art in adorable proportions. “Prior to starting this journey, I’d never baked a cake,” states Cynthia, owner, and operator of Blissful Bites. After asking a friend to make cake pops for her oldest child’s birthday party, Cynthia tried her hand at making the popular dessert herself and they were an instant hit with the partygoers. Despite her homemade cake pop success, Cynthia “assumed that was the first and last time [she] would make them.” Fast forward a few months later and Cynthia’s husband requested she make another batch of her delicious cake pops to take into work for his birthday. His coworkers loved them so much they sought her out to place orders, and thus, Blissful Bites by Cynthia began. From the beginning, Cynthia has kept customer service at the forefront of her small business, valuing hard work and determination to getting it right with her clients. She is a dedicated family woman and still finds the time to devote effort to her burgeoning business. In fact, Cynthia states, “It is not uncommon for me to see the sunrise, especially during the really busy seasons.” That kind of hard work can only produce the good stuff.

WITH

Love

What makes Blissful Bites by Cynthia continue to grow and achieve? All that hard work and just as importantly, Cynthia’s artistic ability. Her visions come to life in confectionary sweetness. They take an incredibly diverse array of forms: There’s nostalgic Care Bears, tuxedo wedding pops and even golden snitches from the beloved Harry Potter series. As Cynthia addresses, “I have always been artistic and cake pops provided an unexpected opportunity to use that skill.” Not only does Cynthia produce the world’s cutest cake pops, but she now includes chocolate covered oreos, seasonal hot chocolate bombs, treat cups and chocolate dipped strawberries and pretzels to her scrumptious collection of available sweetness! Blissful Bites by Cynthia prides itself as a business that truly cares about their customers, “Listening and treating them as a friend are two of the things I make sure I do, whether someone places an order or not.” It is a humble admission to understand the importance of connecting directly with her customers with flexibility and grace. Cynthia’s kindness, positivity, and ability to connect with her customers sets her apart in the world of customized confection. Her efforts and accomplishments speak for themselves. For her customers, it’s love at first sight…and bite.

Follow Blissful Bites by Cynthia on Facebook: www.fb.com/BlissfulBitesbyCynthia

10 | FALL 2021 | PARENT SOURCE

Reams + Lunch = Covered We make over

100 varieties of Smoked Meats and Sausages

Oktoberfest Brat Dip

INGREDIENTS 2 16oz packages of cream cheese 4 Ream’s Oktoberfest or Tailgater Brats (from the deli counter) ½ large onion, minced ½ lb Swiss or Jarlsberg cheese (reserve some for the top to bake) ¼ cup dijon mustard 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce ¼ cup milk (enough to make mixture spreadable) Fresh ground black pepper to taste 1-3 dashes of hot sauce (optional) Paprika for garnish

Homemade Lunchmeat

• Boneless Ham • Roast Beef • Roast or Smoked Turkey • Bologna

DIRECTIONS Dice the Brats and saute in a skillet with minced onion. In a bowl or stand mixer, mix cream cheese, mustard, worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, pepper, and cheese. Fold in Brat and onion mix. Transfer all to a pie plate, top with remaining cheese, and sprinkle top with Paprika.

• Hard Salamis • Full Deli Cheese Selection • And Housemade Sandwiches!

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until bubbly. Serve with cocktail rye or crackers.

Recipe courtesy of Mary Cherry, of Elburn, a close friend of the Ream family

ELBURN, IL

www.ReamsMeatMarket.com

A GREAT OLD FASHIONED FULL SERVICE MEAT MARKET SM-CL1906850

PARENT SOURCE | FALL 2021 | 11

HISTORIC ATTRACTION

Rockford

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

LaSalle Peru Quad Cities

Chicago Naperville Joliet

Starved Rock Peoria

Springfield

Bloomington

Champaign

St. Louis

Close to home but worlds away!

WHY WE ROCK!

Miles from Springfield to: Starved Rock 127

We’re the ONLY HOTEL in Starved Rock State Park

Guided Hikes The best way to see the beauty of Starved Rock State Park is on a Guided Hike. Board a Starved Rock Trolley and learn about the rich history of this National Historic Landmark.

Land & Water Cruise Enjoy lunch in the historic dining room at Starved Rock Lodge then board the trolley and head to the Eagle 1 for a scenic cruise along the Illinois River.

Fall Colors Trolley Tour Experience Starved Rock during the most beautiful time of the year. Ride the trolley to take a guided walk into Ottawa Canyon and Council Overhang. Best photos ever!

Special Events From Oktoberfest Celebrations, Trolley Trio Progressive Dinners to Christmas and “Discover the Eagle Tours” you will always remember your time at Starved Rock Lodge.

Groups Invited! Book your next special event at Starved Rock Lodge. Dream weddings, family reunions and corporate retreats are our specialty. We would love to help you plan every detail.

Miles from Chicago to: Starved Rock

Pool Our indoor pool complex has a hot tub, a kiddie pool -and it’s open and welcoming year ’round. We also have a Café, Gift Shop and the Back Door Lounge—all under one roof.

Lodging Choose a comfy Lodge room or a cabin in the woods. Parking and WiFi are free to Lodge guests.

KEY: SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

WINTER

STARVED ROCK LODGE • ONE LODGE LANE • OGLESBY, IL • (815) 667-4211 • STARVEDROCKLODGE.COM