kcct_2015-08-29_

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SERVING THE TRI-CITIES AND KANELAND SINCE 1881

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STARS IN GENEVA McCarthy, Wahlberg appear at benefit / 6

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A CLOSER LOOK: PART TWO OF TWO

MENTAL ILLNESS AND JAIL TIME

Sheriff: About 25 percent of jail population is taking medication for mental illness / 12-13 SPORTS

SPORTS

Vikings win Geneva football holds off West Aurora in its season opener / 24 SPORTS

North Stars cruise

Eric Lins runs for three TDs in St. Charles North’s victory over Schaumburg / 21

Back-and-forth affair

Batavia football battled Oswego in Week 1 of the season, and came away with a 36-28 victory in the nonconference game / 25

WHERE IT’S AT Advice ............................30 Classified................. 34-43 Comics ......................32-33 Cover story ...............12-13 Horoscopes................... 33 Local News................. 2-18 Obituaries ....................... 9 Opinions ...................19-20 Out & About.....................3 Puzzles ............................31 Sports........................21-28 Weather ........................... 5

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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GETTING STARTED LOTTERY ILLINOIS LOTTERY Pick 3 Midday: 8-8-5 Pick 3 Evening: 1-4-2 Pick 4 Midday: 8-4-5-1 Pick 4 Evening: 8-5-9-6 Lucky Day Lotto Midday: 18-28-32-34-38 Lucky Day Lotto Evening: 6-14-18-28-29 Lotto jackpot: $5.5 million MEGA MILLIONS Numbers: 13-35-40-60-68 Megaball: 9 Megaplier: 4 Est. jackpot: $64 million POWERBALL Est. jackpot: $110 million

ON THE COVER

Associate Judge T. Clint Hull presides over Treatment Alternative Court at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

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Check out the Cougars from the Strike Zone

Earlier this month, I took in a Kane County Cougars game from some pretty swell seating.

My husband and I were invited by another couple to attend a game Aug. 11 against the Great Lakes Loons at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

We sat in the Cougars’ new Strike Zone area, which is located behind home plate on the concourse level. Those who watch a game from the Strike Zone sit in swivel chairs around a table, and they can order from a special menu that includes wait staff service.

Sitting in the Strike Zone

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK Kathy Balcazar with engaging company on a perfect-weather day was fantastic. On top of that, it was a winning night for the Cougars.

Interested in checking out the Strike Zone at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark? You can learn more by calling 630-232-8811 or visiting www. kccougars.com.

••• And the Kane County Chronicle is saying so long to its final summer 2015 intern,

Mitch Chamberlain.

Mitch is heading back to college to continue his studies at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was great having Mitch in the newsroom this summer, where he was able to gain more journalism experience.

“When I started learning more about designing pages for the Chronicle, I began doing what I set out to do during this internship – learn more about design,” Mitch wrote in a recap about his internship. “I’m happy that I was able to go beyond the basics of page design ... and create some of the more

complicated pages ... . I’m happy with the variety of stories that I was assigned throughout the internship, and I am still very surprised and excited that I was able to write two cover stories, let alone one.”

A big thanks to Mitch.

We wish him the best of luck.

• Kathy Balcazar is editor of the Kane County Chronicle and a member of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association Board.

Contact her at kbalcazar@ shawmedia.com or 630-8455368. Learn more about NINA at http://ninaonline.org.

Former SCN staffer pleads not guilty in sex assault

By BRENDA SCHORY

bschory@shawmedia.com ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – A former St. Charles North High School dean’s assistant accused of sexually assaulting a minor-age student of the school pleaded not guilty Friday.

Christopher A. Lee, 29, is

charged with four felony counts of criminal sexual assault, one misdemeanor count of distribution of harmful material and one misdemeanor count of obscenity. Both misdemeanors refer to a photo of male nudity and obscenity, according to the charges.

Through his attorney, Michael Bercos, Lee pleaded not guilty to all

POLICE REPORTS Geneva

charged Wednesday, Aug. 12, with possession of marijuana • A radar detector valued at and drug paraphernalia while $550 was reported stolen Satin the parking lot of Buffalo urday, Aug. 8, from an unlocked Wild Wings, 820 Commons 2014 Chevrolet Suburban in the Drive. driveway of a house in the 800 • Nam H. Phan, 33, of the 800 block of Sterling Avenue. block of Chandler Avenue, Gene• Robert A. Spragis, 52, of the va, was charged Sunday, Aug. 16, 39W400 block of Washburn with driving under the influence Drive, Blackberry Township, was and speeding. charged Saturday, Aug. 15, with • A stone water fountain and two misdemeanor counts of birdbath valued at $280 were domestic battery. According to reported damaged Friday, Aug. police reports, the incident oc21, from a yard in the 200 block curred on the 700 block of South of North Bennett Street. Someone Fourth Street where he and his used the top of the stone fountain wife had an argument, resulting in to smash the birdbath, according him pulling her hair and slapping to police reports. her several times with an open • Leonardo Munoz-Rios, 25, hand. of the 1400 block of South 14th • Benjamin F. Gedmin, 25, Street, St. Charles, was charged of the 11900 block of Ellwood Sunday, Aug. 23, with driving Greens Road, Genoa, was under the influence.

six charges. Kane County Judge Susan Clancy Boles said the four felony counts are punishable by four to 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine that would have to be served consecutively.

The misdemeanors, Boles said, are punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $25,000.

Lee is scheduled to appear in court again Oct. 2.

Christopher A. Lee

FaceTime

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Geneva resident Janet Marciniak, 55, was fishing in the Fox River at Island Park in Geneva when she answered 10 questions for the Kane County Chronicle’s Brenda Schory.

Where did you grow up? Chicago Who would play you in the movie of your life? Diane Lane First job? A secretary after I got out of high school As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to be a dancer, but instead I am an administrator.

A book you’d recommend? “The

KCChronicle.com

Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks Favorite charity? American Diabetes Association Favorite ice cream flavor?

Peppermint Words of wisdom? Seven days without God makes one weak.

Favorite local restaurant?

Chianti’s in Geneva What is an interesting factoid about yourself? I have walked on the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. I also donated my left kidney to my husband ... on Sept. 9, 2007. Then he went on dialysis. He died at 51 in 2012.

OFFICE 333 N. Randall Road, Suite 2 St. Charles, IL 60174 630-232-9222 Fax: 630-444-1641 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday NEWSROOM 630-845-5355 Fax: 630-444-1641 editorial@kcchronicle.com CUSTOMER SERVICE 800-589-9363 subscriptions@shawmedia.com 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday Missed your paper?

If you have not received your paper by 6 a.m. Tuesday-Friday, or by 7 a.m. Saturday, call 800-589-9363 by 10 a.m. for same-day redelivery.

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‘Marshall’s Miracle’ at Charlestowne 18

WHAT: The film is based on the book “Marshall the Miracle Dog,” written by Cyndi Willenbrock, who owns Marshall and produced the movie. Willenbrock will make appearances with Marshall, WGN radio host Patti Vasquez and local actors from the film.

WHEN: Willenbrock, Vasquez and Marshall will appear from 2 to 3 p.m. today WHERE: Charlestowne 18 Theatre, 3740 E. Main St., St. Charles INFORMATION: Call 630-587-3300.

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Elderday Center mum, kale, and cabbage sale

WHAT: The mum colors available will be gold, red, yellow, orange, purple, lavender and white. The cost will be $10 a plant.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 10 to 12 WHERE: The sale will be held on the lawn of Bethany Lutheran Church at 328 W. Wilson St. in Batavia.

INFORMATION: To guarantee a specific color’s availability, those interested can pre-order by contacting Susan Oppenborn at Elderday Center at 630761-9750. All pre-orders must be paid in advance by check or credit card and can be picked up any of the three sale days.

Elderday Center specializes in dementia

and age related illness care. Visit www. elderdaycenter.org.

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Block Party Taste of Batavia event

WHAT: The event will include $3 food tastings, a variety of cool beverages, live music from local bands River City Revival and Patrick James as well as headliner Dick Diamond and the Dusters, performances, classic car cruise night, pie bake off, twist-off and hula-hoop competitions for prizes, bags tournament and kids activities area with free bounce houses.

WHEN: 4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 6 WHERE: Downtown Batavia INFORMATION: Visit www.downtownbat-

TODAY’S WEB POLL

Do you plan to go to a prep football game this season?

• Yes, more than one • Yes, one • No

avia.com/blockparty.

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Entertainment at Eddie Gaedel Pub and Grill

WHAT: Eddie Gaedel Pub and Grill in Elburn will host musical entertainment.

WHEN: Dennis Florine performs from 8 to 11 p.m. today and Brent Brown will play from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: 117 N. Main St., Elburn INFORMATION: Visit www.facebook. com/EddieGaedelPubAndGrill or call 630-365-9938.

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STC Public Library seed saving program

WHAT: A master gardener from the University of Illinois Extension Office will discuss how to harvest seeds from a garden, explain which seeds are worth the effort to save and teach the proper methods of cleaning and storing seeds.

WHEN: 2 to 3 p.m. today WHERE: Huntley Meeting Room at the library, 1 S. Sixth Ave., St. Charles INFORMATION: Stop by the reference desk or call 630-584-0076, ext. 1.

CLASSIFIED SALES 800-589-8237 classified@shawsuburban.com Fax: 815-477-8898 LEGAL NOTICES publicnotice@kcchronicle.com 877-264-2527 Fax: 630-368-8809 RETAIL ADVERTISING 630-845-5284 OBITUARIES 815-526-4438 obits@kcchronicle.com General Manager Jim Ringness jringness@shawmedia.com Editor Kathy Balcazar 630-845-5368 kbalcazar@shawmedia.com News Editor Al Lagattolla 630-845-5385 alagattolla@shawmedia.com

The Kane County Chronicle and KCChronicle.com are a division of Shaw Media.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2015

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YESTERDAY’S WEB POLL RESULTS

Has anyone in your family suffered from cancer?

1. Yes, someone else in my immediate family (53 percent) 2. Yes, but not in my immediate family (22 percent) 3. Yes, I have suffered from cancer (16 percent) 4. No (9 percent)

VOTE ONLINE: Voice your opinion at www.kcchronicle.com. Poll is at the bottom right of the homepage.

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• Saturday, August 29, 2015

OUT&ABOUT

Kane County Chronicle staffers pick the best of what to do in your free time

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Get to know Janet Marciniak

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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LOCAL NEWS

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Snakes – even venomous ones – have important jobs to do

Maybe you’ve heard, a snake caused quite a stir in the Tri-Cities this past week.

After a lead story on NBC 5 news that reported a Deadly Snake on the Loose in Geneva, I received no fewer than a dozen phone calls, text messages and emails expressing a variety of sentiments. They ranged, on the mild end, from “Really?” and “What??” to, on the coarser end, variations on the saying, “Holy cats!!!”

My reaction was more along the lines of “Oh boy!” followed a little while after by, “Hey, wait a minute …”

When Allison Rosati used the term “deadly,” my brain immediately went to thoughts of snake species with highly toxic venom like the Australian brown snake or taipan.

Maybe even a cobra, I recall thinking, while also wondering what bizarre set of circumstances would have led to any of these animals surfacing near Geneva.

Imagine my surprise when the snake in question turned out to be a cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus.

These large, dark, heavy-bodied snakes, while venomous, don’t come anywhere near the realm of “highly.” It’s true, without treatment, there is a chance you could die after being bitten by a cottonmouth – or any North American pit viper. And the pain from the bite may make you wish you were dead. But chances are good that, with prompt medical attention, you would survive.

The next question I had was how the heck would a cottonmouth make its way to this part of the state? The species’ natural range is way down at the very southern tip of Illinois.

I remember learning about and seeing these snakes several years ago during a wonderful workshop put on by the Illinois Natural History Survey. We were at the legendary Snake Road, which

GOOD NATURED Pam Erickson Otto in reality is Forest Service Road 345 in the LaRue Pine Hills section of the Shawnee National Forest.

The herpetologist pointed to a map of Illinois – specifically, the counties south of Carbondale – as the area where cottonmouths occur.

As his finger circled around this small region, a bluffy, swampy, unglaciated land that really seems like it’s a different state entirely, I realized I had been living a lie.

As I kid, I spent a week or two of every summer on my mom’s family farm in Menard County, northwest of Springfield. Even then, go figure, I was prone to poking under rocks and peering under logs. I can clearly remember being warned about water moccasins by everyone from Grandma and Grandpa to the neighbors to the mailman because, bless their hearts, they didn’t want me to get bit and die.

More than once, I came across large, dark snakes in the water, and each time I backed away carefully, then went around telling everyone who’d listen how I’d narrowly escaped death by snake bite.

Yet there was Scott Ballard, one of the state’s foremost herpetologists, saying that cottonmouths, aka water moccasins, aka A. piscivorus, are only present waaaay down south in Illinois.

That little lesson in snake ranges, geography and the hazards of using only common instead of scientific names resonates with me to this day.

Snakes in general have a PR problem, and heavy-bodied snakes that live near water are almost universally despised. Part of the issue

lies with how people apply the term “water moccasin.”

Some folks use it in reference to venomous cottonmouths, while others apply it to any snake that lives near water.

In much the same way the game Telephone can change the meaning of a simple sentence, repeated tellings of a story involving a water moccasin – as in nonvenomous Nerodian- can quickly morph into tales of derring-do during a chance encounter with a cottonmouth.

Then there’s that word venom. People tend to associate it with “certain death,” even though that is often not the case. For certain kinds of snakes, venom is their only means of survival. It can be used defensively, yes, but its true purpose is to help the snake subdue its prey.

At any rate, noting the confusion that surrounds these terms, it becomes a little easier to see how random sightings of a fat, and most likely happy, snake in an area of unincorporated Kane County near Geneva that has a pond nearby turns into “Deadly Snake on the Loose in Geneva.”

Could it be a cottonmouth, A. piscovorus? Given how mobile our society is these days, not to mention how easy it is to buy things, even venomous snakes, on the Internet, we can never say never. I, for one, will anxiously await the outcome of the ongoing snake search.

In the meantime, I’m going to take full advantage of this rare moment when snakes are in the limelight. I’ll be doing everything I can to spread the word that snakes – even venomous ones – have important jobs to do. They control animals that tend to overpopulate. They capture weak or ill individuals, thus keeping wildlife populations fit and strong.

See GOOD NATURED, page 11

Photo provided

A large, dark snake lies coiled near a body of water in St. Charles. Is it a venomous cottonmouth? Not in this case. The snake pictured is a northern water snake, Nerodia sipedon. The species is noted for being heavy bodied, as well as a tendency to darken with age. Closer inspection reveals a second water snake, a juvenile, coiled atop the larger adult.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

WEATHER

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| LOCAL NEWS

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Star-studded night at benefit in Geneva Jenny McCarthy hosts A Night of Hope to help those affected by autism

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

eschelkopf@shawmedia.com GENEVA – Hotel Baker owner Rowena Salas said she was honored that celebrity Jenny McCarthy and singer/ actor Donnie Wahlberg picked the St. Charles hotel as the setting for their wedding last year.

On Friday night, she was one of 150 guests at A Night of Hope, a benefit held at Oscar Swan Country Inn in Geneva to raise money for Generation Rescue, an organization designed to provide hope, information and immediate treatment assistance to families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Her son, Evan, was diagnosed with autism in 2005.

McCarthy is president of the organization, and Salas become a member of the board of directors earlier this year. McCarthy hosted Friday’s event, which was sold out.

“I have a nephew who was diagnosed with autism,” said Salas, who owns the Hotel Baker in St. Charles with her husband, Joe. “It’s very close to my heart because of my sister’s journey. He’s now 19 and doing well.”

They co-chaired Friday’s event with Karen and Ed

its, lab testing, nutritional counseling and dietary supplements,” McDonald said. “It helps them get over the obstacle of how expensive it is in the beginning to get treatment.

We’re here to help improve the quality of life for children and adults affected with autism.”

On average, the organization supports 40,000 families a year, she said.

“The great thing about tonight’s event and some of our other ones is that we put the money back into the community,” McDonald said. “All the applicants who apply from Illinois get to the top of the list for the proceeds raised here tonight.”

McCarthy has been a great help to in furthering Generation Rescue’s mission, McDonald said.

Joe Perez for Shaw Media “Autism wasn’t a houseCelebrity and St. Charles resident Jenny McCarthy (left) and her husband, actor/singer Donnie Wahlberg, hold word until she came out attended A Night of Hope at Oscar Swan Country Inn in Geneva to benefit Generation Rescue, which sup- and spoke about it,” McDonald ports families affected by autism. McCarthy, president of Generation Rescue, hosted the event. said.

The second season of the French. The event also fea- recently bought a house in St. grants to families in need, A&E docuseries “Donnie tured a live auction featuring Charles, according to the show Generation Rescue Executive Loves Jenny ” is underway. such items as a New Kids On “Donnie Loves Jenny.”

Director Candace McDonald The Block signed guitar and a Generation Rescue pro- said.

See BENEFIT, page 10 visit on the set of CBS’ series v i d e s m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t “They pay for doctor vis“Blue Bloods” in New York City. Wahlberg is a member of New Kids On The Block and stars in “Blue Bloods.”

McCarthy and her husband

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KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

|KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE

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the Abbey Church at 850 Butterfield Road, Aurora. The Office of the Dead will be prayed at 6:30 p.m.

Visitation will continue on Wednesday, September 2, from 8:00 a.m. until the Funeral Mass which will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the Marmion Abbey Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled

by The Daleiden Mortuary, 220 N. Lake St., Aurora, 630-631-5500 or visit our interactive website at www.daleidenmortuary.com where you may leave condolences for Fr. Mario’s family.

SALLY J. WALKER Born: Nov. 14, 1934 Died: Aug. 25, 2015

Sally J. Walker passed away peacefully at the age of 80, after a 10 week battle with cancer. She was a resident of Geneva, and Ranch Cucamonga, California. Sally was born the youngest of three children to Art and Alleen Houle.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dale Walker.

She is survived by her daughters, Jana (Chuck) Mycoff and Denise Hansen; her grandchildren, Chaz (Kristin) Mycoff, Kayla Mycoff and Krista Hansen; her brothers, Mort and Terry Houle.

Services will be held Monday, August 31, 2015 at Faith Baptist Church of Mill Creek, 1S455 S Mill Creek Dr, Geneva, IL 60134. Visitation 11:00 am, Celebration of Life 12:00 Noon, followed by a luncheon at the church.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Corey A. Briggs: Visitation will be Fred R. Dillingham: A celebration held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. of life visitation will be held from Saturday, Aug. 29, at Moss Family 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave., Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia. At 12:30 p.m., the funeral Batavia Ave., Batavia. will leave in procession to Bethle- Robert J. Hanlon: Graveside serhem Lutheran Church, 1145 N. Fifth vices with military honors will be Ave., St. Charles, to begin a funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the service at 1 p.m. The Rev. Mark Lawrence Cemetery, De Pere.

Larson will officiate. Interment Kenneth B. Louderback: Visitation will follow the funeral at River Hills will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Memorial Park in Batavia.

Aug. 30, at Yurs Funeral Home, Jack R. Daly: Graveside services will 405 E. Main St., St. Charles. be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 31, at St. Mark’s 1, at Resurrection Cemetery in GeLutheran Church, 101 S. Sixth St., neva. Visitation will be held from St. Charles, with a short visitation 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Yurs immediately before the service.

Funeral Home in St. Charles.

Leon M. McPherson: The services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 320 Franklin St., Geneva.

Salle A. Stead: The visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service Saturday, Aug. 29, at The Calvary Episcopal Church, 222 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia.

Interment will be private.

Sally J. Walker: Services will be held Monday, Aug. 31, at Faith Baptist Church of Mill Creek, 1S455 Mill Creek Drive, Geneva. Visitation will be at 11 a.m.

Celebration of life will be at noon, followed by a luncheon at the church.

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• Saturday, August 29, 2015

Jersey (1971-73), Fieldstone School, New York City (1974-76), Born: Nov. 2, 1926 served as rector of St. Edward’s Died: Aug. 28, 2015 Hall, University of Notre Dame (1976-86). During his years at Father Mario Notre Dame he was well known for Pedi, O.S.B., age his hospitality and for the personal 88, a Benedictine contacts he maintained with stumonk of Marmion dents after graduation.

Abbey, Aurora, Father Mario served as pastor Illinois, died peacefully in the Lord on of Annunciation Church, Aurora, Illinois, from 1986-2009. As pastor Aug. 28, 2015.

He is survived by members of his he oversaw the restoration of monastic community, his brothers, the church’s interior and added a number of new artistic works Roy (Patricia) and John (Roberta); his sister, Marianne (George) Wohn; including a rendering of the Annunciation on the facade of the church nieces, Debbie Pedi, Beverly (Jim) Crupi, Laura (Joe) Ruddy, Kim Kane, and an outdoor Way of the Cross in the parish cemetery. He also Terrie Foster; nephews, Stephen Foster and Brian, David and Michael introduced the celebration of the Wohn; as well as many great neph- Luminary Mass in the cemetery each fall. ews and nieces.

After his retirement from active He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Mary (Brocato); ministry in 2009 he returned to Marmion Abbey. During his final brothers, Sal and Philip; and niece, years, Father Mario remained Virginia Wohn.

Father Mario was born on Novem- faithful to daily prayer with his monastic community and to his ber 2, 1926, and was baptized as priestly pastoral ministry at local Stephen at St. Bernardine Parish, Forest Park Illinois. Upon graduation parishes.

Throughout his life, Father Mario from Proviso High School in 1945 deeply loved the priesthood and his he studied at Loyola University monastic community. When living and St. Procopius College. After entering Marmion Abbey in 1952, he away from the abbey, he would always make a point to return there professed his first vows and took for retreats, funerals and other the name of Mario in honor of the special events. He was noted as Blessed Virgin Mary. He made his solemn monastic profession August a man who liked a good joke, was 10, 1956 and was ordained a priest very close to his family and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin May 11, 1957.

Mary. He will be deeply missed by From 1957-1971 Father Mario served at Marmion Military Acade- his family, monastic community, my as an instructor, commandant, parishioners and his many friends.

Father Mario’s body will be reand librarian. From 1968 - 1971 ceived by his monastic community he served as Principal of the Lake Street Campus of the Academy. and family on Tuesday, September Beginning in 1971 Father Mario 1, at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will be taught at Delbarton School, New from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in

LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

OBITUARIES FR. MARIO PEDI, O.S.B.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| LOCAL NEWS

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Recent episode featured McCarthy at Swedish Days festival • BENEFIT

Continued from page 6 It deals with the couple’s move from New York City to St. Charles. “Donnie Loves Jenny ” follows McCarthy and Wahlberg from their wedding at Hotel Baker in St. Charles in August 2014 through their lives as newlyweds.

McCarthy was raised in the

Chicago area. She had previously rented a house in Geneva.

This week’s episode featured a scene of McCarthy and her son at the carnival during the Swedish Days festival in Geneva in June.

“They asked for permission to film,” said Laura Rush, communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the fes-

tival.

Rush wasn’t at the festival during the filming. But she said her brother, Mike Landberg, who is from Minnesota,

was at the carnival at the time of the filming.

“He texted me and asked what was going on,” Rush said.

“He saw her from a distance.”

Rush said she was happy that businesses like Oscar Swan Country Inn are getting additional exposure because of McCarthy.

BATAVIA

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

eschelkopf@shawmedia.com

Go to KCChronicle. com to watch a video associated with this story ley was worried about the expense.

“I would love to see all-day kindergarten come back ... but maybe this is not the right time to be looking at it,” Bleakley said.

Newkirk told school board members that offering halfday kindergarten is a mandate in the state, but that attendance is not required until a child turns 6 years old.

He said that Batavia’s school district was one of the first in the area to offer a full-day kindergarten option.

However, because of budget cuts and a contentious lottery system for determining who received the option of full-day kindergarten, the program was changed to a fee-based program, then eventually dropped, Newkirk said.

Newkirk is expected to give board members his findings about all-day kindergarten at their Jan. 26 board meeting.

Snakes helpful against disease • GOOD NATURED

Continued from page 4 They can also help control the spread of disease. Have you ever heard that Europe’s Black Death could have been mitigated, if only the continent had more rodent-eating snakes? Put in more recent terms, snakes may be one of our best allies in the fight against Lyme disease – a serious ailment spread by ticks

that parasitize mice.

“More snakes equals fewer pests, which equals less illness, details at 10.” Now there’s a lead story I’d love to see.

• Pam Erickson Otto is the manager of nature programs and interpretive services at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, a facility of the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at 630-513-4346 or potto@stcparks.org.

• Saturday, August 29, 2015

BATAVIA – Batavia School District 101 Chief Academic Officer Brad Newkirk will look at the cost of reinstituting all-day kindergarten within the district.

Batavia School Board members this week directed Newkirk to continue to gather more information on what it would cost, as well as instituting an expanded preschool program. School board members discussed the topic at Tuesday’s meeting.

The Batavia Park District currently works with the school district to present a tuition-based kindergarten enrichment program. The school board in 2012 voted to retool the district’s kindergarten program, including partnering with the school district to provide an extended-day kindergarten program.

“We are still hearing from the community that they would like all-day kindergarten,” Batavia School Board President Cathy Dremel said.

Board member Sue Locke said she would like all-day kindergarten, “but I don’t want other programs going away.”

Board member Tina Bleak-

On the Web

LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

District 101 to revisit all-day kindergarten

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| COVER STORY

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‘It’s hard to manage that population’ Advocates aim to keep mentally ill out of jail

By BRENDA SCHORY

bschory@shawmedia.com

T

he Kane County Treatment Alternative Court is in session from 2:30 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday in Associate Judge T. Clint Hull’s courtroom, 311.

The program, which started in 2006, is for people with mental illness who have been arrested. Its intent is to support them through diagnosis and therapy and keep them out of jail, Hull said – but it can serve only 20 people at a time.

“The cap is in place just because of how intensive the process is,” Hull said. “Everybody wants to try to serve more, and there is definitely a need, but not the resources at present time.”

Some Kane County residents who suffer from mental illness get arrested if their behavOn the Web ri ourp tiisv ed iosrdangerous, Visit advocates KCChronicle. said. That com to view a can happen video of T. Clint when loHull discussing cal mental Treatment health proAlternative Court viders do not for the mentally ill have enough in Kane County. state money to meet their needs.

Because of Illinois’ financial woes, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed fiscal 2016 budget contains additional cuts to mental health services.

This is the second of a twopart series looking at the challenges.

Treatment Alternative Court monitors those in its

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Associate Judge T. Clint Hull presides over Treatment Alternative Court at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.

What is mental illness?

• A mental illness is a medical condition that impacts a person’s thinking, feeling or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others or function on a daily basis.

• Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder.

• Research suggests multiple, interlinking causes for mental illness, such as genetics, environment and lifestyle.

• Mental illness is a biologically based brain disorder that cannot

be overcome through will power and is unrelated to a person’s character or intelligence.

• One in five adults experiences a mental health condition every year and one in 20 suffer from a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Family, friends and communities also are affected.

• Mental illness can affect a person of any age, race, religion or income and is not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing.

• The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly

effective. From 70 percent to 90 percent have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of medication and psychosocial treatments and supports.

• The World Health Organization has reported that four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S. and other developed countries are mental disorders. By 2020, major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.

Sources: National Association for the Mentally Ill and the Kane County Mental Health Council

program, where they are seen in court every week. But they also are getting treatment and with service providers seeing them, Hull said. Even the program coordinator does home visits, he said.

“The supervision and contact is so great, it’s really hard for them to have a tough time with so many supporting them

in different directions,” Hull said. “It has to be labor intensive up front.”

Part of the process is to get participants stabilized, figure out what medications they need and get them to take their medications consistently, Hull said. Most rely on public transportation to get to their psychiatrist appointments – and

if they miss a session, it takes another month before they are seen.

But Hull sees hope amid the current funding crisis for mental health services through a push for national awareness, and to end the stigma of mental illness.

“I’ve been part of criminal justice as a prosecutor or a

judge since 1993,” Hull said.

“I have never seen such a push to focus on the needs of the mentally ill. Despite funding issues, I’m really really encouraged to see the focus the problem is getting and response the community has to it. In my entire time, I have never seen such a focus on trying to help them versus just incarceration.”

So many with mental illness go to the Kane County Jail that the sheriff’s office lists them in monthly reports to the Kane County Board.

In June, for example, 82 out of a jail population of 512, or 16 percent, reported having mental illness, with 23 on suicide watch, according to a corrections report.

“Primarily, we are talking about inmates that are taking some kind of drugs for a medical condition, which would be considered a mental health issue,” Kane County Sheriff Don Kramer said. “Twenty-five percent of 500 inmates that have a psychological problem – it’s hard to manage that population.”

By BRENDA SCHORY

bschory@shawmedia.com One of the issues the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County focuses on is access to mental health services, as the county itself has no specific budget for mental health.

“With mental health treatment being coordinated from different sites in the county, it is essential that no areas are excluded,” League Vice President Jean Pierce of Geneva said.

Pierce said a 2007 study found that there did not seem to be a clear entry point for those seeking mental

health services. “ ‘I have depression. Who do I call? Where do I start?’ ” Pierce said.

“With managed care and insurance, you go where your insurance pays, but there is still this lack of coordination.”

When people with mental illness do not get treatment and support, some start ending up in jail and returning over and over again, she said.

A new group, Fox River Valley Initiative, has emerged to try to address the issues of helping mentally ill inmates so they don’t go back to jail.

Geneva resident William Scown

provided by either the Ecker Center for Mental Health at the northern end of the county or the Association for Individual Development at the southern end, he said.

The Fox River Valley Initiative envisions a system that when people with mental illness end up in the jail – they get diagnosed, a treatment plan, insurance and get set up to receive mental health services, physical health services and social services before they come out of jail, Scown said.

“So they don’t end up going back immediately or [to] hospital emergency rooms on a recurring basis, like they do now,” Scown said.

A third of mentally ill inmates return to jail at least once in the next year, and 65 percent of them will return to jail at least once over a seven-year period, Scown said.

Scown said the Fox River Valley Initiative is planning to host a meeting this fall where it would invite County Board members and law enforcement to discuss how to implement such an initiative.

Kramer said caring for those with mental illness is a large drain on the jail’s health services. And although psychological services are provided by staff during the day, it is a problem if any mentally ill inmates have an episode at night, he said.

Although jail officers are well trained, Kramer said he is looking into getting 20 percent of them additional training in crisis intervention.

Kramer said he also was looking at creating a post-release program for people with mental health issues to follow up when they leave jail.

This would include helping them get home and keeping their appointments with the Association for Individual Development or the Ecker Center for Mental Health.

“It’s definitely a concern for us,” Kramer said.

••• The state is cutting its budget for psychiatric service contracts and agencies such as Ecker Center and the Association for Individual Development – which serve people without insurance – are wondering what they are going to do.

Ecker Center Executive Director Karen Beyer said without the contracts for psychiatry services, people will not get medications and will not be able to participate in therapy. She said she is afraid they will end up homeless, arrested and in jail.

How they help The following is a list of services that the Ecker Center for Mental Health provides for people with mental illness: • Emergency mental health assessment and assistance 24/7 • Problem focused therapy • Advocacy, referral and linkage to needed services • Psychosocial rehabilitation • An intensive outpatient program • Psychiatric residential facilities • Case management services to assist with housing, food, transportation, public assistance, financial and vocational services, living skills training, advocacy, counseling and outreach • Access to Genoa Healthcare, an independent pharmacy inside of the Ecker Center building at 1845 Grandstand Place, Elgin.

• Services available in English, Spanish and several other languages • Subsidized services are available to those living in northern Kane County or Hanover or Barrington townships in Cook County • Intake specialists available from 1 to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday without an appointment

• Psychiatric emergency by calling or at the emergency room of Advocate Sherman Hospital The following is a list of services that the Association for Individual Development provides for people with mental illness: • Behavioral health • Crisis and community outreach • Outpatient mental health services • Psychological evaluations • Residential mental health • The Living Room, a mental health crisis respite program alternative to hospital emergency rooms • Individual and group counseling • Managing symptoms of mental illness • Assistance with obtaining Medicaid, Social Security and other benefits, and links and referrals to other community services • Psychosocial rehabilitation to help people develop skills they need for daily living and for recovering from a mental illness.

Sources: Websites for the Association for Individual Development and the Ecker Center for Mental Health

That also is a real concern for Denise Edwards of Geneva, who is executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Her office is located at Mercy Hospital in Aurora.

“We are not going to be able to get enough money from the private sector only,” Edwards said. “We need our state to get behind mental health and understand the importance of this – and understand – if we don’t spend money on prevention and treatment that their goals of cutting back the number

of people in jails – they won’t be able to reach it because those numbers will increase if we don’t have enough funding for treatment.”

Edwards and other advocates say cutting state spending on mental health services is not going to save money in the long run.

“We also know if we can give people treatment early, prognosis is improved. That can save money as well,” Edwards said. “Without treatment, they are just cycling down to jails and homelessness.

We can save tremendous dollars if

we keep mentally ill people off the streets and out of the jails.”

One case in point is Cynthia Firtik, who said she has been treated for major depression since she was 23.

The 45-year-old South Elgin resident credits the psychiatrist she sees at the Ecker Center for Mental Health with getting her on the right medications, and for helping her receive the ongoing support she gets at the Elgin facility.

“I have not gone to the hospital since 2009,” Firtik said. “Before that, I was going to Rush [University Medical Center in Chicago] twice a year for admission and medication.”

Before the Ecker Center worked with her, Firtik said it took 10 years to get the right medication.

Firtik has a graduate degree in library science but said she can no longer work because of her mental illness. She is on Social Security disability, but said she volunteers as a peer recovery support therapist at the Ecker Center to help others with similar struggles.

“It’s been a long road,” Firtik said. “I was in really, really bad shape before I started coming in here. My sister was told to put me in a nursing home. My symptoms are now manageable. I live alone.

I’m fully functional, and it’s important that my psychiatrist through Ecker be maintained. I have a wonderful doctor here – he listens to me like I’m a person.”

CLOSER LOOK

The Kane County Chronicle is taking a closer look at local mental health services in a two-day series. This is part two of a twopart series.

FRIDAY: Mental health advocates and agencies discuss their struggle to help those with mental illness in the face of declining state funding.

TODAY: A look at how local advocates and agencies help those with mental illness, including information about Treatment Alternative Court, which strives to keep mentally ill people out of jail.

• Saturday, August 29, 2015

State cutting its budget for psychiatric service contracts, agencies

13 COVER STORY | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

League, new group seek more support for mental health services

said he is volunteer coordinator for mental health projects for the group, which was started about two years ago.

The Kane group is a spinoff of a similarly named organization, Fox River Valley Initiative – DuPage United, Scown said, and both are affiliates of the Industrial Areas Foundation, which is the nation’s largest and longest-standing network of local faith and community-based organizations.

“We are working on a couple of different projects to improve mental health services in Kane and the collar counties,” Scown said. “One is the expansion of crisis intervention training for police and other first responders such as firefighters and paramedics. We are basically lobbyists for it, helping to organize it and lobbying for financial support from government and private money.”

Scown said the group’s other big project is re-entry services for people coming out of the county jail.

This would involve instituting case management services to be

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| LOCAL NEWS

14

ST. CHARLES

Adults, juvenile charged in ‘one-night crime spree’

By ASHLEY SLOBODA

asloboda@shawmedia.com ST. CHARLES – A “onenight crime spree” on the city’s southeast side in June has resulted in multiple felony charges against a juvenile and two men, St. Charles Deputy Police Chief David Kintz said.

Joshua Michael Almodovar, 24, of the 1600 block of Riverside Avenue, St. Charles, and Juan Carlos Medina, 20, of the 34W700 block of South James Drive, St. Charles Township, were each charged in July with one count of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and five counts of burglary to a motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony.

A 17-year-old boy from unincorporated St. Charles was referred to juvenile court with the same charges, Kintz said.

In the overnight hours of June 15, the trio went “car hopping,” which is slang for burglarizing vehicles, Kintz said. He said the “seemingly harmless term” has “a little

LOCAL BRIEF

Geneva man charged with aggravated domestic battery

GENEVA – A Geneva man is being held on $30,000 bond in the Kane County Jail on a charge of aggravated domestic battery – a felony – records show.

Thomas L. Vaughn, 35, was charged Aug. 18. According to police reports, he allegedly pushed the victim to the floor, put his Thomas L. hands around her Vaughn neck and began choking her.

The charge carries a punishment of three to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.

Vaughn’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 8.

– Kane County Chronicle

more consequence when you put the correct label to it.”

Only Class X – the class for homicide – is higher than the felony classes issued in this case, he said.

Kintz deJoshua scribed the stoMichael len items as “all Almodovar miscellaneous things” – keys, cellphone chargers, flashlights, an iPass, a handicap placard, a bag and cash.

No high-dolJuan Carlos lar items were Medina taken, he said, adding, “this time anyway.”

The charge of residential burglary stems from them

entering a car inside of an attached garage, Kintz said.

The trio put their loot in a bag, which they left behind after they got into an argument at one of their houses and were told to leave by a parent, Kintz said.

Police were called and found the bag, he said. He said police matched the stolen items to their owners as people reported the burglaries the next day.

Kintz said there was a lag between the burglaries and the arrests because police had to link the bag to Medina, Almodovar and the juvenile.

“It took some time to work this one,” he said.

Online records Friday indicated Almodovar and Medina remained at the Kane County Jail on $40,000 and $30,000 bond, respectively.

15

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| LOCAL NEWS

16

GENEVA

LivingWell Cancer Resource Center to celebrate 10 years

By BRENDA SCHORY

bschory@shawmedia.com GENEVA – LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva will mark its 10th anniversary Tuesday with a celebration including its volunteers, affiliated physicians and those who have been served there.

The event will include a food truck, ice cream, face painting, a bouncy house and children’s activities.

Executive director Nancy Vance said she is anticipating an attendance of about 600 people.

“We have quite a big base.

We invited all our participants, our providers, our medical partners,” Vance said. “Our staff members have a presence at 15 hospital systems – patients need [support] the most when they are in treatment. We get referrals from 19 hospitals and 26 oncol-

ogy practices.”

Vance said the event will include a toast at 6 p.m. “to thank our 500 volunteers who donate time and talent to make us who we are.”

Living Well offers 75 programs and services at no charge to cancer patients and their families, including sessions on yoga, nutrition, stress reduction and treatment education, as well as support groups.

Vance said the center grows by 20 percent every year, breaking a record this year of 20,000 visits to programs, with 400 people walking through the doors every week.

“We’d love to go out of business,” Vance said. “We’d love to not have to be here. But as long as there is cancer, it’s good that we are here. Half of all men and a third of all women will get a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.”

LOCAL BRIEF Part of Route 25 to be closed next week

Northbound traffic on Route 25 will be detoured at Route 64 and directed to Kirk Road. SouthAs part of the Illinois Debound traffic on Route 25 will be partment of Transportation’s directed south on Dunham Road. ongoing construction project, Gilbert Street will be closed at portions of Route 25/Stearns Middle Street.

Road between Dunham Road Local access on Gilbert Street and Route 25/Stearns Road will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., will be maintained as far as from Monday through Wednes- Center Street.

Traffic will be restored to day, to allow for railroad bridge normal configurations during the work, according to a news daytime hours of 6 a.m. to 8:30 release. p.m. each day during this schedA posted detour will route vehicles around the project site uled work, the release states.

Any questions or concerns may using Route 64, Route 25, Kirk Road and Dunham Road, accord- be directed to Tom Costello of the Illinois Department of ing to the release.

Transportation at 224-281-4126.

More specifically, westFor all Kane County Traffic Advibound traffic on Stearns will sories, visit www.co.kane.il.us/ be directed south on Dunham.

Eastbound traffic on Stearns will dot/trafficalerts/Default.aspx.

– Kane County Chronicle be directed south on Route 25.

Recover y is ever ywhere.

17

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| LOCAL NEWS

18

McMahon seeks 2nd term as Kane County state’s attorney

By ASHLEY SLOBODA

asloboda@shawmedia.com Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon hopes he can continue doing a job he loves.

And so this week he announced he will seek his second full term in 2016.

“I love going to work every day,” McMahon said Friday.

“I love my job, and I’d love to keep doing it.”

McMahon was appointed to the position in 2010 after his predecessor, John Barsanti, left to become a judge. He ran unopposed in 2012 as a Republican.

His goals include being tough on violent crime and using a smart approach to low-level and nonviolent conduct, he said.

LOCAL BRIEF

CEO Unplugged at Grand Victoria Casino

ELGIN – The next CEO Unplugged, an Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce event, is set for Wednesday in the Fox River Room of the Grand Victoria Casino pavilion, 250 S. Grove

He noted he is “incredibly proud” of the work his team does on the pre-trial diversion proJoe gram, which McMahon gives offenders of certain crimes a second chance while being held accountable. The program lets them return to being a productive member of society instead of sitting in jail or prison, thus becoming a burden on taxpayers, McMahon said.

He referenced a recent study that found the diversion program for nonviolent first-time offenders has a 92 percent success rate. The results reaffirmed his belief that a lot of good people make poor

Ave., Elgin.

Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon begins at noon. Cost is $20 a member and $25 for guests. Chiropractor Clare Ollayos is the scheduled speaker.

– Kane County Chronicle

choices, he said.

Since becoming state’s attorney, his office has come under budget every year, which “shows that we’ve been

responsible with the resources that have been provided to us,” McMahon said.

He said he would continue that fiscal responsibility in

another term.

McMahon is the first candidate to publicly announce that he is seeking the position in the 2016 election.

BOARD

Jim Ringness General Manager

Kathy Balcazar Editor

Al Lagattolla News Editor

Kevin Druley Sports Editor

Kara Silva Features Editor

ANOTHER VIEW

Maybe there is a way to create good jobs again

By NOAH SMITH Bloomberg View

The average American worker is confronting a number of problems right now – stagnant income, an overhang of debt from the housing bubble, the high cost of college and the replacement of pension plans with high-fee, low-return 401(k) plans.

But few would deny that one huge challenge is economic insecurity.

Political scientist Jacob Hacker’s 2006 book, “The Great Risk Shift,” discusses how many risks that were once borne by companies are now shouldered by individuals. That is probably an inevitable result of the transition from corporatism to neoliberal shareholder capitalism that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s.

Basically, the era of “good jobs” is a memory for most workers. Private-sector unionization is disappearing, average job tenure has plunged and benefits have been cut.

Now people are beginning to worry that a new wave of technological change will erode job security even more. Information technology facilitates outsourcing, so that much more work can be divided among armies of independent contractors instead of done within large companies. Many believe that this will kill off what little security corporate jobs still provide, leaving us as permanent temps in a “gig economy.”

“The number for the category of jobs mostly performed by part-time freelancers or part-time independent contractors, according to Economic Modeling Specialists Intl., a labor market analytics firm, grew to 32 million from just over 20 million between 2001 and 2014, rising to almost 18 percent of all jobs. ... .”

So what should the United States do about outsourcing and the gig economy? As Allison Schrager writes in Quartz, existing laws are set up to favor corporate jobs. There is, for instance, a tax deduction for employer-provided health insurance. If that

THE FIRST

AMENDMENT

deduction were removed, the money could be used to provide bigger health care subsidies for all Americans, including independent contractors and entrepreneurs.

Unemployment insurance could even be supplemented or replaced with a system of government-subsidized wage insurance, for when large recessions force down the wages of independent workers.

But turning the gig economy into a good deal for workers doesn’t just require government policies, it demands a cultural shift. Technology is taking away one big benefit of the old corporatist economy – security – but in its place it’s giving us something we had almost forgotten how to value.

It’s giving us independence.

In the pre-industrial U.S. economy of the 1700s and early 1800s, much of the work (other than farming) was done by skilled artisans who sold their own products – basically, they were independent contractors. In “Battle Cry of Freedom,” historian James McPherson describes how, in the very early days of the U.S.’s Industrial Revolution, wage labor was widely seen as a threat to freedom – a form of slavery lite.

The outsourcing economy might change things for the better. When you’re an independent contractor, or an entrepreneur, you’re selling your labor in much more of a free market.

You don’t have bosses – you have customers. If you don’t like one of your customers, you can usually “fire” that customer without losing all of your income streams.

In a way, this will make our society a more equal one, since it will replace vertical management hierarchies with horizontal webs of contracts among equals. The gig economy probably won’t create greater income equality, but it will almost certainly increase status equality.

• Noah Smith is an assistant professor of finance at Stony Brook University and a freelance writer.

OUR VIEW

Gridiron gleefulness returns Happy high school football season.

Yup, the phenomenon warrants holiday salutation treatment, too.

It’s not just reserved for Texas anymore.

Friday brought kickoff for most teams in the Kane County Chronicle coverage area, offering the chance for school communities to renew acquaintances with the young men they’ll support for at least the next eight weeks. A potential five-game odyssey called the playoffs beckons after that, extending all the way past another famed American celebration, Thanksgiving.

Whatever the duration, we hope you enjoy the ride while embracing the intricacies of your locale. Holler when prompted to salute another Geneva … FIRST DOWN! Try to get as loud as public address announcer Rudy Dubis while in the HOME OF THE BATTLIN’ BULLDOGS, although that’s no easy task for a Batavian or any other Earthling.

Marching bands provide great accompaniment, too, trumpeting inspirational tunes for the Saints, North Stars, Vikings, Bulldogs, Knights, Cadets, Rockets and Spartans competing before them.

19 Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

OPINIONS

EDITORIAL

But please be cautious not to get completely consumed in the moment. Remember, these are teenagers, and even though their equipment might say Under Armor or Riddell, they aren’t the Bears. Those guys play on Sundays (or Thursdays or Mondays), and literally are trained professionals. As such, our parent company, Shaw Media, covers them with plenty of vigor at ChicagoFootball.com.

As always, you can expect that level of passion in the Chronicle’s 2015 football coverage, as well. Have you digested the special season preview tab inserted in Thursday’s paper? If not, please hop to. You’ll find scouting reports, portraits, rosters and schedules, as well as a feature highlighting the IHSA’s recent maneuvers to reduce live tackling in practice to promote increased player safety.

Yes, “hooray” isn’t the only word when it comes to ringing in the new year. As with any holiday, there’s always that reminder to celebrate without overdoing it.

High school football certainly offers lots to love at face value. Season’s greetings.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| LOCAL NEWS

20

SOUND OFF Kindness is greatly appreciated

I am grateful to the gentlemen who helped me look at my car and to call my husband when my car would not start at Aldi on Monday. This kindness is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Informative, interesting and entertaining

I would like to thank Chief Dan Hoffman, Officer Steve Millar and Dan Hatt [with the] Campton Hills Police Department for sponsoring the Senior Citizen Police Academy. I found the academy to be informative, interesting and entertaining.

It was enlightening to understand how the community and local law enforcement can work together to reduce crime in our area. ... I live in Campton Hills.

I would rather be fat

I’m responding to the Sound Off “Fat and toxic,” that’s the one about the Republicans fighting to pollute the air.

Well, I just found out there’s Democrats – what have they done? They raised our health insurance premium big time.

The economy isn’t any better.

The gas prices are going up.

To go to [the] store used to be – for two people, for a week – about $78. Now it’s $180! “Freedom to be fat,” she mentioned. I would rather be fat than unemployed.

We do need change

On Donald Trump shooting his mouth off – he’s saying it how it is. He makes more sense than the other ... Republicans that are there. If Obama won twice, which he did, Trump can get in easy. We do need change and hope.

It’s so scary

I am responding to the Sound Off, “It can happen to you,” on pedicures. Yes, I had somebody do mine because I was going to a wedding. It was an open shoot time, and I needed my nails to be very nice. ... They used a razor to get rid of your

Sound Off guidelines n The Kane County Chronicle’s Sound Off number is 630-8455240. n Please speak clearly and slowly. Keep messages to a maximum of 60 seconds. n Callers may speak on topics anonymously. n Because of the volume of calls to our Sound Off line, please limit yourself to one call a week. n We will not print attacks of a personal nature or those accusing persons of crimes or illegal conduct that have not been previously published or documented. n We will not print calls commenting on signed Letters to the Editor. n We reserve the right to edit comments for obscene, libelous and otherwise inappropriate comments, as well as for space considerations. n Sound Off comments are the opinions of our readers and, as such, should not be taken as fact.

callus. I had her stop. My foot doctor does that!

That’s not healthy! I mean, they should check on the pedicure places. I’ve been hearing such horror stories. ... It’s so scary!

Led by the nose

Hello, I’m responding to a comment from your obviously Fox News, led-by-the-nose reader in [a recent] Sound Off. Listen, friend, the reason that the other stations didn’t show the debate is because Fox News had the [exclusive on] this one. And if you notice, they didn’t even show it on free TV; they only showed it on cable TV so most people couldn’t even see it.

That was Fox News’ decision, not the other stations. The next one can be shown on CNN. Will we hear from you about how now Fox News is ignoring the Republicans? I bet not, because they’ll have you led by the nose again. It scares me to realize that we have people in our community like you who know so little, and yet you are allowed to vote for people who don’t even take your own best interest to heart. But

perhaps next you should inform yourself. As to why it wasn’t covered too much in the papers the next morning, there is such as thing as a deadline that the newspapers have to reach in order to get the newspaper printed and on your step at 4 o’clock in the morning.

It makes it pretty difficult to cover items that happen late in the day. Did you ever notice that late sports usually aren’t covered?

What is different?

Somebody told me today that Ted Cruz was born in Canada, but it was still possible for him to be the president because his mother was born in the USA. If all of this is true, why didn’t it work the same way for Obama? Nobody ever disputed the fact that his mother was born here. I hope that isn’t true, because that would certainly look and sound racist.

They should be removed

Just kind of wondering why the yellow and purple ribbons are still all over Campton Hills since the girl was found within a few days. They should be removed. Maybe the folks who put them all up would volunteer.

The most famous community organizer

The president’s big claim that he brought to the table – he is a community organizer. What the heck is that? Who could fall for that? Yet, we fell for it twice, and now we are going to pay for it twice over.

President Barack Obama is the most famous community organizer to date. Can you name any others and their accomplishments? Of course, had you been watching Fox News, you would know the answer to that.

Look at what he has done

I can’t believe that George Bush is still having such an impact on the economy as he is. Look at what he has done to the stock market.

PREP FOOTBALL

BIG FIRST HALF LEADS NORTH

Junior RB’s 3 TDs provide spark

By CHRIS CASEY

ccasey@shawmedia.com ST. CHARLES – St. Charles North football coach Rob Pomazak looked up at the scoreboard during a postgame interview Friday to see the final score erased. What remained was the number one on North’s side and a zero on the visitors side.

“I’ll take that ... any day of the week,” Pomazak said. “We came in wanting to win and we got it done.”

North was led by junior running back Eric Lins’ three first-half touchdowns as the North Stars accomplished their Week 1 goal by beating Schaumburg, 30-15.

Lins finished with 13 carries on 89 yards, although he only ran the ball three times in the second half.

“I have to give all the credit to my offensive line,” Lins said. “They gave me great holes to run through and I need to buy them breakfast.

Also, our offensive tempo kind of sped things up and I think the defense might have gotten tired there in the first half.”

The North Stars (1-0) led, 30-3, at halftime, but were outscored,12-0, in the second half.

Pomazak didn’t necessarily think complacency at halftime played a part, but rather Schaumburg came out strong and showed that it could compete and were a strong football team.

Pomazak knew the North Stars accomplished their weekly goal and saw some good things and some things that need work, but 1-0 is exactly how he wanted to leave the school Friday night.

“I thought we played a really great first half and the second half is going to be the important part moving forward,” Pomazak said. “We can

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

St. Charles North’s Niko Smolinski (16) and Blake Saltsman (44) celebrate Friday night in the first half of the game against Schaumburg.

Stars offense clearly wore down the Saxons (0-1) on the defensive end and gave Lins STC NORTH 30 and company even more room to run.

Up next: STC North at Bartlett, 2 Junior quarterback Zach p.m. Saturday Mettetal provided a dual threat, finding success with both his feet and arm.

More online Mettetal finished with 208 total yards, 171 of which came Log on to KCChronicle.com for through the air. He threw his video highlights from St. Charles only touchdown of the night North’s 30-15 win over Schaumburg at the end of the first half to 6-foot-4 junior wide receiver on Friday.

Griffin Hammer.

The defense looked good see what went wrong and that for most of the night before gives us really good film this the Saxons scored a couple of coming week. It gives us an op- touchdowns to make the game portunity to see where we can a little closer score-wise than get better.” the game actually was.

The tempo of the North “Our goal for the week was

SCHAUMBURG 15

1-0 and that’s what we are,” defensive back and team captain Jake Spaniol said. “We did some good things but it’s Week 1 ... you know? There’s going to be things that need work. Overall, I think we played well. The good thing is that the things that need work are things that can improve with watching film and experience out there; 1-0 man. It feels good.”

With the slow-moving second half, the North Stars were outgained on the night, 359-311 in total yards, and one thing that made the second half more difficult for North was the escapability of Schaumburg quarterback Justin Perez.

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound junior kept several broken

plays alive and made things happen with his feet all night, but especially in the second half. His fourth-quarter threeyard touchdown cut the North Stars’ lead to 30-15, the eventual final score.

At the end of Friday night, Lins walked away with a smile on his face, as did most of the North Stars leaving the field.

But are the North Stars the first-half team that scored 30 points and looked to run Schaumburg out of the game or the second-half team that looked tired and let the Saxons back into the game?

“No doubt the first-half team,” Lins said with a smile.

“This win excites us and we want more. This is what we wanted and we got it.”

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

SPORTS

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Have some sports news?

Contact Sports Editor Kevin Druley at 630-845-5347 or at kdruley@shawmedia.com.

23 | KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

| SPORTS

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Sturdy Chambers steers Vikings

By KEVIN DRULEY

kdruley@shawmedia.com GENEVA – Geneva sold out of its inventory of football seat cushions just a few minutes into Friday’s second quarter.

Turns out the player prompting Vikings’ fans to rise from the bleachers most often arguably deserved the biggest breather.

Senior quarterback Sean Chambers, a Princeton recruit as a defensive back, plays both positions for Geneva, rotating in defensively when needed. In the season opener against West Aurora, he didn’t simply compete, but excelled.

Chambers keyed the Vikings’ 28-14 win with three touchdown passes and sturdy defensive play that helped the hosts maintain control throughout a cool, pleasant night – Chambers’ cramping notwithstanding.

“It was nice to be able to play on both sides, to keep working defense and everything,” Chambers said. “It’s kind of just key plays on defense, but it went great tonight. I’m just overwhelmed and overjoyed.”

Chambers displayed his offensive nimbleness on the night’s first play, connecting with classmate Jack Wassel for 12 yards on a play action rollout. While Wassel paced a deep corps of Vikings receivers and tight ends with six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown, he also kept seniors Ryan Skibinski and Brendan Hines involved, among others.

Perhaps that’s why the Geneva marching band, clad in new uniforms, played “With a Little Help From My Friends” as part of its Beatles tribute during halftime.

“What Sean’s doing really well is he’s getting it out there with his timing,” Vikings coach Rob Wicinski said.

“He’s going to do nothing but get better.”

From a few vocal fans’ point of view, officials certainly weren’t aiding the cause of fluidity, however.

Both teams were penalized seven times in what ultimately ended as a lumbering first

Geneva’s Sean Chambers advances the ball until run out of bounds by West Aurora’s DaQuan Cross on Friday in Geneva.

WEST AURORA 14 GENEVA

28

Up next: Geneva at-Richards, 7 p.m.

Friday half, with the Blackhawks whistled for 65 yards and Geneva hit for 61.

The second half wasn’t much better, with facemasks proving to be a particularly popular call. After a scoreless third quarter, West Aurora capitalized on an improved running attack and a handful of Geneva miscues to pull within 20-14 with 9:01 left.

Blackhawks fullback Jessie

“It was nice to be able to play on both sides, to keep working defense and everything. It’s kind of just key plays on defense, but it went great tonight. I’m just overwhelmed and overjoyed.”

Sean Chambers Geneva QB/DB

Martinez’s 10-yard touchdown run and the ensuing point after closed the gap, but West Aurora’s DaQuan Cross (nine carries, 156 yards) was especially effective.

Still, that the Vikings limited Cross to one touchdown amid non-scoring runs of 81

and 33 yards left the ‘D’ feeling good about its resiliency.

“We just locked down. We stayed disciplined,” senior defensive lineman Stephen Kemp said. “We did what we were trying to do. We just played better, you know.”

Chambers returned to his

Karen Naess for Shaw Media

early savvy down the stretch, leading a lengthy scoring drive that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run from Justin Taormina with 3:25 to play.

Taormina finished with 107 yards on 27 carries.

Chambers, who had 16 yards rushing, was 16 of 22 for 142 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

“This team’s full of surprises,” Chambers said. “A lot of kids really stepped up, made key plays. I’m excited to see what’s going to come in the future. I love everybody, everyone’s having a fun time.

That’s all that really matters.”

By KRISTIN SHARP

ksharp@shawmedia.com

• Saturday, August 29, 2015

OSWEGO – If last season taught the Batavia football team anything, it’s that a game against Oswego isn’t over until the final buzzer.

The Bulldogs tacked on a 20-yard field goal from freshman kicker Jack Carlson with 1:43 remaining to give Batavia a 36-28 lead over the Panthers in Friday night’s season opener.

Oswego drove to midfield on the final possession of the game, but senior quarterback Steven Frank’s lastchance pass was caught out of bounds at the Batavia 5 to end the game, leaving Batavia to celebrate the victory at Ken Pickerill Stadium in Oswego.

“This game was against two really good football teams to start the season. Highly-regarded and ranked. If you beat us, it’s going to be a really great football game,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said.

“I’m real proud of the kids and I couldn’t be happier for them. They deserve victories.

Last year’s team deserved to win that game. This was a fantastic football game.”

Oswego was the winner of a 40-38 decision in the 2014 season opener, another nail-biter.

Oswego was left shellshocked after Batavia scored three touchdowns in a span of 3:23 to take a commanding 20-0 lead early in the second quarter of play.

Batavia senior Zach Garrett capped off a 63-yard drive with his 11-yard touchdown run with 10:38 to go in the second quarter. Oswego fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Batavia recovered at the Panther 20. In one play, Garrett was in the end zone again for a 14-0 Bulldog lead. Batavia surprised the Oswego special teams unit with an onside kick, and the Bulldogs kept their offense running with the recovery on the Oswego 46.

Batavia needed only seven plays to punch in its third touchdown – a 7-yarder by Garrett. Oswego blocked the point-after for a 20-0 score.

“It was huge. It changed the whole momentum of the game,” Garrett said. “They thought it was going to be an

25 SPORTS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Batavia’s early explosion enough for win over Oswego

Steven Buyansky for Shaw Media

Batavia running back Zach Garrett (left) beats Oswego defenders and scores one of his second-quarter touchdowns Friday at Oswego High School.

BATAVIA

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OSWEGO

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Up next: South Elgin at Batavia, 7:30 p.m. Friday offensive shootout, but it was just a defensive battle in the first quarter. I have to give all the credit to my offensive line.”

The Bulldogs gave the Pan-

“It was huge. It changed the whole momentum of the game. They thought it was going to be an offensive shootout, but it was just a defensive battle in the first quarter. I have to give all the credit to my offensive line.”

Zach Garrett Batavia RB

thers another one-two punch

the third quarter, with quar-

with a pair of quick scores in

terback Kyle Niemiec con-

necting with Canaan Coffey for a 30-yard score before the Bulldogs defense intercepted Frank to set up another Niemiec-to-Coffey connection, this time from 11 yards out to give Batavia a 33-14 lead with 1:39 to play in the third.

Oswego scored on an 11yard touchdown pass from Frank to Conor Morton, and Frank ran in a 33-yarder in the third before connecting with Jacob Nalley for the final Oswego score.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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Marczuk, Knights Cadets’ resounding rally is key cruise past Brooks

By KEVIN BEESE

editorial@kcchronicle.com

By CHRIS WALKER

editorial@kcchronicle.com MAPLE PARK – Jake Marczuk had twice as many rushing touchdowns as he had incomplete passes during Kaneland’s season open ing nonconference victory against Brooks on Friday night at Peterson Field.

That wouldn’t necessarily be impressive, but Marczuk attempted 15 passes, and one of his incompletions was on a dropped ball.

The senior completed 13 passes, throwing for 193 yards, but did his most damage with is legs. He finished off several of the Knights’ drives, rushing for four touchdowns in the first half as Kaneland cruised to a 45-22 victory over Brooks.

Jake Marczuk “It’s really nice to have a little diversity,” Marczuk said. “We gave a good receiving core of kids that have a lot of experience and that experience led the way. So, it was awesome to see us have some diversity.”

Marczuk also rushed 13 times and collected 122 yards as the Knights frequently victimized the Eagles with the read-option with Zachary Parker, Jack Marshall and Jonathan Alstott.

“It’s something we’ve done for a while now, and Jake did it last year,” Knights coach Tom Fedderly said. “It was just about getting the young running backs going with it, and I thought Jake did a really nice job of reading what was going on.”

BROOKS

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KANELAND

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Up next: Kaneland at Lincoln-Way Central, 7:30 p.m. Friday Kaneland scored on its first five possessions of the game, as Marczuk had touchdown runs of 3, 12, 4 and 23 yards.Parker added a 2-yard score.

“We’re really happy with the way we came out in the first half,” Fedderly said. “I thought we played really well and really clean. I’m not sure how many penalties we had, but not any turnovers and that kind of stuff, which is something we’ve really emphasized.”

Meanwhile, the Knights forced three turnovers, getting interceptions from Steven Van Horn, Jack Eberhardt and Mitchel Groen.

Groen also led the Knight’ receivers with five receptions for 53 yards, while Tanner Robersen caught four passes for 70 yards.

The only time the Knights looked vulnerable was when Brooks threw the deep ball.

Brooks quarterback Brandon Simon connected with speedster Joseph Patterson for three touchdown passes, although two came in the fourth quarter when the game was all but over.

“I was really happy we got the win and every kid played so it was a great home game,” Fedderly said. “And, it was really nice, because for the first time in three years, we got the first game in on a Friday night.”

AURORA – The Marmion football team scored 24 unanswered points to top Plainfield Central, 24-14, on Friday.

The Cadets were sparked by two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a 47-yard pass from quarterback John Tate to running back Jett Haas. Tate, a St. Charles product, had 143 yards passing for Marmion.

Trailing 14-10 heading into the fourth quarter, the Cadets marched 77 yards in five plays to capture a lead they would never relinquish, creating important distance against a team that had not won since the 2012 season.

PLAINFIELD C. 14 MARMION

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Up next: Marmion at Guerin (Indiana), 5 p.m. Saturday In the game-winning drive, Tate hit Myles Schoonover and Julian Chaney on 19- and 12-yard pass plays, respectively, before the big strike to Haas.

After Marmion’s Ian Valaik recovered a fumble by Wildcats quarterback Marcus Hayes with 7:38 left to play, the Cadets found the end zone again, keyed by a flea flicker with running back Nick Sevenich throwing to a wide-open Brandon McPherson for a 46-

yard completion.

Tate used his legs for two big gains on the drive, including a 10-yard scamper into the end zone.

The Cadets fell behind Plainfield Central, 14-0, as the Wildcats kept the ball on the ground, running the ball 35 times in the first half alone. A touchdown run by Plainfield’s Adam Hayes was the only scoring play of the first quarter. A 21-yard pass from Hayes to Andrew Black had the Cadets on their heels trailing by two scores.

Tate got Marmion on the board with a 15-yard run with 5:51 to play in the first half.

Kicker Conner Hoeft hit a 25yard field goal for the Cadets with 14 seconds left in the half to close the gap to 14-10.

✓ Replace Windows Finish Your ✓ Paint the Kitchen “To-Do” List ✓ Clean the House to do it for you ✓ Repair Leaky Faucet Findinsomeone the Service Directory ✓ Everything Else of the classified section.

By JARED BIRCHFIELD

editorial@kcchronicle.com

27

B. CENTRAL

9

Up next: Dixon at Burlington Central, 7 p.m. Friday the third quarter, Vincent scored on a 2-yard run, widening the lead to 20-3.

Vincent scored the final Hampshire touchdown on a 2-yard run after a wild sequence of plays in the fourth quarter.

A Whip-Pur field-goal attempt was blocked, but the Rockets committed a penalty, putting Hampshire at the 6-yard line.

The Whip-Purs attempted to go for the touchdown, but fumbled the ball. Hampshire reclaimed possession on the Rockets’ first play from scrimmage at the 2-yard line, setting up its final score.

Burlington Central scored its lone touchdown with 1:42 left in the game on a 19-yard pass from quarterback Robert Doubek to Conor Mahoney.

Recovery is everywhere.

at Beloit. Kane County, which won the 2014 MWL championship as a Cubs affiliate, is in the first CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Friday’s game between season of a two-year, Class-A player development the Cougars and host Cedar Rapids Kernels was contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. postponed because of rain. The game will be made The Cougars entered Friday with a 40-19 reup beginning at 5:30 p.m. today as part of a doublecord in the second half and a 76-51 mark overall. header consisting of two seven-inning contests.

The MWL playoffs begin Sept. 9.

The Cougars clinched a Midwest League post– Kane County Chronicle season berth with Wednesday night’s 7-1 victory

27

• Saturday, August 29, 2015

BURLINGTON – Both Hampshire and Burlington Central struggled on offense during the first half Friday.

At halftime, the Rockets led, 3-0.

But in the third quarter, the Whip-Purs offense came together to score three touchdowns to break the game wide open to roll to a 27-9 victory to spoil Jason Newburger’s coaching debut with the Rockets.

The Rockets’ second drive of the game stalled on the 8-yard line, and they were forced to settle for a Cole Tecza 25-yard field goal.

That lead stood until the third quarter. Forty seconds into the second half, Hampshire quarterback Jacob Vincent connected with Xavier Bennett on a 73-yard pass for the Whip-Purs’ first score and a 7-3 lead.

At the 5:51 mark, Jared Lund ran for a 9-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 14-3.

In the waning seconds of

HAMPSHIRE

Playoff-bound Cougars washed out

SPORTS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Hampshire rolls past Burlington C.

SPORTS BRIEF

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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SPORTS BRIEFS Kaneland boys soccer loses

ALGONQUIN – The Kaneland boys soccer team lost its opener in the Jacobs Tournament on Friday, 3-1, to Prairie Ridge.

Trevor Jahns scored for the Knights.

in the JCWC, routed Avto, 6-1, in pool play.

MWAGA event at Pheasant Run

ST. CHARLES – Pheasant Run Golf Course will host the 15th annual Midwestern Amputee Golf Association scramble and tournament from Sept. 11 to 13.

Steel to play for The event begins at 12:30 bronze in Russia YEKATERINBURG, Russia – The p.m. on Sept. 11, as golfers will compete in a fundraiser scramble Chicago Steel lost their first that welcomes amputees and game of the Junior Club World non-amputees. Saturday and Cup on Friday, falling, 5-2, to Sweden’s Djugarden in a semifi- Sunday rounds involve only the amputee golfers. nal of the international event.

Through the years, the MWAChicago was unable to hold GA, established in 2001, has an early lead after scoring only donated funds to such endeavors moments into the game.

The Steel, who recently relocat- as academic scholarships, golf ed from Bensenville to Geneva’s clinics and New York City firemen Fox Valley Ice Arena, were 3-0 in after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. pool play, and now will face the For information, call Jeff Linton host team, Russia’s Avto, for the bronze medal. Faceoff is set for 5 at 312-375-8465, email mwaga. info@gmail.com or log on to a.m. Central on Sunday. www.mwaga.org.

The Steel, the United States – Kane County Chronicle Hockey League’s representative

WEEKEND TV SPORTSWATCH TODAY Pro football Preseason, Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 3 p.m., NFLN Preseason, Bears at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m., FOX Preseason, Seattle at San Diego, 7 p.m., CBS Pro baseball Seattle at White Sox, 6 p.m., CSN N.Y. Yankees at Atlanta, 6 p.m., FS1 Cubs at L.A. Dodgers, 8 p.m., WGN, MLBN College football North Dakota St. at Montana, 2:30 p.m., ESPN Little League Baseball World Series, International Championship, Mexicali Baja California, Mexico vs. Tokyo, 11:30 a.m., ABC World Series, U.S. Championship, Pearland, Texas vs. Lewisberry, Pa., 2:30 p.m., ABC Golf European PGA Tour, D & D Reak Czech Masters, third round, 6 a.m., TGC PGA Tour, The Barclays, third round, noon, TGC

Champions Tour, Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, second round, 2 p.m., TGC SUNDAY Pro baseball Boston at N.Y. Mets, noon, TBS Seattle at White Sox, 1 p.m., WGN Cubs at L.A. Dodgers, 7 p.m., ESPN Little League Baseball World Series, third-place game, 9 a.m., ESPN World Series, championship game, 2 p.m., ABC Pro football CFL, Saskatchewan at Ottawa, 2 p.m., ESPN2 NFL preseason, Houston at New Orleans, 3 p.m., FOX NFL preseason, Arizona at Oakland, 7 p.m., NBC Golf European PGA Tour, D & D Czech Masters, final round, 5:30 a.m., TGC PGA Tour, The Barclays, final round, 11 a.m., TGC; 1 p.m., CBS Champions Tour, Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, final round, 1 p.m., TGC

WEEKEND LIFE

29

Last week my children posed together for the very last time for my annual “Hurry up and get out here! – It’s almost time to go” back-to-school photo shoot. The night before, Noah clicked the online “SUBMIT” button on his first college application. Whoa.

As I cajoled the kids to scooch closer together on our front steps so I could get them both in the frame, I marveled that Noah’s come a long way since boarding the school bus with that enormous stuffed gorilla, his first day of kindergarten.

I’ve learned a few things since then, too. The biggest takeaway from our last year of college shopping? It doesn’t really matter where you start your search – just that you do.

I recall Noah’s resistance last fall to attending Waubonsee Community College’s annual “College Night.” (The next one will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 5, at the Sugar Grove campus.)

He’d had other ideas about how to pass the time, but, as the event would be attended by representatives from over 100 public and private colleges and universities, I knew it would be a wonderful jump-start to his college search process.

But first I had to get him in the car.

(I’ll spare you the gory details. Suffice it to say that he’s an expert debater. If his current passions peter out, well, there’s always law school.)

TALES FROM THE MOTHERHOOD Jennifer DuBose

Once we arrived, though, and he shook a few hands and oiled the gears on the questions he’d been pondering, he was good to go. He left armed with lots of stuff (no, really, LOTS OF STUFF). Chief among them was a new-found curiosity about one school in particular, simply because their recruiter said the magic words. She’d uttered a phrase that’s common parlance among folks who work in the field he was considering, so he took it as a sign that perhaps her school was the one for him.

So, we booked a spot on their next campus tour, brainstormed a few more questions and packed our bags. (You may recall our fashion crisis upon leaving the house: “These ARE my good shoes,” he’d replied, as we glanced down at his grey Under Armor sneakers. I sighed, picturing the beautiful dress shoes that were only God knew where, one of which, you now know, he lost in France a few months later – but I digress.) As it happens, this school wasn’t “the one,” but he’d never have known had he not visited.

According to Noah, it just wasn’t the right size (before this tour he didn’t

“I suppose the college search process is a bit like test-driving, taste-testing and speed-dating.”

Jennifer DuBose

“Tales From the Motherhood” know what the “right size” was), and it didn’t have the right “vibe” (yes, my word, but you get the drift). But what schools would, he wondered (cue angelic chorus)? His wondering yielded to more research and more visits. See where I’m going with this? The first trip, complete with an overnight at a hotel (our only one, as it happens), may not have elicited an enthusiastic “yes!” from Noah, but it got the ball rolling. It was the beginning of a reconnaissance mission, we’d only just begun, and already he’d become much clearer about the type of school that might suit him. Score!

If our kids have any impulses at all about where they’d like to begin looking, I think we should just GO WITH IT. Resist the urge to squash them, even if we doubt they’ll pan out. And even, dare I say, if the price tag takes our breath away (merit and other scholarships and grants really can make things feasible at SOME schools) – because (and this is huge!) the mere fact that they have interest at all means they’re investing in

the process, and even taking ownership of it, which can’t help but lead to a good fit and successful outcome. Know what I mean?

I suppose the college search process is a bit like test-driving, taste-testing and speed-dating.

For example, in the case of one school that had been on Noah’s “apply to” list, he realized that while their numerous representatives were especially welcoming and lovely, there were issues.

Grammar issues. I held my tongue so as to not contaminate his discovery process, at first, but fortunately Noah quickly realized that across the board, with only one or two exceptions, folks at this school – staff included – weren’t terribly articulate.

Shucks, but that was a surprising disappointment. (I’m no grammar snob.

Surely, by now, you’ve spotted errors in my columns – but everyone has limits.)

Bottom line, some things are deal-breakers – and gut feelings matter. But our kids won’t have any unless they dip their toes into that pool.

As for Noah, we’re keeping it real, but he’s just 17, and there’s a smörgåsbord of yummy possibilities out there.

• Jennifer DuBose lives in Batavia with her husband and their two children. Contact her at editorial@ kcchronicle.com.

Keeping plants under control Every gardener has fought a battle of some kind with a spreading plant and lost. Some plants just spread; it’s what they do. Even some of our traditional groundcovers like pachysandra and vinca can get out of control. But they serve a purpose or fill a certain need so we keep them around. Here are a few tips to keep your plants under control.

• Pulling. You can yank some of them out, like spiderwort or Eupatorium, which spread via seed. You can pull the plant as soon as it starts to root and alleviate the problem quickly. Double check that the plant you’re pulling isn’t rhizomous, like mint, or you will be doubling or tripling your battle. Every little piece of root that is left in the

LEARNING TO GROW Jody Lay soil will turn into a new plant.

• Removing seed heads. Many flowering plants form seeds after blooming and you can pluck the seed head before they spread. Your best bet is to cut the flower as soon as the bloom starts to fade, before you can even see the seeds.

• Root pruning. A carefully placed spade around the whole bed of rhizomous plants will keep the roots from traveling out of the bed. Just edge the border of the bed with your spade and trim the roots. I do this with my lily of the valley

to keep them under control and within their borders.

• Digging. Daylilies and other tubers will need to be dug out. You cannot effectively pull them out and get all out the tubers so digging is your best bet. Slow spreaders, like hostas and irises, can be dug and divided in the fall so you have new blooming plants next summer.

• Spraying. Regretfully some plants cannot be stopped and glyphosate may be the best option. I learned this the hard way when the wild violets took over.

These plants send out runners and go to seed. You are fighting a losing battle unless you can spray them before they spread their seeds. Some very sturdy plants take longer to respond to

Vinca makes for a beautiful groundcover, but needs additional maintenance.

Photo provided

sprays but in the end you will win!

Keeping plants in the beds and out of your lawn can be a never-ending battle, but learn about the plants you’re fighting and take the appropriate measures to keep them confined.

Or just let them run wild if you’ve got the room! Remember there are no rules when it comes to gardening so what is

invasive in one yard can be a nice groundcover in a different location.

• Jody Lay is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener for Kane County. The “Learning to Grow” column runs weekly during warmer months. Call the extension office at 630-584-6166 for more information.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

Keeping it real on the college trail

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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ADVICE

Kids tired of dad’s fiancee bad-mouthing mom Mom says hateful things Dear Abby: My fiancee of three

years, “Ellen,” is wonderful to me and she loves my daughters dearly. However, when it comes to my ex-wife, Ellen can be downright nasty.

I divorced my ex-wife many years ago because she wasn’t good to me, but my kids see her half the time and love her because she’s their mom, and I encourage them to do that. Ellen says nasty things about her in front of my kids, and of course my kids don’t like it and tell me about it. When I confront Ellen about it, she tells me I stick up for my ex more than her and tries to make me feel guilty.

My kids are my world, Abby. I love Ellen, but I refuse to lose my kids because my fiancee can’t control her mouth. I don’t know what to do. If I lose Ellen because of my ex, I’ll be devastated. Do you have any advice for me? – Can’t Win In Pennsylvania

DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips Dear Can’t Win: Try asking Ellen

how she would feel if she were in your daughters’ shoes and someone constantly said nasty things about HER mother. I’ll bet she wouldn’t like it one bit.

You say Ellen loves your daughters – yet she persists in doing something she knows is painful for them. That isn’t loving behavior, nor is it kind or sensitive. My advice is to tell Ellen she needs to do some work on quelling her insecurity and hostility because she’s driving your daughters away, and they are your world. And add that if you hear she’s continuing to make nasty comments about their mother, although it pains you, you

will miss her.

Dear Abby: Every time my girlfriend and I go out somewhere and we run into friends of hers – mainly females – they always make a point of telling me how lucky I am to have her. Mind you, she is gorgeous, and I do feel lucky. But I’m not bad-looking either.

What is a proper response for me to give? It’s beginning to get irritating. – Also A Good Catch Dear Also A Good Catch: The proper response is: “Isn’t she terrific? She’s not only gorgeous, she’s (then list several of her other virtues).” Remember, this is not a competition. The more you build your girlfriend up to her girlfriends, the better YOU will come across. And of course, she should do the same for you whenever the opportunity presents itself.

• Write Dear Abby at www. dearabby.com.

Stretching is important part of overall fitness Dear Doctor K: At my last appointment, my doctor noticed that my movements have become stiffer. He suggested that I do some stretching exercises daily. Is there anything I should know before I start? I’m in my 80s, and I don’t want to hurt myself.

Dear Reader: Our bodies become less flexible as the years roll by.

Inflexibility puts a crimp in daily acts, making it harder to walk, raise your arms or turn your head while backing up the car. It undermines balance, too, which can cause life-altering falls. Stretching can help.

You’ll make the best gains if you stretch frequently – all or most days of the week. At the very least, stretch two or three times a week.

The following tips will help protect your muscles and joints while ensuring that you gain flexibility: • Warm up first. Muscles stretch more easily when warm.

Dynamic stretches – a golf swing is a good example – take specific muscles and joints through a full range of motion. Dynamic stretches can warm you up for static stretches, which involve holding a position that stretches a muscle. (I’ve put photos and descriptions of several dynamic

ASK DOCTOR K Anthony L. Komaroff stretches on my website, AskDoctorK.com.) Moist heat packs or a warm shower also help warm up your muscles.

In my experience, this advice is most important with the arms and shoulders. I’ve had quite a number of patients who started to do strength training with their arms.

However, they did not first swing their arms to put their shoulders through a full range of motion, loosening up the muscles and the soft tissues inside the shoulder joints. As a result, the strength training caused a shoulder injury, such as a torn rotator cuff.

• Feel no pain. Stretch only to the point of mild tension, never to the point of pain. If a stretch hurts, stop immediately. Then gently try the same motion again. With time and practice, your flexibility will improve.

• Pay attention to good form.

Good form translates to better gains in flexibility and less likelihood of injury when stretching tight muscles.

• Work to keep your flexibility in balance. You’ll notice that one

side of your body often is tighter than the other. Work on balancing this over time.

• Breathe. Breathe comfortably while stretching, or use yoga breathing. Yoga breathing is relaxing and meditative. Try practicing this beginner yoga breathing technique so you can apply it while holding your stretches: 1. Sit or lie down comfortably, resting your hands below your navel.

2. Tune in to the way you breathe. Inhale and exhale naturally through your nose for a few minutes, noticing the slight rise and fall of your hand.

3. Start to count silently forward (one, two, three ...), then backward (... three, two, one), as you breathe in and out.

4. Gradually make each exhalation twice as long as each inhalation. Focus on breathing slowly and smoothly.

Stretching should be part of every exercise program, along with aerobic exercise, strength training and (for some) balance exercises.

• Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Visit www.AskDoctorK. com to send questions and get additional information.

Dr. Wallace: I’m a 13-year-old girl, and my parents recently got divorced, and my father moved out of our house. He now lives with his mother (my grandmother). I live with my mother, and I get to spend every other weekend with my father. I love both of my parents very much and it makes me very unhappy that they got a divorce.

Every other Saturday morning my dad comes to our house to pick me up, but he does not come to the door. He just honks the horn, and I go out to the car. He brings me home at 8 p.m. on Sunday night. I enjoy getting to see my dad, but my mom does not like the idea of me going to see him. She is always very grouchy on the Saturday mornings when he picks me up, and she never helps me pack.

When my dad brings me home on Sunday evening, my mom always has hateful things to say about my dad, and this upsets me. My dad never, ever says mean things about my mom, and he doesn’t really want to hear anything about her when I’m with him. This bothers me a lot that they are like this, but I don’t know what I can do. Help! – Nameless, Gary, Indiana Dear Nameless: First of all, you must always understand that you are not responsible for your parents’ divorce. Parents are human and they make many mistakes. Unfortunately, those who suffer the most from their mistakes are their children.

Sometimes divorce is unavoidable, but parents who have ongoing bitterness over visitation can often put the children in almost impossible situations where they are forced to choose sides.

When your mom makes unkind remarks

’TWEEN 12 & 20 Robert Wallace

about your father, please understand that she is only unleashing her anger and frustration.

Don’t argue with her or try to defend your father.

Simply say nothing.

If you must talk to one parent about the other parent, try to say something positive.

Dr. Wallace: I’m a virtually dateless 16-year-old girl. It’s not because I’m fat or ugly though – it’s just the opposite. I’m considered very good-looking, and sometimes I’ve been called beautiful. I’ve got a good figure, and I dress nicely and get good grades. It just seems that guys my age don’t ask me out.

I get a lot of stares when I’m at the mall or out in public elsewhere and many from guys older than me, so I know males are attracted to me. So what can I do to get guys my own age to start asking me out? – Nameless, Naples, Florida Dear Nameless: Perhaps your natural beauty actually intimidates guys your age. I’m sure many of them would like to go out with you, but don’t even consider asking because they think they’re not in your league.

Make a special effort to get involved in school clubs and activities where interaction with other students will help them get acquainted with you.

Be friendly and considerate and smile a lot!

And remember that it’s no longer against some unwritten law for a young woman to take the initiative about dating.

• Email Dr. Robert Wallace at rwallace@ galesburg.net.

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

BRIDGE by Phillip Alder

Repetition breeds skill and success

CELEBRITY CIPHER

Oscar Wilde said, “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”

Not at the bridge table.

If you play consistently and accurately, you will be hard to beat.

And when you wish to master a particular card-play technique, consistency – repetition – is a great teaching tool.

At least, I hope so, because here is another elimination-and-endplay deal.

South roars into four spades.

West leads the heart jack. Which defender holds the diamond queen?

As I mentioned yesterday, some players with that North hand would respond four spades. But with no singleton, I think it is the wrong bid. The hand has a lot of losers, and with the opponents out of the auction, perhaps North-South can buy it in a making partscore.

It would be different if, for example, West made a takeout double over one spade.

Then North would have more to fear from an opposing heart contract. (However, I would still be loath to bid four spades.)

After North bids two spades, South’s jump to four spades is slightly aggressive with no short suit, but any time you smell game, bid game.

At first glance, South, with three club losers, must find the diamond queen – but not so, if he understands elimination and endplay.

Declarer wins the first trick, draws trumps, cashes his second heart winner, and exits with a club.

The defenders take three tricks in the suit, but then the opponent on lead must either lead a diamond, finding the queen for South, or concede a ruff-and-sluff, on which declarer’s diamond loser disappears.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

PUZZLES

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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COMICS Arlo & Janis

Garfield

Big Nate

Frank & Earnest

Crankshaft

Soup to Nutz

Stone Soup

The Born Loser

Dilbert

Rose Is Rose

Beetle Bailey

By EUGENIA LAST

Newspaper Enterprise Association

Blondie

Pearls Before Swine

The Argyle Sweater

Real Life Adventures

• Saturday, August 29, 2015

TODAY – Change is imminent, but that’s no excuse for you to lose your cool.

Consider all the consequences and take matters one step at a time. If you burn your professional bridges, you will have trouble starting over. A romantic relationship will go through some unsettling periods, but will emerge from them stronger.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) – Dispense with customary pastimes and try something out of the ordinary. Ask your friends to join you. Don’t take unnecessary risks with your health, and avoid a lengthy setback.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) – If you allow others to discuss their interests, you will learn many surprisingly remarkable things. Your creative juices will lead to a new beginning.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) – Don’t be afraid of a challenge. Staying on familiar ground will not motivate you. Invite suggestions and be courageous enough to try out something unusual in order to find a new passion.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) – It’s possible to be too trusting. Keep your personal information a secret and be cautious with your possessions and cash. Focus on what you are doing. Overindulgence should be off-limits for you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) – You’ll feel lethargic and down if you don’t push yourself. A day trip will give you the boost you need to get back on track. Avoid investing in a questionable enterprise.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) – Stand up for yourself. If someone has been spreading rumors about you, set matters straight. People may give credence to the negative comments if you decide to sit back and say nothing.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) – Use your energy wisely. A new adventure will entice you, but be smart and take some precautions before you make your move. You are best off leading the way, not following others.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) – Your reputation is on an upswing, and improvements to your financial situation are looking good. Pass your good fortune along to people who have contributed to your success.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) – Don’t let a lack of confidence prevent you from declaring your true feelings. Express your heartfelt fondness for someone and share your intentions and future plans.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) – You have a lot to contend with, but haste will not make matters better. Don’t overlook important facts or details. Do things right the first time and avoid having to start over.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) – Your lifestyle may be hectic, but don’t forget the people you care about most. Friends and relatives will be happily surprised if you make a point to stay in touch.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) – Don’t be shy about showing off your skillfulness and dependability. If you keep up the hard work, rewards and opportunities will come your way. A responsible attitude will take you far.

33 COMICS AND HOROSCOPES | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

HOROSCOPES

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, August 29, 2015

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