KCC_ KC Magazine January 2024

A SYMPHONIC WORLD

JANUARY 2024

Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra presents 'GAIA' PAGE 24

Health & Wellness EDITIO

STORIES OF SPACE

A local nonprofit launches artistry to the final frontier PAGE 20

N

H E A LT H Y & Whole

Keep up with self-care at local wellness havens PAGE 12

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JANUARY

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Editorʼs

NOTE Health, fitness and overall wellness have long been a major part of popular culture.

It might even be argued outward appearance has dominated the industry for the past few decades. Therefore, it has been a joy to find in more recent years people approaching their health from the inside out as opposed to “looking good” for the sake of anyone else.

With our January issue, I wanted to shine a light on a few points in the health-conscious community that may be overlooked from time to time.

If you are raising neurodivergent kiddos, our spotlight on occupational therapy is informed by the professionals at My Recess Therapy on Pg. 14. For those who may not know where to start their fitness journey, make sure to check out a guide to some of our local wellness centers on Pg. 13.

Growing up, I played the clarinet in band, and I can tell you it was as mentally soothing as it was an entirely fun thing to do. If you are a fan of music like me, read more about Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra’s exciting eighth

season this year on Pg. 24 and make sure to catch one of their impressive performances.

I believe the key to success is about feeling good, inside and out. Hopefully, you will take away some fun advice (look into dad-isms on Pg. 30), put a massage on your to-do list, start micropracticing self-care (Pg. 10), or look into supporting awesome nonprofits like STORIES from Space, a movement, headed by analog astronaut Beth Mund, sending hundreds of stories to space (Pg. 20). There’s a lot of good in the world and the best part is, it can start with you.

Happy New Year and thank you, as always, for reading!

Kelley White, Editor

on the

COVER

PUBLISHER Kane County Chronicle & Northwest Herald Laura Shaw 630-709-4497 lshaw@shawmedia.com EDITOR Kelley White shawmagazineeditor@gmail.com DESIGNER Julie Barichello 815-431-4072 jbarichello@shawmedia.com LOCAL SALES MANAGER Kane County Chronicle & Niche Publishing Jaclyn Cornell 630-845-5234 jcornell@shawmedia.com CORRESPONDENTS Jamie Baker, Jonathan Bilyk, Kevin Druley, Vicki Martinka Petersen, Pat Szpekowski and Chris Walker This magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send your request with payment information to Shaw Media, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.

April Duda Photography captures relaxing moments at Sage Healing Collective in St. Charles.

Next month: Celebrate love and romance in the February issue of Kane County Magazine!

4 JANUARY 2024

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

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JANUARY

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5

INSIDE

Whatʼs

HEALTH & WELLNESS

FAMILY & ENTERTAINMENT

7 REACHING THEIR GOALS Help your kids flourish alongside you in 2024

28 GRAB A BOOKMARK Check out these literary recommendations for January

10 MICROPRACTICING How small actions help make a big difference to women’s health

29 CALENDAR Save the date for these special events around Kane County

12 WELLNESS & RELAXATION Local inspiration for keeping up with self-care

30 THE TEAM PICTURE Suburban Superdad hands out some prime "dad-isms" for following a dream

14 A FOUNDATION OF FUN Using occupational therapy to accommodate neurodiversity

32 ARTIST OF THE MONTH Rosalie White creates abstract beauty on the canvas

18 FROM THE SOURCE TO YOUR FORK Find regional and fresh farm-to-table dining

BUSINESS & CIVIC

WHERE WE LIVE 20 STORIES OF SPACE A local nonprofit launches artistry through the atmosphere 24 A SYMPHONIC WORLD Elgin Symphony Orchestra brings 'GAIA' to the stage 26 GENEVA’S THIRD STREET A glimpse into the past of the main thoroughfare

6 JANUARY 2024

34 RESTORE & REBUILD BAC Restoration helps reverse disasters 35 SERVING THE COMMUNITY Fox Valley United Way gives back through four main social assistance programs 36 GARDENING FOR THE SENSES Design your garden for overall appeal and personal satisfaction 38 INVESTING IN ELECTION YEARS Examining the impact of presidential elections on stock trends

SETTING & REACHING CHILDHOOD

GOALS Help your kids stick to their New Year’s resolutions and flourish alongside you in 2024

By Jonathan Bilyk

ids don’t shy away from big things.

From a very young age, children set their sights high, with aspirations sometimes literally rocketing out toward the stars.

According to a 2019 survey conducted of 8-12-yearolds in the U.S., 11 percent of kids still named "astronaut" as one of their top three choices for a future career, while larger numbers desired to attain fame as YouTube or social media personalities, professional athletes or musicians.

Nearly a quarter of the children surveyed also said they wished to be teachers when they grow up.

Such surveys serve to show that while kids’ desires have changed through the decades, they still have big dreams of one day accomplishing great things, gaining a measure of fame, wealth or adventure, or tackling tasks to make society better.

But as most former children in the world know, big dreams don’t just happen on their own. Rather, the job falls to parents to help their kids learn the disciplines and life skills needed to turn such dreams from mere visions dancing in young minds to some measure of concrete reality, said Amy Henschen, Illinois 4-H

Evaluation & Staff Development Specialist at the University of Illinois Extension office in St. Charles.

to make those dreams a reality by teaching them goal setting,” she said.

And that begins with teaching them to set - and keep realistic, achievable goals.

Henschen said the work begins when parents and other adult mentors help kids boil down and identify the goals they wish to achieve.

“Kids are naturally curious and they dream big,” said Henschen. “We hear them talk about what they want to be when they grow up, things they want to do, and places they want to go. They bring a lot of excitement to the table."

“However, adults are the ones who can teach them how

Brett Meier, general manager at Fox Valley Park District’s Fox Fitness, said he often sees adults themselves struggle with this key first step in the goal achievement process.

With the winter holidays in the rear-view mirror, the HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY 2024

7

It’s great for kids to have to stretch themselves to reach a goal, as that helps them to develop a growth mindset – the idea that they can learn and do things that might at first seem challenging."

– Amy Henschen, Illinois 4-H Evaluation & Staff Development Specialist

attention of many adults at this time of year turns to shaking off the winter doldrums and preparing for the approaching spring and summer seasons by heading into the gym to “get fit” or “lose weight.”

And every year, most of those who claim “This is the year” that they will stick the landing on their resolutions, inevitably fall short – and often quickly, Meier said.

The reason is simple: The goal remained unclear, unquantifiable, and therefore, all but unachievable, Meier said.

“Anybody that waits until the New Year to set goals is probably going to fail because it’s the wrong reason to make a change,” Meier said. “The desire to make a change should come from within and the odds are that won’t only happen on Jan. 1.”

Meier and Henschen said for the same reason, parents and mentors should work with kids to narrow their goals down to something specific and conquerable, from where they are now.

They both said that work begins with talking with their kids, open and honestly – and not allowing their own adult biases or preconceived notions to warp the conversation.

“If they aren’t driving the decision of what goal to set, you’re setting them up for failure or frustration – or both,” Henschen said. “Kids thrive when we fan the flame of the things that are their sparks – stuff they find joy in and enjoy exploring.”

“A kid might focus on setting a goal of learning a skill, like riding a bike, or mastering a new trick on their skateboard. Or they might set a goal related to improving at something they are passionate about, like scoring more goals on their soccer team, perfecting a new piece on the piano, or [getting] a good place at the local science fair.”

Meier agreed.

“This goes back to finding things they enjoy, and they will naturally gravitate to the things they’re probably better at, which isn’t a bad thing,” Meier said. “No kid will do something he hates and isn’t good at.”

Once goals are identified, parents and mentors should prepare kids to take the next steps on the path to success: Dividing each big goal into smaller, real steps in an achievable timeframe.

“When kids share their goals, you want to help ground them in reality,” Henschen said. “You might need to explain that while getting to the NBA is an awesome thing to hope for, that it might be more realistic to start by focusing on something smaller, like improving their free throw.”

She said the surest way to help kids articulate those goals, and the steps to achieve them, is to rely on a simple formula, known as “I Will + What + When.”

Henschen said parents and mentors should encourage kids to write down those goals, using that formula, for reference later.

Just remember to tell your kids to be realistic with their goals, and then don’t hold yourself to a different standard.”

“For example: I will learn to roller skate by the end of the school year,” she said.

Then, have them read it out loud, to further make it feel real and within reach.

“Hearing [them] say they will accomplish the goal can be empowering and help with motivation,” said Henschen.

From there, Henschen and Meier advised helping kids to remain

& WELLNESS JANUARY 2024 8 HEALTH

accountable to their goals through a system of periodic check-ins, coupled with rewards for achieving goals or hitting benchmarks along the way.

In general, she said, younger children should begin with shorter-term goals, while teens and older children can set both short- and long-term goals.

“At these check-ins see how they are feeling, celebrate their effort with praise, and help them make adjustments to stay on track,” said Henschen.

But regardless of age, for children, adults should encourage them to “start small,” perhaps with “a goal that is doable in a shorter amount of time,” to set them up for success and avoid crushing failures that might discourage them from trying again.

She suggested also considering using visual aids to boost motivation, such as “a calendar or poster you mark with stickers, or a glass jar you fill with a small object, like change or candy,” each time they take another step toward completion.

Meier said his experience has taught that the keys toward completion of goals, at any age, are consistency, encouragement and accountability.

“Write them down in a place they see every day, and reward them when goals are met,” he said.

Henschen also believes rewards are important.

“When a kid achieves a goal, it’s really important to acknowledge that achievement and celebrate it with them,” she said. “Praise the behaviors your kid demonstrated to get them to their goal, like hard work and discipline. This helps them realize that those skills have value.”

Henschen advised parents keep in mind children’s ages and mental, emotional and physical capabilities when helping them set goals.

“Maybe your kid wants to learn their favorite holiday song on their instrument, make a flip book, get a trophy in their favorite video game, or finally do a cartwheel,” Henschen said. “All of those are doable over (a school break) with some time, focus and adult support.”

Once kids accomplish small goals, parents should look to sustain and build on the momentum. Henschen said parents and mentors should encourage children to then “think bigger and stretch themselves a little to do something more challenging.”

When dealing with teens, Henschen advised allowing them more autonomy in setting goals. But she said it’s still important for parents to stick with them and “offer support to help them identify steps along the way and get them where they are going.”

“It’s great for kids to have to stretch themselves to reach a goal, as that helps them to develop a growth mindset – the idea that they can learn and do things that might at first seem challenging,” she said.

Both Henschen and Meier noted that the same kinds of strategies that help kids succeed in setting goals are equally applicable to adult life goals and growth, as well.

“Adults fail at goal-setting a lot of the time for the same reasons kids might – their goal is not aligned to something that sparks them,” Henshcen said.

Meier advised parents to “practice what they preach.” If physical fitness or a sports achievement is a child’s goal, parents should exercise, too, preferably with the child using a kind of physical activity they may enjoy.

He said it can help parents land in a position to teach their kids how such habits and consistency can translate to success in any pursuit outside the gym or off the playing field, as well.

And both Henschen and Meier said parents should not be afraid to let their children see them fall short of their own goals.

“You can be real with your kids if you are struggling with a goal,” Henschen said. “It’s important to show our kids that sometimes we struggle and sometimes we fail, and that it’s how you learn from those experiences that matters.

“Just remember to tell your kids to be realistic with their goals, and then don’t hold yourself to a different standard.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY 2024

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Micropracticing

SELF-CARE

& WELLNESS JANUARY 2024 10 HEALTH

Small actions spur a big difference in women’s health

By Vicki Martinka Petersen • Photos courtesy of Greenleaf Yoga Studio

Micropracticing

With the new year comes a desire to “fix” something we deem is wrong with ourselves. Unfortunately, the problem with resolutions is they’re often abandoned before the Christmas tree gets stowed away.

And some people might ditch their resolutions altogether if they’ve been too busy to get started.

That’s where micropractices come in.

Micropractices are small actions people take throughout the day to focus on their health and wellbeing. It can be something simple like drinking a bottle of water for every can of soda or splitting up a 30-minute workout into three 10-minute blocks throughout the day.

Ready to give it a try? Here are some tips on incorporating micropractices into your daily routine.

When out and about during the day, Ehrenfeld suggests looking for opportunities to get in extra steps like parking further away from the door or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Get Outside

Consider taking your break outdoors.

“We spend too much time on the computer and not enough time enjoying the beauty of nature. Even in cold weather, you can dress warmly and take a 10 minute walk,” O’Brien says.

Setting reminders on your phone or watch will help build small habits into your day, such as taking a sip of water every 30 minutes to get extra hydration in your body, says Melissa Waidzulis, who co-owns Elly’s Nutrition in Aurora with her mom.

To begin, Pamela O’Brien, owner and director of Greenleaf Yoga Studio in St. Charles, recommends setting an intention or focus for the day, such as being kind to yourself or taking breaks.

“My physical therapist recommended standing every hour and waking up the muscles by taking a walk around the office,” Waidzulis says.

“Make it a word so you don’t forget your focus for the day,” she adds.

Meal prepping over the weekend frees up time during the week for self-care, says Laura “Elly” Ortega of Aurora, co-owner of Elly’s Nutrition.

For Mindy Ehrenfeld, brushing her teeth is about more than oral health. It’s also an opportunity to sneak in some physical health practice as well.

Movement

“My electric toothbrush runs for a two-minute cycle, so I can do squats while brushing my teeth for two minutes,” says Ehrenfeld, a group fitness instructor and pelvic floor corrective exercise specialist, who previously taught classes at the Fox Valley Park District in Aurora.

Easy Meal Prep

“You can quickly check off items, then you’ll have an idea what you need to get from the store,” she adds.

Changing her eating habits after her brothers’ illnesses helped Ortega improve her own health.

With the exception of supplements, Ortega got off medications to manage her cholesterol, and her blood sugars are back to normal.

Let the Scale Collect Dust

Whatever you choose to incorporate into your day, Ehrenfeld recommends tracking progress without the scale.

“Instead of focusing on losing weight, find other points of progress like [touching] your toes while keeping your legs straight because you’ve increased your flexibility,” Ehrenfeld says.

“It all comes down to changing your mindset from an old habit to a new, healthier version of yourself,” says Waidzulis. “Every time I wanted to change what I do, I’d go back to my old habits. The mindset wasn’t there. Now I’m at the point in life where the mindset is there for me to create healthy habits.”

“It doesn’t have to be every meal for a full week. Even prepping every couple days can help,” Ortega says.

No need for leftovers to be boring. Ortega has found ground beef, ground turkey and ground chicken to be very versatile in dishes such as making tacos, salad, meatballs and stuffed peppers.

Or, kick off the day with movement by doing sun salutations.

“There’s a lot of different things you can make from them so you don’t get bored. You can freeze cooked ground meats in quart-sized bags and pull them out for future dinners,” Ortega adds.

“It’s a flow of yoga poses that can help you stretch through a progression of moves to increase the difficulty, and therefore increase your strength,” Ehrenfeld says.

To save time creating a grocery list, Waidzulis recommends buying a pad of grocery lists and checking off items you need for the week, or as you run out of items.

HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY 2024

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Check out these specialists, massage therapists and fitness centers around town to help kickstart a healthier, happier year.

WELLNESS &

Relaxatio

By Jamie Baker • Photos by April Duda Photography, Elements Massage and Halsa The Aromatherapy Shop

& WELLNESS JANUARY 2024 12 HEALTH

on

YOU+ MEDICAL AESTHETICS

106 W. Wilson St., Ste. 3L, Batavia 4255 Westbrook Dr., Ste. 228, Aurora 630-853-3567 • youplusaesthetics.com

VEIN SPECIALISTS OF GENEVA

1792 S. Randall Road, Geneva 630-425-0800 • veinspecialistsofgeneva.com Led by Kevin P. Kern, D.O., Vein Specialists focus on treating vascular issues to ensure maximum comfortability both inside and out for their patients. From leg pain to discolored skin, varicose veins, Spider veins, pelvic pain, swelling, DVT and more, these specialists are professional and ready to help alleviate symptoms.

NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE DELNOR HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER 296 Randall Road, Geneva 630-208-3933 • www.delnorhfc.com

With everything you need in one location, Delnor Health & Fitness Center is the perfect facility to continue your current self-care routines or start something new. Utilize special programs, personal trainer assessments, therapy and lap pools, group exercise, nutritional counseling and so much more. Delnor also offers personal amenities like childcare, full-service locker rooms and a pro shop. This state-of-the-art center for wellness is ready to help improve or maintain your health.

ELEMENTS MASSAGE

507 S. Third St., Suite C, Geneva 630-232-7335 • elementsmassage.com Self-care should come first and at Elements Massage, personalized and targeted massages help make it so much easier. “Customized therapeutic massages” give clients the opportunity to fully relax and reinvigorate their bodies, especially after the holiday season concludes and a new year begins. Take advantage of their aromatherapy practices and choose from several types of massage including deep tissue, Swedish, prenatal, stretch, trigger point and sports massage.

This “physician-led Med Spa” in Batavia offers premier name brand aesthetician services purposed for face and body. Here you’ll find injectables, microneedling, hair restoration, Tixel, Sculpt and more. Seek out special promotions and shop for products like AlumierMD and AnteAGE MD. Their practice, led by owner Ali Dacanay MD, is holistic, inclusive and customized to help you age gracefully while feeling totally comfortable in your own skin.

PRANA YOGA

321 Stevens St., Geneva 630-262-9642 • pranayogacenter.com Visit an award-winning yoga studio and center your fitness with meditation and mindful connection. Prana is dedicated to the health of the whole body, including the mind. Choose from a plethora of classes and class times to achieve your own personal fitness goals, or join a specialty workshop like Sound Healing with Alchemy Bowls or Vibrational Sound Healing Meditation. If you want to take your own yoga journey further, check out their 250-hour teacher training course. Don’t miss their Himalayan salt room, a unique space meant to evoke deep calm.

SAGE HEALING COLLECTIVE

525 S. Tyler Road, Suite S, St. Charles 331-901-5672 • sagehealingcollective.com Sage Healing Collective is a haven for nail care, massage, meditation, yoga and more with a holistic and naturally-focused boutique. Try aerial yoga, stretch therapies, acupuncture, bodywork and “wildcrafted” nail care. Sage believes in fostering three groups with health and wellness: the community, the collective and the guest. There are so many different services to choose from and utilize to start your year off right.

HALSA THE AROMATHERAPY SHOP 202 W. State St., Geneva 630-208-8250 • halsaroma.com

Experience something different with Power Under Soft Hands, or PUSH Therapy, at Halsa the Armotherapy Shop, a specialized therapy targeting muscles, administered over comfortably loose clothing. Choose from a wide variety of natural soaps, incenses, essential oils, diffusers and more.

Take home aromatherapy products to continue feeling great until your next massage.

HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY 2024

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A

FOUNDATION of

Fun

USING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TO ACCOMMODATE NEURODIVERSITY IN CHILDREN

By Pat Szpekowski | Photos courtesy of My Recess Therapy

T

here are many forms of therapy for assisting individuals in their ability to successfully take part in the daily activities of life. Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession helping people develop, recover, maintain, and improve the skills they need to live their lives.

What about services for children who need individualized strategies for their own specific needs, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

& WELLNESS JANUARY 2024 14 HEALTH

My Recess Therapy, with locations in St. Charles and Elgin, provides occupational therapy services for children that focuses in a most unique way by looking at a child’s job, or occupation, in life.

a child’s ability to excel in these capacities, such as ASD and ADHD. The challenges can be related to emotional regulation, energy state, attention, social skills, and developmental milestones.”

“A child’s occupations are essential to be a friend, student, family member, and to have fun,” says Brooke Backsen, MOT, OTR/L, RYT, president, occupational therapist, and yoga instructor of My Recess Therapy. “As occupational therapists we explore these roles and see what challenges are impacting

Backsen notes on any given day they may be supporting a child with physical limitations; a child navigating challenges in controlling their emotions; or even a child challenged with organizing and navigating their daily activities.

Helping these children requires credentialed

therapists who have dedicated their careers to focusing on specific therapy-based interventions, diagnoses, and specialty areas. My Recess Therapy includes a team of 14 therapists with specialities that best fit a child’s and family’s needs.

“This is a foundational part of the My Recess mission as we strive to place families with a therapist that is the best fit for them to achieve their child’s therapy goals and journey,” notes Backsen.

Collaboration and connection is valued at My Recess Therapy for successful treatment to benefit a child’s health and happiness.

To successfully empower a child, My Recess performs an evaluation of the child utilizing standardized and non-standardized testing.

Interviewing and engaging the parents throughout the process, as well as others close to the child, including teachers, helps the My Recess team learn as much about the child as possible in order to

develop a customized treatment plan with goals.

“These goals drive our care and determination,” adds Backsen. “Weekly documentation is shared with families which shows and tracks the child’s progress towards their measurable goals.”

Backsen has been an occupational therapist for over 20 years and took note of her experiences in every setting in which she worked. “I collected aspects that were amazing for serving children and families and started to develop ideas for what might improve our services,” she said. “I decided to take the leap 10 years ago and develop a clinic to provide seasoned and specialized therapists for families. As a therapist myself, I dreamed to create a clinical space that sparked inspiration for the therapists each day as well as provide a home-like feel for families while they navigate this journey with their child.”

MY RECESS THERAPY ST. CHARLES 1601 E. Main St., Unit G, St. Charles

MY RECESS THERAPY ELGIN 2018 Larkin Ave., Elgin

630-880-0993 www.myrecess.com info@myrecess.com

There are many different approaches to occupational therapy for children with ASD and ADHD. HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY 2024

15

According to Backsen, children have varied sensory processing issues such as reacting strongly to loud noises, bright lights, or clothes that are uncomfortable. “We like to find a way to fill their sensory cup, no matter how large or small the need, that fits in their world.”

The five external senses of vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell are critical for interacting with the environment. “We look for ways to measure the child’s sensory seeking behaviors to help them better regulate and pay attention at school,” says Backsen. “Some children may & WELLNESS JANUARY 2024 16 HEALTH

Everything You Need in One Place Experience preventive health and wellness programs and more at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Health & Fitness Center. As a medically integrated fitness center we have a variety of services and offerings: • MyFitRx® medical fitness pathways • Personal training • Group exercise • MOVE virtual programming • Rock Steady Boxing • Swim instruction • Massage therapy • Nutritional counseling • Café, Pro Shop and more

need to sit at their desk and quietly move while others might need the opportunity to move around to focus on their work.”

How long children remain in therapy varies with each child. My Recess Therapy has worked with children for as little as 3 months to others of 5 years or more.

My Recess Therapy provides parent empowerment training, too, which is one-on-one time for parents to meet with a therapist without their children and focus on specific aspects of their day-to-day journey.

Visit us or call 630.938.9000 for more information about membership.

“I will shout out to the rafters on how wonderful and life changing My Recess Therapy really is,” says Amy Chiste, whose son with ADHD received care there for 5 years. “They don’t just treat the child but they help us to understand what our kids need.

We also meet and interact with other parents, which is so valuable to all of us. Having my son go to My Recess Therapy was huge for me. Today, he works and is in college. He still uses his sensory tool box and skills he learned from them many years ago.”

From such positive outcomes, My Recess Therapy is proud to note that each child’s therapy session is mindfully designed with a foundation of fun.

“You will also see us out in the community to provide sensory friendly events and opportunities for our families within the community, such as our sensory retreats and Sensory and Allergy- Friendly Trunk or Treats,” Backsen says.

DEL-2180563_1022

HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY 2024

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from the

SOURCE to your FORK Find local and fresh farm-to-table dining

By Chris Walker | Photos courtesy of Atwater’s Restaurant

E

ach plate that’s created at Atwater’s Restaurant in Herrington Inn & Spa is done so with great care, beginning where the ingredients are sourced.

There’s peace of mind that comes with every fork and spoonful of farm-to-table dishes.

“There’s a movement around food in general about knowing where it comes from and the face of the farmers and it’s a comfort level,” White says. “Having that farm-to-table experience and being able to get to know food in general makes for more of a social event. Knowing the origin of what you’re eating has become trendy with people and having that level of security of a trusted source goes a long way with the food you are eating.”

Executive Chef Kevin Gillespie and his team offer farm-to-table American cuisine that not only tastes great but is better for those who call Earth home.

“For all of us, it is about sustainability and our planet,” says Lisa Van Bortel, director of sales and marketing for Atwater’s Restaurant in The Herrington Inn & Spa. “Freshness comes from being local. We make all of our items from scratch.”

Whether referred to as farm-to-table or farm-to-fork, some of these local restaurants are a part of the social moment that is driving them to procure their ingredients from nearby farms or similar sources.

Rather than getting necessities for their menu from other parts of the country, or around the world,

WE LIVE JANUARY 2024 18 WHERE

they have truly taken on a local approach.

“When you look at agriculture, farmers are the backbone of the agriculture industry,” says Christine White, chief program officer at National FFA Organization. “When we look at how we are feeding our country and the growing population, how we do that healthily and with an abundant food supply that’s sustainable and taking care of the environment?”

Atwater’s Restaurant in The Herrington Inn & Spa offers such an experience in its intimate dining room with a winter menu that includes braised black pepper pork belly, roasted butternut squash, craft mustard-rubbed duroc pork tenderloin, lobster Thermidor and much more.

At Hardware, produce is grown year round, and fruits and nuts are grown in a micro-orchard and gardens throughout the North Aurora property. Hardware also

ATWATER’S RESTAURANT Herrington Inn & Spa 15 S. River Ln., Geneva 630-208-8920 www.herringtoninn.com BLUEROOT 98 W. Main St., #2015, West Dundee 847-844-0047 www.bleuroot.com

has a 250-foot well in an underground aquifer that supplies all of its water for production in its brewery and for irrigation purposes.

In West Dundee, Bleuroot’s menu features locally sourced farm-to-table dishes that are always fresh.

Sweet basil pesto, butternut squash and chickpea curry and eggplant parmesan are just a few of

Bleuroot’s savory items sourced with organic ingredients.

Downtown Geneva is where you’ll find Niche and its constantly evolving menu of American contemporary cuisine that incorporates locally grown produce, artisan cheese and meats as well as fresh daily seafood.

HARDWARE SUSTAINABLE GASTROPUB AND BREWERY 2000 W. Orchard Rd., North Aurora 630-299-3977 www.eathardware.com NICHE 14 S. 3rd St., Geneva 630-262-1000 www.nichegeneva.com

Make Yourself at Home!

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STORIES of

space Analog astronaut & podcaster Beth Mund launches stories to the stars

By Jamie Baker Photos courtesy of Beth Mund

WE LIVE JANUARY 2024 20 WHERE

S

t. Charles resident Beth Mund, an accomplished analog astronaut, podcast host, keynote speaker and self-described space communications evangelist, is also the founder of a local nonprofit reaching for the stars – literally. After working as a Public Affairs Officer for NASA and the International Space Station, Mund eventually created a career as a podcast host where she elicits inciteful, exciting conversations with the likes of artists, scientists, CEOs, authors, students and more.

Mund wanted to shed light on stories of the average, everyday citizens who are part of the scientific community. Thus, Mund created the Casual Space podcast. “I really wanted to focus on the everyday person, like the Janes and the Joes, who are really busy with life, but have an interest in the future and the future of exploration and space,” she says. “And I wanted to tell and share stories that were available to everyone without highly technical definitions, including all the NASA acronyms that were too technical. Now, the podcast has celebrated 200 episodes.”

Before making the move to podcasting, Mund worked for NASA and in the wake of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, she found purpose through further investigation like many of her colleagues. This continued support for NASA and search for the truth led her to discover a talent for gathering and collecting stories.

Eventually, Stephanie Murphy, CEO of Aegis Aerospace, came on the podcast to chat with Mund. “Stephanie and I had a great conversation about how challenging it is to run a space company, as a woman, as a mother, as a family member; and how challenging it is to run a space company, period,” says Mund. “She was so kind and she said, ‘You know, Beth, if you ever want to fly anything into space, we're your company.’ And after the podcast was over, I just sat with that.”

“People would share their stories with me about their family, their friends, their colleagues, someone they knew that was closely related to or connected to NASA, someone who had an Apollo connection to the program or had worked somewhere that made a part that supported the space program in some way – because NASA has contractors all across the United States,” she says. “So, I had heard story after story after story of connections and innovations, and people who were invested and involved with space. But these stories were just shared orally, and they weren't written down.”

Mund relentlessly wondered what she would fly to space if she had the opportunity. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” she says. “The best thing you could do is bring everyone onboard with you. So, I called Stephanie back and told her I wanted to do it, I wanted to fly stories into space.” Mund designed a website for people to submit their contributions but made sure to apply a few rules to the process.

WHERE WE LIVE JANUARY 2024

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“We knew we had limited space, we knew that the stories had to be clean and appropriate as, obviously, NASA was going to read them,” she says. “So nothing that was vulgar, nothing that was violent and the stories had to be truly space-related and appropriate for everyone to read. We also knew that they would be going to the International Space Station. Space is expensive, and if you're going to fly something in a payload capacity, every gram of weight is thousands upon thousands of dollars.

So, we had to make it small or as lightweight as possible.”

After experimenting, Mund decided to use microSD cards to store all the stories and information from the project’s contributors. These cards had to be designed well enough they would survive the intense radiation of outer space as they would be sitting outside the International Space Station for six months. “The STORIES of Space is not just a beautiful opportunity for everyday people to connect in a very unique way to space,” says Mund.

“It's also an experiment and it's helping us learn more about the harsh environment, the radiation damage, the storage, and the microelectronics that we're going to be using in the future or that we already are using now.”

STORIES of Space flew their first mission with 300

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stories on Aug. 1, 2023 from NASA's Wallops Facility in Virginia. “That was quite a moment for me, my family, the storytellers and story submitters,” says Mund. “It was amazing to see your payload and your idea launch on the rocket into space. It was surreal.

So, they're up there right now. We call it mission number one – 300 stories. But mission number two is a very different kind of mission.”

When the SD cards come back, Mund will personally deliver them to Utah State University, a center for experts in flying materials up to station for study, where they’ll be tested for several different types of data.

“The goal with this whole project has several points,” says Mund. “Number one, it allows people to connect to space in a really, truly unique way. Because when we share our ideas, or our innovations, or our solutions for space, and we actually put them into space, now we're talking about them. Now we're putting them on paper, we're bringing them to the forefront and into the spotlight where other people can hear them or discover them or read them. And it sure is darn cool.”

The second goal is to promote and increase scientific literacy. Storytellers and contributors can be any age or have any background as long as their

content involves or mentions the final frontier.

“The possibilities are endless, limitless, just to have fun, and enjoy the whole process of this,” says Mund. “It's your imagination and there's only two rules. One, it has to be in English, because I personally read every single story to make sure it's appropriate and clean. And number two, it has to have some reference or relevance to space. So if you write a whole song and let's say your song is really all about the open road or taking a vacation and surfing in the waves, as long as you mention something like the moon or the stars or the universe, it qualifies to go.”

Mund encourages you to go outside whenever there’s a clear night in the near future (before later in spring when the payload will come back) and try to find the International Space Station zooming by. Up there, right now, there are 300 stories traveling thousands of miles per hour.

Stories of Space on the International Space Station

What would you send to outer space?

Check out Beth Mund’s website at www. bethmund.com to find out more about future space missions for the STORIES project, her entertaining and engaging podcast, and so much more.

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c i n o h p m y S A

WORLD

A season preview of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra

By Jamie Baker • Photos courtesy of Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra

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s the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra enters into its eighth season, Artistic Director Matthew Sheppard takes a look at the exciting times ahead for the organization in 2024.

“We serve about 400 students from across the Fox River Valley in the Greater Chicago area,” says Sheppard. “We have a total of five orchestras, a brass choir, percussion ensembles, flute choir, a thriving Chamber Music Institute and percussion ensembles.

So, all sorts of different groups for students to perform in.” A few times a year, the student groups come together to perform on concert days.

“This season's theme is called ‘GAIA,’” says Sheppard. “Each year, we have a specific theme that allows us to dive in and explore the music through a lens of metaphor and analogy. With ‘GAIA,’ we're using this now debunked, old hypothesis of Gaia by James Lovelock, in which he hypothesized that all of the world, organic and inorganic, is one responsive organism.” Sheppard acknowledges the theory may not hold much water in the scientific community, but for EYSO, it’s perfect.

“It’s a way for us to examine our role in the world, our role as artists, our role in the musical ecosystem, literally the role of a flute player interacting with a violinist or with a timpani player or a trumpet, all of those different elements,” says Sheppard.

“It's been a really cool experience so far for the kids. Each one of our concerts then takes on a certain different element of this

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For the second concert series, “Terra nostra,” coming up in March, Sheppard will focus on highlighting the polar, or opposing, elements of nature. “Our world is a false dichotomy, we don't just have the natural world and then the human world, there's tons of intermingling of those two things,” he says. “We'll be exploring the human world, the built world, the constructed, designed world, and how that has played into the construction of our traditions. As orchestral musicians we have loads of traditions and they are all things we've come up with in some way.”

In April, EYSO will perform the third movement, "Terra metallicum" and in May they will perform "Terra una," EYSO’s final performance series of the year. "Terra una" will dive deep and explore the way elements of natural dichotomies interact with each other.

Check out EYSO’s website to find out more about dates, details and ticket information for the remainder of their 48th season.

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Their first concert was dubbed “Terra naturalis,” and the musicians specifically focused on embodying the natural world through music. “We wanted to portray the ways that artists, composers, performers, philosophers, scientists and humans have generally been influenced by their experiences in the natural world,” says Sheppard. “And the way that translated to us as artists, as musicians, as performers, as well as the way that it translated to the composers whose works we’re studying – it was just a blast.”

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Third Street

' n e e B r e v E s ' t I t s ' The Be

WE LIVE JANUARY 2024 26 WHERE

Kane

County

Courthouse (1892 and 20

16)

The Little Traveler

A glimpse into the past of Third Street

By Kevin Druley | Photos by Sandy Bressner and courtesy of Geneva History Museum and The Little Traveler

W

ell before “WFH” entered the acronym scene, there was Kate Raftery, The Little Traveler, and that long gaze down Third Street.

The trees lining Geneva’s iconic shopping and dining destination weren’t as lush a century ago, putting Raftery in position to watch crews unload shipments from the nearby train and deliver them to her home and business.

Raftery, the late founder of The Little Traveler, lived at work, as the concept of the store began with her selling items out of her home, typically displaying them on her grand piano.Many neighbors followed suit as the years passed and Raftery’s encouragement spread. Indeed, the commercial hotspot that is Third Street long housed homes before it shifted to what we know today.

As for the buildings themselves?

“Really, a lot of it hasn’t changed. The footprint is still there of that early architecture,” said Terry Emma, executive director of the Geneva History Museum. “Of course, there’s been lots of changes and additions and things put on, but really, if you

look at the then and now pictures you can totally see the footprint and a lot of the houses have remained the same. The business that goes on inside just changes.”

1970s. By then, the consistent train and vehicle traffic into town as well as the wealth of commuters influenced Third Street’s transformation into a retail hotbed.

Mike Simon, part of the family that has owned The Little Traveler since 1971, beams about that reality.

Lawyers and judges frequently traveled to the Kane County Courthouse, 100 S. Third St., and doctors and nurses were in transit to and from the former Community Hospital, which initially was located at the northeast corner of Franklin and Third before moving to Second Street. Geneva was the end of the Metra line until 2006.

Today, an onlooker casting a hypothetical gaze from The Little Traveler, 404 S. Third Street, in either direction – including southward toward the train station – would see an eclectic blend of shops and restaurants. And lots of people walking to and from their doors.

“When the rest of Third Street developed, the Traveler was the anchor, and very proudly so,” Simon said. “Nowadays, Geneva is a much more robust community and the reason that we’re successful is because we’re surrounded with so many creative entrepreneurs, so that we’re not the destination, we’re one of many unique destinations. And that’s what separates Geneva from virtually every other downtown community.”

Emma, who also grew up in Geneva, recalls that a few Third Street residences still existed in the

“This was a very vibrant place, and that’s why you saw so much affluence with the homebuilding and the beautiful homes that we have here in town,” Emma said. “It brought all those people here every day to do their work. And so how great was that, to open up shops where everybody was walking by anyway?”

The person who holds Raftery’s former job figures the pioneer would be overjoyed about the contemporary Third Street. “We’ve always been surrounded with nice, good neighbors,” Simon said, “but this is the best it’s ever been.”

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Grab a Exercise your brain with books as the new year begins! Here are two recommendations for your January reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

 FOR ADULTS: "Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries" by Heather Fawcett

Settle in with a blanket and a cup of cocoa for a perfect winter read. In a world in which faeries not only exist but are the subject of a competitive academic discipline, curmudgeonly Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is determined to make her mark by publishing the first-ever encyclopedia of faeries. As part of her research, Emily travels to a remote Scandinavian village to investigate the legend of the “Hidden Ones,” but is unprepared for the surprises along the way. First, between her rusty people skills and the isolation of the village, Emily is left to care for her basic needs during the cold winter, including cutting her own firewood. Second, Emily is surprised by Wendell Bambleby, her insufferable (yet handsome) colleague. He shows up uninvited and insists that they collaborate on a paper on the Hidden Ones. As Emily and Bambleby work together, they begin to uncover this small, remote town’s many magical secrets. In fact, Emily comes to realize that Bambleby is hiding a secret of his own. With its cozy (and occasionally frightening) winter atmosphere, a leisurely plot and a dash of romance, “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” is a great read for a snowy day. Check it out now to be prepared for the second book in the Emily Wilde series, which comes out in January 2024.

– Sophie Popovich, Librarian

 FOR KIDS (GRADES 4-6): "All You Knead Is Love" by Tanya Guerrero

This book opens with a bang: 12-year-old Alba is being sent from New York City to Barcelona to stay with her Abuela. She doesn’t fit her mother’s standard of feminine beauty, and the relationship between the two has become so strained that Alba can’t help but think that maybe her mother does not love her anymore.

Alba finds healing in the warmth of her Abuela’s apartment and in the neighbors and friends she meets while in Barcelona. She especially loves getting up early and helping her family friend with the bakery he owns. But two questions still plague Alba: Will her mother ever leave her abusive father? And is there any saving the strained relationship between mother and daughter? The setting of this book is spectacular, as are the visceral reactions and feelings Alba expresses as she navigates this tumultuous chapter of her life.

– Margaux Morrone, Librarian & ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY 2024 28 FAMILY

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Find a local yoga studio and stretch out your case of the Mondays.

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Join St. Charles Park District for their January Jamboree! *Registration required

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Start a healthy habit like micropracting self-care, it's never too late (or too early)!

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and find out more about his life at one of our local libraries!

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Grab "second breakfast" and celebrate J.R.R. Tolkien Day!

Happy New Year!

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Break out your sturdy boots and go for a winter hike in one of the many parks throughout the Tri-City area.

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Celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day and revisit the Hundred Acre Wood.

“Shake it Off” at the “Taylor Swift Musical Dance Party” at the PIAZZA in Aurora from 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Celebrate Restaurant Week in Geneva and enjoy discounted meals at participating establishments around town.

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Restaurant Week

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30 As January draws to a close, reflect on the new and exciting things to look forward to this year!

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As you dive into a year full of happy, healthy choices and new opportunities, don’t forget to check out your local park districts for more information on fitness classes, fun events and more!

FAMILY & ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY 2024

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n SUBURBAN SUPERDAD n

Parental advice in the form of a favorite 'dad-ism'

T

he stud finder is an amazing and – if used correctly – incredibly labor-saving wonder of technology.

Anyone who has ever needed to perform a home improvement project that involves drilling or nailing into a wall knows the frustration that can come from repeatedly poking holes in the drywall, only to come up with nothing but a white powdery anthill of gypsum dust.

So I can neither confirm nor deny that I giggled the first time, many years ago, the sequence of glowing dots and beeps of the stud finder aligned correctly to locate the two-by-four needed to successfully deeply anchor the fastener.

Similarly, I can neither confirm nor deny that I provoked a sigh and eye roll from my wife when, on a different occasion, the stud finder was used in a ritual rite of passage into American dad-hood, when

& ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY 2024 30 FAMILY

I may or may not have grabbed the attention of my wife, pointed the stud finder at my chest, and made a beeping sound, followed by the wry statement, "Found one."

(I also can neither confirm nor deny that the reaction only gets better when done in the presence of a teenage daughter, too.)

Of course, such eye roll-inducing phrases are just par for the course when dealing with American dads.

A quick Google search reveals that there is apparently a long list of well-documented "dad-isms" tracked by spouses and offspring, alike.

Some other favorites: "OK, what's the damage?" when receiving a restaurant or bar tab; "I guess it's free then?" when viewing a menu or list of items for sale that doesn't include a price; or "Who's ready to rock 'n' roll?" or its cousin expression, "Let's boogie,"

when it's time to head out the door.

But one of my personal favorites is one that doesn't seem to have made a list: "It's in the team picture."

The phrase's meaning is not really all that hard to deduce. In a nutshell, it describes anything that, while not the absolute best, is still quite good.

To illustrate, consider an example from inside the box that holds the surviving misfit relics of my youth.

A quick inventory: Several packs of baseball cards, all opened (none of any real value, from what I've seen.)

A couple of old sports pennants that once hung above my childhood bed. A small soldier action figure whose legs wobble far too much at the knees.

Various pins or other memorabilia from family road trips, decades ago.

A yellowed, autographed storybook, received as part of a young author contest.

And, among other items, a team photo of the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Team photos almost always grab my attention. The rows of athletes, all wearing their team jersey, usually standing on bleachers to allow their faces and jersey numbers to be seen, offer a fun brain teaser for fans of sports and history, challenging us to remember their names, and their contributions in a particular season of yore.

For example, on the '85 Bears, any football fan would probably know names like Jim McMahon, Richard Dent, Mike Singletary, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Walter Payton.

But who other than the most diehard fans would remember other members of that team like Keith Ortego, Thomas Sanders or Cliff Thrift?

Yet, there "in the team picture" stand those lesserknown, professional athletes whose abilities and good fortune earned them the chance to stand next to those all-time greats.

How can the team picture saying apply in regular life? It can be handy in discussing the relative quality of a film, for instance, as in: "I wouldn't call 'Avatar' one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time, but its cinematography and grand scale alone can place it in the team picture."

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Or, of restaurant food: "That burger isn't the best I've ever eaten, but it could be in the team picture."

Recently, the phrase has found a role in discussing some hard truths of life with the aforementioned teenage daughter.

For many years, this amazing young woman has demonstrated a keen ability to succeed at a number of pursuits with talent, intelligence and cunning – though, unfortunately, without much other real effort.

While her mother and I are very proud of her achievements, this tendency has, of late, led to several difficult conversations about goals, particularly surrounding some conflicting desires.

On one hand, she has demonstrated a deep longing to continue her lifelong pursuit of ballet.

On the other, she similarly desires to maintain a robust social life outside the studio with friends, most of whom, shall we say, generally do not similarly pursue an art with the same level of commitment.

To this point, the balance has been kept. But as her skill level climbs, and the level of competition for leading roles similarly intensifies, she has found herself at a crossroads, where temporal and corporeal truths have confronted her with the ugly burgeoning adult realities summed up by the dad-favored sayings: "You can only be in one place at one time," and "Whatever you sow is what you will reap."

And I can confirm both of those sayings were uttered amid some difficult, long and tearful conversations, involving other dad-isms, including: "Life's not fair" and "If they really want to be your friends, they will understand and be there to cheer you on."

In the process, I have come to understand some difficult but essential truths about parenting, too.

While fun and friends are essential parts of life, the best path forward is laid when we understand that we must "put first things first" to make the sacrifices needed to pursue not only what is good, but what is best.

Certainly, at the end of the road, she, like all of us, may find that best gets you a spot in the team picture.

But that may still be far more than most others could ever hope to achieve.

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

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Artist OF THE MONTH

Rosalie White The Tri-Cities are booming with arts and artists — perhaps nowhere more vibrantly than Batavia’s Water Street Studios, which hosts events, galleries and up to 25 artists in residence. Each month, Kane County Magazine and Water Street Studios are partnering to highlight artists and their work.

1.

S

eeing artistry and creation in almost anything, Rosalie White has spent her life crafting work without constraints.

“Now more fully immersed in the realm of abstract expression, I dedicate my time to both creating and instructing,” says White. “As an abstract artist and educator at Water Street Studios in Batavia, I find great joy in imparting the magic of art to students of all ages, fostering a space where creativity knows no bounds.”

White describes her most recent pieces as exploratory of “abstract expression” created with mixed media and acrylics. “I work in layers to reveal the spontaneous assemblage of color and forms,” she says.

“Setting aside the rigidity of academic rules, I embrace the liberation of allowing art to flow freely, creating visual harmony that transcends traditional boundaries and invites viewers to experience the raw, unbridled essence of creativity and discovery.”

White moved to the area after living in Chicago and working as a school administrator until retiring in 2021. She immediately felt at ease when visiting Water Street, determined to create more works of art and join the studio. “Stepping into the limestone gallery, a comforting yet exhilarating space, I felt its creative energy and a sense of community that would soon become my haven,” she says.

“Once discovered, I found solace in the anticipation that Water Street would be the outlet and inspiration I was needing.”

Moving away from more realistic imagery to abstract, spontaneous works helped White realize the unlimited nature of her artistic ability.

“The more I immersed myself into my improvisational work, I came to realize that my fear of leaving behind the structured approach was truly just me believing that my work wouldn’t be taken seriously,” she says. “Having that burden lifted liberated me to accept that making abstract art is what feels most authentic to me. The rigidity that characterized my previous pieces gives way to a newfound fluidity and freedom. My canvas serves as a playground, and I never cease to be surprised by what is revealed as it comes to life.”

& ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY 2024 32 FAMILY

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DETAILS OF Rosalie White’s WORK:

4.

To view more of Rosalie White's artwork, visit sites.google.com/view/ rosaliewhitefineartstudio/home. Prints and commissions also are available.

u Cheers: Acrylic & Oil Pastel, 36 x 48, $1,200.

v Summer Garden: Watercolor & Ink, 8 x 10, $240

w Happy Hour: Acrylic & Oil Pastel, 48 x 48, $1,400

x Pond: Mixed Media, 18 x 18, $800

About the Artist Rosalie White began creating art at a young age, mostly using discarded scraps of materials she would find around the house. She has been a student of art ever since. Among a number of art forms, painting and repurposing household items is still her most satisfying work. Rosalie studied Fine Arts at Columbia College Chicago and received an MA in Education and Educational Leadership from Dominican University.

She worked as an educator and public school administrator for more than 20 years and now is an artist and instructor at Water Street Studios.

y Travel On: Mixed Media, 18 x 18, $800

5.

For more information on the artist of the month, head to waterstreetstudios.org or the organization’s social media pages.

FAMILY & ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY 2024

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RESTORE & REBUILD

BAC is here to reverse disasters

W

By Jamie Baker • Photos courtesy of BAC Restoration

hen disaster strikes, you need someone you can rely on to rebuild and clean up the mess.

BAC Restoration is a locally owned company of specialists with many years of experience within their ranks, and they’re the perfect choice for the best possible outcome.

If you’re flying into O’Hare International Airport, you might see the crisp, clean roof of the Allstate Arena. Jet fuel and environmental factors continuously smudge the rooftop, but BAC has been integral to its maintenance. The Allstate Arena project is just one example of their abilities as a company.

Executive Director Sarah Hamilton is ready to continue BAC’s legacy in 2024, adding new services and solidifying their reputation of providing knowledgeable, efficient and friendly specialists.

“We cover basically all of Northern Illinois, depending on the project,” says Hamilton. “We will go into Wisconsin and Indiana if we need to. We also travel for catastrophe work and last year, we traveled to Florida for Hurricane Ian.”

“BAC started in 2017 and we’re based in Elgin,” says Hamilton. “BAC stands for Buildings and Community, which is what we’re restoring.” BAC’s current services cover reconditioning property after damage from flood, fire and mold as well as duct and carpet cleaning. “We do some industrial turnover cleaning and projects you normally wouldn’t really guess,” Hamilton continues. “If there’s a question about something you need to maintain on your property, whether that’s commercial or residential, give us a call because it’s likely we provide that service.” & CIVIC JANUARY 2024 34 BUSINESS

BAC mostly engages in mold eradication and water mitigation in Northern Illinois while spending days in between those projects carpet and duct cleaning. “We plan on expanding some of our cleaning and janitorial/maintenance-type services, and we are also planning on adding some new services that we don’t currently provide, but they’re kind of adjacent to what we do,” says Hamilton. “We are going to add dry ice blasting as a service, and you can use that for a lot of different purposes. We’ll use it for things like

mold and fire restoration. We can also do some work for municipalities that have that request, if they’re dealing with graffiti and things like that.”

When clients need the help of restoration services, stress and anxiety can be at an all-time high, but BAC fully understands how to reassure and guide their clients to the most effective resolution. “We really try our best to have a personal touch and help our clients through their entire process as far as helping to explain insurance claims and answering questions,” says Hamilton. “If you haven’t gone through a major loss before, you’ll have questions about that and I’m happy to help. Beside the fact that we try to make lemonade out of lemons, we also try to treat our own people very well with the hope that they can go out there and help give a good connotation for contractors everywhere.”

n BAC RESTORATION 224-225-4000 • www.bacrestoration.com 24/7 Emergency Service

FOX VALLEY UNITED WAY'S

MISSION:

Serving the Community 4 main programs assist residents who need a helping hand in southern Kane County Photos courtesy of Fox Valley United Way

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ox Valley United Way is committed to ensuring that all families in their communities have equitable access to opportunities and resources by investing in positive health, education and financial outcomes. They envision a community where all children have a strong foundation for success in school and life. They value the experiences, cultures, voices and intellect of their diverse stakeholders. They bring equity to the forefront of their work and they hold forth the core values of collaboration, integrity, accountability, compassion and innovation. Programs include Kane 2-1-1, SPARK, United for ALICE and Holiday Assistance.

Focusing on additional areas of educating parents and developmental assessments, SPARK makes sure all participants have what they need to prevent developmental delays and promote positive educational experiences.

n Kane 2-1-1 is a free, confidential information and referral helpline that connects Kane County individuals and families to available health and human services. The helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

n Holiday Assistance is an annual collaboration with local businesses, community members and civic groups who are interested in helping their neighbors who are experiencing difficulties. The program helps families in need meet the financial burdens of today’s world. Sponsors are needed yearly in November and December.

n SPARK (Strong, Prepared And Ready for Kindergarten) is an early childhood collaboration of Fox Valley United Way that connects families with early education and childcare opportunities.

n United For ALICE is the next endeavor Fox Valley United Way undertakes. ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) is the acronym used for community members struggling to afford essential needs on a monthly basis. Despite working full time and sometimes two jobs, these individuals are still behind and one emergency away from poverty.

This program will focus on preventing poverty and regaining financial security.

Many local nonprofits are beneficiaries of the Fox Valley United Way efforts as well, and volunteer

opportunities with these organizations are coordinated by staff to assist in their missions and encourage community engagement. Partners such as food pantries, affordable housing affiliates and urgent care facilities throughout their service area have benefitted from money raised by Fox Valley United Way in the past year. Marie Wilkinson Early Learning Center, Family Focus and programs offered by the county, local YMCAs and specialty nonprofits offering safety and security in times of uncertainty are also among the list of grant allocations each year.

The final piece of the Fox Valley United Way puzzle is their volunteer opportunities. VolunteerFoxValley.org can connect you to the volunteer opportunities you are looking for. There are 179 nonprofit organizations registered on the website and 2,615 volunteers registered for service projects throughout their service area. Check it out today!

Fox Valley United Way is a unique organization because every donation stays in the community.

It does not go elsewhere unless you direct it to, so you have the power to change the future of your communities.

FOX VALLEY UNITED WAY 44 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora 630-896-4636 www.foxvalleyunitedway.org info@foxvalleyunitedway.org

JANUARY

2024

35

SENS Gardening

HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND YOURSELF stopping in the middle of your garden to smell the delicate fragrance of a flower? Or touch a fuzzy leaf? Or even snip off the tip of a chive and munch on it, enjoying the crisp onion flavor and inspiring you to harvest some for use at dinner? Gardens are so much more than visually attractive.

Gardens invoke all of the senses and can help you relax and enjoy the day that much more. A well-designed garden will allow you to use all of your senses and reward you every day with a peaceful and memorable experience.

n SMELL

The sense of smell in a garden is usually the one most heightened.

Not only are there flowers that emit amazing scents, there are also leaves and biological processes that give fragrance to the garden.

The favorite scents of most gardeners are lilacs, fragrant viburnum or roses, but many other plants have amazingly fragrant flowers. Add to that list of faves, crabapples with their sweet apple scent, lavender that evokes relaxation, summersweet clethra whose sweet scent attracts tons of butterflies or sweetshrub (Calycanthus spp.) with its spicy, clove-scented, giant flowers. Not only do they add fragrance, but they add pollinators to your border. & CIVIC JANUARY 2024 36 BUSINESS

The foliage of mint and bee balms smells of crisp mojitos and summer days. The scent of drying leaves marks the passage of fall. Even the scent of a freshly cut evergreen tree will stay with the plant as it makes its way in the house for the holidays. And my favorite smell is that of the soil in the spring as it warms up – waking up all of those frozen microbes gives that crisp spring smell that tells us winter is over!

n TASTE

We all are aware there are edible delights in the garden. We grow vegetables and fruits and harvest them throughout the year. But there are also edible leaves and flowers that you can harvest from your garden and enjoy. Flowers such as roses, pansies,

nasturtium and more can be delicately washed and added to cakes, desserts, salads, drinks and more as beautiful garnishes. Rosemary and lavender make great simple syrups for cocktails.

Even plants like elderberry and crabapple are used for jellies and jams.

n TOUCH

I find myself touching plants all of the time. I am constantly running my fingers through the leaves of grasses, touching leaves and flowers, poking around to see what the bees are up to.

I have even had customers notice I am constantly touching plants and I don’t even realize it.

The tactile nature of plants is hard to resist. The fuzzy leaves of Lamb’s Ear. The soft, bulbous blooms of

hydrangea. The interesting hinged flower of a snapdragon that opens perfectly at a bumble bee’s touch. The sharp needles of a spruce. The smooth texture of a young tree’s bark. Don’t be afraid to touch plants – well, except for poison ivy, but that doesn’t count as a real plant in my world. That is a straight up evolution nightmare!

n SIGHT

Of course, gardens are very visual. But you must look past the overall general beauty of a garden and look deeper into the details. The finely cut foliage of a Japanese maple. The punch of color a chartreuse-leaved plant brings to the border. The focal point created from a tri-color beech by its stunning pink, green and white leaves.

SES for the

Visually, we are attracted to things that are beautiful, but all plants (and people!) have beauty if you just look closely. Use interesting colors and textures of plants to add accent, focus and clarity to your garden. And repeat the theme of visual exclamation points throughout the entire garden, which will help guide visitors through your garden and notice all of the beautiful nooks and crannies.

n SOUND

You may wonder how you can “hear” a garden. There are so many things to listen for! The rustling of leaves as they blow around on a blustery day.

The wind whistling through a large

white pine, jostling the needles into a soft whisper. The buzz of pollinators happily visiting a seven-son flower – the quantity of visitors so loud that you can hear the symphony of buzzing several feet away. The soft swish of ornamental grass flowers as they blow in the wind. And geesh … the best sound of all to a gardener? RAIN! No one loves a thunderstorm as much as a gardener.

When you are choosing plants for your garden, make sure to consider all of the senses in addition to sight.

You’ll be glad you did when your garden rewards you with sensory overload day after day, season after season!

Meagan Provencher is the Senior Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. She can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@wasconursery.com.

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BUSINESS & CIVIC JANUARY 2024

37

INVESTING in an election year An examination of stock trends through a historical lens

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ith the warmth and joy of the holidays still fresh in our mind, many investors look to yet another new year and wonder what it might bring. A common question that our team started to hear beginning around October is what impact the U.S. presidential election would have on the markets. History shows markets typically are agnostic.

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $1 INVESTED IN THE S&P 500 INDEX 1926-2022

In USD. Growth of wealth shows the growth of a hypothetical investment of $1 in the securities in the S&P 500 index. S&P data © 2023 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved. Data presented in the growth of wealth chart is hypothetical and assumes reinvestment of income and no transaction costs or taxes. The chart is for illustrative purposes only and is not indicative of any investment.

& CIVIC JANUARY 2024 38 BUSINESS

Although it’s natural to want to make a market call based on who you think may win the election, history has shown that stocks have trended upward regardless of candidate or party.

How can that be? A couple of thoughts: • Publicly traded companies focus on running a successful business regardless of who is in the White House.

• Markets move based on many factors and not just on who is in a particular office.

WHAT TO DO? You are well advised to have a diversified portfolio and a disciplined investment strategy. It is exceedingly difficult to “time the market” based on a specific event like an election, although we understand the temptation to do so. I recently had a conversation with someone who had stopped putting money in her retirement savings account because it had “not made me any money” since January 2022. Think of how that person must feel after the way the fourth-quarter market rally. Remember, it is not timing the market; it is time in the market that best positions you for success.

If you have not done a year-end review with your financial advisor, now is the time to do so. If you need a fresh perspective, our team is a phone call away.

Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Diversification and asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Holding investments for the long term does not ensure a profitable outcome. Future investment performance cannot be guaranteed, and investment yields will fluctuate with market conditions. This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor, or plan provider. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Tom McCartney and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice.

Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.

Tom McCartney is the Founding Principal of My Advisor & Planner and a Wealth Manager, RJFS. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. My Advisor & Planner is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

Tom and his team are located at 107 S. 2nd St., Geneva, IL 60134 and can be reached at info@mapyourfuture.net, at 630-457-4068, or you can visit them at www.mapyourfuture.net.

MY ADVISOR & PLANNER helping assure lifestyle & legacy

Independent, confidential, private wealth management provided by industry veterans who focus on private business owners and executives, their families, and their key employees.

Our services include: • Investment Management • Life and Long-Term Care Insurance for Business and Estate Planning • Retirement Plans for Privately Owned Businesses

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630.457.4068

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info@mapyourfuture.net 107 S. 2nd Street Geneva, IL 60134 MapYourFuture.net

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRNSIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. My Advisor and Planner is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

BUSINESS & CIVIC JANUARY 2024

39

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