KCC_ KC Magazine March 2023

The changing of seasons

is one of the many reasons I love the Midwest. Nature’s cadence of growth, passing, and renewal in a cyclical sequence throughout the year helps sustain my need for change. Just when I feel as if I’ve had my fill of the current season’s conditions, a new chapter of the year unfolds. I’m now ready for temperatures to rise, and the landscape to change from hibernation and muted colors to growth and vibrant tones. I’m also ready to thoroughly clean, organize and declutter my house and yard to create a sense of balance in my life and home.

Within this March issue of Kane County Magazine, explore unique and ecofriendly backyard oasis possibilities with Aquascape (P. 8) while learning more about how to sustainably repurpose rainwater for your own needs. Make sure to review Wasco Nursery’s advice on spring clean-up dos and don’ts before you tackle your yard to ensure the most growth from your plants and lawn throughout the year (P. 16).

My husband and I have had the opportunity to remodel and update the three houses we’ve lived in since we married, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed creating a space that reflects our style and family’s needs. “Home is not a place, it’s a feeling,” is a recent quote I’ve seen and feel

Managerʼs NOTE on

holds true to the comfort felt within each living space. If you are looking for design or remodeling advice, you’ll find many recommended businesses within this issue ranging from outdoor to indoor experts. Speaking of experts, we’re celebrating Women’s History Month in March by including several locally owned women’s businesses spotlighting how they’ve built and maintained success throughout their careers (P. 24 and 28, respectively). These tenacious women might even inspire you to follow your own aspirations and “start something” of your very own.

Finally, if the seasonal change has motivated you to seek out a new adventure or climate, welcome some experienced advice to help make your next vacation stress free and thoughtfully planned (P. 34).

As always, thank you for reading!

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

Jonathan Bilyk, Kevin Druley, Patti MacMillan, Melissa Rubalcaba Riske, and Diane Krieger Spivak

Jaclyn Cornell, Local Sales Manager

Aquascape's AquaGarden is the premier example of innovation in garden and aquatic landscape design.

Check out more on page 8!

Photo courtesy of Aquascape

Next month: We’ll have the scoop on what’s popular in fashion!

This magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send your request with payment information to Shaw Media, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.

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

Now Open

GENEVA COMMONS & YORK VILLE CROSSING | W W W.HACIENDAFLAVORSOFMEXICO.COM

BUSINESS &

24 ALL IN

Four local women talk business ownership

28 STARTING SOMETHING NEW

Jamie Saam and Lisa Koivu help small businesses find their footing

30 LEGAL VS. ETHICAL

My Advisor and Planner takes a sharp look at ethics in wealth management

FAMILY IN FOCUS

32 PAVING THE PATH FORWARD

From the loss of a child, parents share their stories to help others

34 LET’S GO

Planning your next vacation with the pros

36 SLEDDING PAST DEADLINES

Suburban Superdad pauses and puts down the pen

38 ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN ST. CHARLES

St. Charles Park District goes (shamrock) green

ART & FASHION

40 ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Artist and Instructor Maggie Capettini captures transcendent beauty in her work

42 GRAB A BOOKMARK

Two book recommendations to check out in March

making a house a

HOME

Color, texture and organization are all details that make a home unique and personal. Certified Interior Designer Kristie Sandoval helps bring her clients’ imaginations and personalities to life with an interior expertise from the studs out.

“I’ve always loved interior design and I actually started moving furniture around in my bedroom when I was 16,” says Sandoval. “Then, from there, I found a job at an interior design firm to see if I would like it and I loved it. I graduated from Iowa State, which had a nationally accredited interior design program.”

Sandoval desired to learn the nuts and bolts of interior design, not just the decorating side of the profession.

“I worked for a construction company on the North Shore for over 16 years and they did design work and custom cabinetry, so I had the opportunity

to learn different aspects of interior design: the cabinetry, the tile and all the guts and the glory,” she says. “I liked learning the multiple disciplines so I was able to experience architecture and I was able to design cabinetry and walk into the shop to see it built.”

Sandoval has an acute understanding of what is behind the drywall as much as the paint brushed over it. “I think it’s important to have the foundation of knowing about construction just as much as making it aesthetically beautiful,” she says. “You want it to function and be beautiful in the space, which includes knowing where the walls are that you can move and the walls that are going to be more impactful when moving them.”

St. Charles was a natural choice for setting down roots as an interior design business. “It is very communitybased,” says Sandoval. “Everybody is so friendly here, it’s so diverse with

activities and it is such a beautiful town. I just love the houses in St. Charles.”

Alaric Designs provides an array of services, from full kitchen remodels to updating the living room. “I also teach color theory at the Geneva Park District, and I used to teach at the College of Design downtown,” says Sandoval. “There is just so much more to know about decorating than people realize. Color really impacts how you feel in a space more than you know.”

Sandoval is there for her clients, first and foremost. “Being able to offer people whatever they need, having to do with the inside of their home, is my joy,” she says. “I’m very loyal to my clients. I believe everyone deserves a beautiful space and I stick to the budget people have. I act as your representation for the design that you want and the design that you intend to get.”

Kristie Sandoval designs her clients’ visions from the ground up

Photos by Ryan PhotographyOcasio

Water THE POWER OF

AQUAGARDEN EMERGES AS A SUSTAINABLE OASIS

By Kevin Druley •Photos courtesy of Aquascape Construction

d Beaulieu describes himself as “very connected to water,” and that’s without considering how it comprises most of his body.

As vice president of field research and contractor development at Aquascape, a St. Charles company that develops products for manmade ponds and backyard water features, he strives to help customers share that sentiment.

“We’re definitely seeing a big jump in the understanding of all these different things that are happening,” Beaulieu said.

Visitors to the business at 901 Aqualand Way can see for themselves Aquascape’s AquaGarden, which showcases emerging and developing ideas and techniques in garden construction and storm water

management. It’s regularly accessible to the public and offers a chance for people to simply get ideas for home or commercial projects, or to start pursuing them.

Nicknamed “The Pond Professor,” Beaulieu – who has focused his studies on limnology, the science of bodies of freshwater, as well as marine biology –explains that the leading cause of coastal water pollution is storm water runoff.

Lawn fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and vehicle debris are among the matter storm water washes away each day.

“Rainwater is a great source of water before it gets dirty, and it gets dirty once it hits the ground,” Beaulieu said. “It picks up pollutants and things like that. But if we can capture it directly off of a roof, it usually is a very, very clean source of water.”

Common methods for collecting this precipitation include using rain barrels and small, underground rainwater capture systems. The AquaGarden provides a look at these as well as what’s on the cutting edge.

One strategy involves using different layers of river rocks and micro-organisms to help clean the water instead of chlorine and harsh chemicals. The natural mixture, when combined with the appropriate flow rate, can be used for drinking water systems and decorative fountains and ponds, Beaulieu said.

Aquascape, which opened in 1991, has expanded its scope through the years, working on numerous state, national and international projects. Its slope is notable, as well.

The “green roof” of the 256,000-square-foot facility was planted with native prairie grass and flowers and features a complete irrigation system. Covering more than four acres, it’s considered the largest “green roof” in North America, quite the surface area of eco-friendliness.

As “The Pond Professor” notes, one inch of water on one acre equals about 27,000 gallons. By using a living roof system instead of a hard surface, water doesn’t run off instantly. Instead, rainwater is held to feed plants while offering habitats for various pollinators and animals.

The roof also maintains a surface temperature similar to ground level.

Meanwhile, the soil protects the facility from the direct sun of the summer and acts as insulation during the winter.

If you’re looking to bring this concept home, however, think again.

“The problem is, unless you’re doing new construction, you can’t just simply add soil onto an existing roof because of weight,” Beaulieu said.

Of course, numerous other technologies and designs for homes and businesses – the ones that blossom under cover of the “green roof” – remain.

“We have more than enough people to assist,” Beaulieu said.

THE “GREEN ROOF”

SUSTAINABLE

&

TRUE TO SERVICE

Midwest Compost is keeping it simple

Atrue family business is unique nowadays, but Owner of Midwest Compost Charles Murphy and his son, Operations Manager Pat Murphy, run their business with the kind of values you don’t experience very often.

“We’ve been in business since 2000 and I have two operating locations, one operating in West Chicago and the other in Elgin as well as a production yard in Bartlett,” says Charles Murphy. “Two are landscape waste disposal transfer stations, and one has a curbside recycling facility transfer station as well. Additionally, both have retail and wholesale materials for landscape projects like mulch, compost and stone.” All products can be purchased online as well as in-person at the various locations. When it comes to landscape waste disposal, Midwest Compost accepts landscape waste from landscape companies, waste haulers and residents. “They bring in grass, leaves, anything organic that we accept, and we take that in to process it into compost,” says Murphy. Midwest Compost is also permitted to accept food scraps for the beneficial mix with landscape waste for the production of organic compost.

A big operation requires big equipment and Midwest Compost utilizes special equipment and vehicles to help make their process as efficient and safe as possible. “Our work requires the use of big rubber tire loaders, tub grinders, and semitrucks with special walking floor trailers for delivering to the customers,” says Pat Murphy. “We take in the woody material that we actually grind into mulch product. We use the front-end loaders to load the tub grinder. The tub grinder then grinds that material up to the specific size that we need and creates a finished product for us.”

Once this material is sized correctly, Midwest Compost then uses a coloring machine to dye the all-natural wood into desired shades for different products. Then the company utilizes semi trucks and trailers to deliver the products.

The mulching process is pretty important for the environment with the added benefit of using a waste product to create something of value as well having the benefit of aesthetics. “It’s not just composting, it’s mulching as well,” says Murphy. “It’s about reducing, reusing, and recycling of these materials. Anything we take in, we’re repurposing it into a finished product that can then be used naturally back into the landscape and will decompose back into the earth in a natural cycle. The finished product has nutrients in it, so there is value in it from an environmental and decorative standpoint.”

Plenty of wholesalers, nurseries and private residences employ Midwest Compost throughout the Tri-Cities area. “The biggest type of clients would be wholesalers, nurseries and landscapers supplying multiple different customers,” says Murphy. “We deliver to homeowners in local neighborhoods as well. We do everything from top-end wholesale, all the way down to mulch-to-your-door retail.”

Quality service is the father-son duo’s main focus throughout every aspect of their growing business. “We value customer relations, we prioritize service and it’s important to us to provide a service that has a value, not just the product,” says Murphy. “Every year we grow, and we strategically plan how to do that. We build these customer relationships, and we are looking for long-term relationships with our customers as a whole.”

This year, Midwest Compost added firewood to their production line, a move that showcases their practical and smart approach to customer-centric business. “It’s about maintaining what we’re doing,” says Murphy. “We’ll continue to look into growing and expanding while keeping the quality of service we’ve always had.”

EXTRAORDINARY an place

Caroline Scheeler, owner and curator of CAROLINE in Geneva, is no stranger to a wonderful life. For more than 30 years, she has gained priceless experience and the kind of worldliness only a globetrotter understands.

“I was the co-founder and creative director for Jayson Home in Chicago for nearly 30 years,” says Scheeler. “We’ve lived in Wayne for 26 of those years. I raised a family, did the nearly 100-mile round trip commute and traveled all over the world buying and being profoundly inspired by so many places I visited. The last few years gave me fresh perspective and a desire to start a new chapter.”

Like others, the pandemic lockdown was an opportunity for Scheeler to experience a necessary peace, shifting her center. “For many years, through my travels, I considered moving my family to a lot of amazing places,” she says. “After having a much simpler life during lockdown and working from home, I really started to appreciate where I am from. I was able to reconnect with my midwestern roots and found a great sense of purpose here.

Growing up in Elmhurst, Scheeler was surrounded by love and creativity with a successful architect father and a mother with natural ingenuity. “Our home was this beautiful, curated mashup of modern, antique and vintage,” says Scheeler. “It was special,

everything had a story, and I am deeply inspired to this day by them both.”

Working in the city and traveling around the world for years brought clarity and confidence to Scheeler’s business savvy. “At this point, CAROLINE doesn’t feel like a startup, it feels like an evolution of my creative vision,” she says. “I am thoroughly enjoying curating and merchandising in this magical space. My little shop is only 1,000 square feet but I am launching an e-commerce website this spring, so the sky is the limit – tiny but mighty!”

From the beginning, CAROLINE has been a family affair. “What was going to be a gap year for my

daughter Stella became a couple of gap years and, for now, she’s my partner at this shop,” says Scheeler. “It was also my husband Joe’s idea to name the store after me. So much that lead me to this point here, in Geneva, feels like kismet.”

The warm reception and bustling downtown Geneva was a delightful revelation to Scheeler. “We opened during the holidays which gave us an immediate boost. Geneva has such a thriving downtown and we were so thrilled to be welcomed by such a lovely and supportive clientele.”

Inside the shop you’ll find an astonishing display of exceptional items carefully curated by Scheeler. “This is who I am. It is my vision and a culmination of a lifetime of hunting and gathering and sharing,” she says. “The shop is a mix of vintage and antique wares, apothecary, pantry goods, personal accessories… unique goods for home and life.”

Offering a bespoke decorating service with unparalleled resources, Caroline works with clients to create interiors that speak to their unique story. CAROLINE is definitely inspired by European cultures and plans to bring inspiring wares from near and far to Geneva. n

CAROLINE, a new home shop in Geneva, is full of delightful treasures from around the world

Photos courtesy of Caroline Scheeler

HOME FINANCING HIGHLIGHTS:

NEW

A TEMPORARY BUYDOWN allows you to reduce your mortgage rate (and therefore payment) for up to the first 3 years of your mortgage2 llinois offers up to $10,000 down payment assistance3 through the ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IHDA).

To support homeownership opportunities, BLENDED SCORE4 helps more people qualify together on a home loan, allowing the use of all incomes to determine what they can afford.

Ask me about our $450 CREDIT toward appraisals for First Responders5

Get “A FRESH LOOK” on your home financing! It’s beneficial to review your mortgage every year, the same as you do with the dentist, doctor, or your car.

I am now a CERTIFIED VETERAN LENDING SPECIALIST

1 Some counties may vary. Ask for details. This advertisement is not endorsed or sponsored by any federal, state, or local government entity. Additional eligibility requirements may apply, including credit, income, and purchase limits.

2 1/0 Buydown reduces mortgage payment at one percent the first year; 1/1 Buydown reduces mortgage payment at one percent the first two years; 2/1 Buydown reduces mortgage payment at two percent the first year and one percent the second year; 3/2/1 Buydown reduces mortgage payment at three percent the first year, two percent the second year, and one percent the third year. Qualification based on Note Rate. Standard Agency Party contributions apply. Additional eligibility requirements may apply, including credit, income, and purchase limits.

3 4% Forgivable offers no monthly repayment on a second loan up to $6,000. 5% Deferred offers up to $7,500 to only be paid upon a repayment event. 10% Repayable offers a repayable interest-free loan up to $10,000 throughout 10 years. Additional eligibility requirements may apply, including credit, income, and purchase limits.

4 To be used with more than one borrower only. DU’s average median credit score will only be used in the eligibility assessment for non-RefiNow loans. This score will not be used for pricing, applicable mortgage insurance requirements, and will need to be provided at loan delivery. Additional eligibility requirements may apply, including credit, income, and purchase limits.

5 No cash value. Subject to credit approval and other program terms. Must close loan with First Centennial Mortgage. Must present discount prior to application. Cannot be combined with any other mortgage offer or discount. Additional conditions may apply and are subject to change. Discount is not a commitment to waive any term or condition of new loan. Must be a new purchase or refinance, secured by first mortgage.

CASSANDRA BAJAK

SR. MORTGAGE

NMLS #132763 (For licensing information, go to www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

877.463.2610. First Centennial Mortgage Corporation operates with the following licenses: AZ #BK-0928494, FL #MLD160, IL Residential Mortgage Licensee #MB.0004239, WI #43972BA. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend as defined by Section 12 CFR 1026.2 Regulation Z. Interest rates and products are subject to change at any time without notice or may not be available at the time of loan commitment or lock. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. 2471 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506. 83018_2301

The added benefit of decorative island legs provides extra seating and countertop space in a more functional way. Choosing a decorative leg style that compliments your kitchen will give it a furnished, completed look.

he kitchen is a room that nourishes both lives and homes. West DuPage Cabinets and Granite has 30 years of experience in home building and design. Here are some tips and trends for kitchen aesthetics for 2023 and beyond.

WHAT'S IN

Soft gold cabinet pulls and light fixtures with white and wood accents provide classy, warm and elegant design choices.

n Photos by Ramona Sanzeri

Appliance garages help conceal multiple countertop appliances.

Upper cabinet lighting highlights unique decorative touches, personalizing the space.

Elegant and timeless elliptical backsplashes and cabinet accents fit well into any design, adding depth and character.

A textured farmhouse sink adds simplistic character to a clean design.

STYLE

Collaborate your needs with sink accessories to fit your lifestyle without compromising counter space.

DESIGN OPTIONS THAT MAKE YOUR KITCHEN TIMELESS AND ELEGANT

Glass lighting pendants open and accent the design by providing a transparent touch.

Extending quartz countertops to the backspash helps complete a seamless, clean look.

Spring is finally on the horizon. Birds are chirping. Bulbs are popping up. The grass is greening. I’m sure by now you have been poking around your garden looking for signs of life. And I’m sure you’ve also seen all the “yuck” that needs to be cleaned up. In my own garden, I see all manner of debris, including dog toys that have been buried since November under the snow, a trowel someone left out (grrr…), and piles and piles of leaves and garden debris. Now is a great time to clean it all up and get it done before the plants really start popping up.

You have probably heard all kinds of internet warnings not to clean up old leaves and such from the garden lest you disturb larvae and other creatures. Now that we have had warmer weather and biologically, things are going as planned, it’s OK to clean up. Don’t worry about temperature fluctuations or frost warnings – the plants all know if it’s OK to be awake. If you wait too long, your chores will be harder as you’ll have to be more careful around newly sprouted plants!

EVERYBODY CLEAN CleanCleanUp,Up

SPRING CLEANUP DO'S AND DON'TS

q Rake out old piles of matted leaves and toss them in your compost pile. If they are thawed and not too wet, you can shred them with your lawnmower and toss them back in the garden, but don’t leave whole piles of smushed-together leaves or they will just make moldy wet patches in the garden that can smother emerging plants.

q Cut back perennials and remove old debris and flower/seed heads. Add them to the compost pile as long as you had no fungal issues last year (peonies, black-eyed Susan, and phlox can sometimes have fungal issues that overwinter, so it’s best to throw those away vs. adding to the compost pile).

q Cut grasses all the way down to the ground as far as you can go. It’s best to do this as early as possible so the sun can warm the crown and encourage new growth. Some grasses come up earlier than others (feather reed grass comes up way early!), so cutting grasses back is a good early spring chore. Pro tip: Cinch the “waist” of taller grasses with a bit of twine to hold them all in one bunch so the tops don’t blow all over while you are removing them. You can use an electric hedge trimmer, hand saw, or pruners to cut at the bottom. The twine keeps it all neat and tidy.

q Trim roses back to about 12-18 inches tall, removing any dead canes. Trim them to an even height and make sure mulch or leaves aren’t piled around their bases anymore. Fertilize and treat with systemic insect controls to prevent budworm and Japanese beetles.

q DO NOT TRIM SPRING FLOWERING SHRUBS OR TREES or you will lose their blooms for this year. Lilacs, viburnum, dogwood and other spring bloomers set their flower buds the previous year. If you prune them now before they flower, you’ll be cutting off all of your new flowers! Watch your landscaper/lawn mower if someone else is doing your cleanup. No spring pruning! It is safe, however, to trim hydrangea, weigela, forsythia, and other summer/fall bloomers as they bloom on new growth, but stay away from your favorite lilacs! Rule of thumb for spring flowering shrubs: Prune in June.

q Fluff up your old mulch and only top dress as necessary. There is no need to dump tons of mulch on your gardens each year. Only add more if your base is less than 2 inches or so. I don’t use hardwood mulch in my established perennial gardens. I add a light layer of compost/leaf litter every year and turn it in as I weed and clean up. Perennials and ground covers spread better when

8 Tips to Begin the Gardening Season on the Right Foot

EVERYBODY CLEAN UP!

they aren’t buried in mulch. If your mulch is more than 2 inches or so around your plants and garden, remove it or redistribute it so it’s back to the 2 to 3-inch maximum. Heavy layers of thick, matted mulch are not good for plants. Plus it wastes the budget that you could be spending on live plants vs. dead shredded up plants!

q And for gosh sakes: DO NOT VOLCANO MULCH YOUR TREES. Yes, I’m yelling that as loud as I can so you all can hear it! If you can’t see the root flair (look this up if you need to see an example), then it’s bad for the tree. If you want your trees to last well into their

elderly years, then no mulch should ever touch the trunk of the tree. Ever. Rake it away from the trunk (you may need to do that each season or after heavy rains) and expose the root flair. Mulch should not be more than 2 to 3 inches on top of tree roots.

q Fertilize all plants with a slow release, organic fertilizer such as Plant Tone. Easy to spread, mistake proof, and your plants will thank you for it!

Now get out there and poke around and take advantage of the warming spring weather. Pretty soon it will be too hot, and we’ll want to be sitting in the shade enjoying our gardens!

Meagan is the Senior Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. She can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@wasconursery.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Davey Tree Expert Company keeps tree growth healthy for a long and stable lifetime

HEIRLOOMS Living

Trees provide the oxygen we breathe, shade on a hot summer’s day and a home for treehouses where kids can let their imagination run wild – to name a few. Their health is just as important as any other living thing. At Davey Tree Expert Company, science and passion help keep Grandpa’s oak alive for generations to come and they afford the knowledge of planting new life on land where it will thrive for decades.

Assistant District Manager Steve Matravers is a boardcertified arborist dedicated to the prevention of bad outcomes and the longevity of trees on any land.

“What I pride myself on as an arborist is helping people to retain their trees,” says Matravers. “If you’re calling me up to cut your tree down, you’re calling me way too late. We’re really tree maintenance people as our primary goal.”

From the start of Davey Tree Expert Company, the company’s philosophy has revolved around the individual care of each tree. “One of our main services is tree pruning, whether that’s removing dead branches from large, mature trees, or whether that’s training and structural pruning for young trees,” says Matravers. “We also do a lot of plant healthcare when it comes to diseases and insects as well as fertilization, whether it’s generic fertilization or very specific nutrient deficiencies.”

The main idea is preventative care. “A growing part of our business is tree planting,” says Matravers. “We deal with a lot of trees that were planted poorly or out of place with the soil they need. Because we know the problems that occur, we can help make them successful.”

Davey Tree Expert Company serves a wide variety of clientele, from cities to individual residences. “The great majority of our clients are residents and estates,” says Matravers. “We also do quite a bit of work for homeowner associations. To sum up our values, simply, the company motto is ‘Do it Right or Not at All.’”

Arborists like Matravers help educate clients on the technicalities behind trees and their root systems. “What people don’t realize is that there is a lot of science behind the arborist profession,” says Matravers. “I am a board-certified Master Arborist and there are credentials referred to as a Certified Arborist, and those are all accreditations that we can show as a level of expertise. Here at Davey, there are people with Masters Degrees and higher – there is a lot of science behind proper tree care.”

When a client calls Davey, they will receive the entire spectrum of care, not just for the tree, but for the land and the house it may grow close to as well.

“Whenever I’m talking to potential clients, the first thing we address is safety in regard to their home and property,” says Matravers. “Then we talk about how we can maintain the property. Then we go into tree health – how do we make the trees that are on someone’s property healthy and beautiful for as long as possible.”

It is so important to maintain the trees on your property for a variety of reasons and some may avoid the task due to lack of understanding. With Davey Tree Expert Company, you can be assured of next-level quality care for your trees and, by extension, your family home.

n DAVEY TREE EXPERT COMPANY www.davey.com

Photos courtesy of Davey Tree Expert Company

Around Kane County

Home Shops

Spring is the season to give your home a fresh look. Find unique furniture and décor at these five shops in Kane County.

Photos courtesy of: Bell Jar Vintage, Red Hive Market, The Cottage, The Pep Line, and Trend + Relic

The Pep Line

201 Cedar Ave., St. Charles (630) 549-7088

thepepline.com

Bring your taste to the forefront and stand out with the help of this stylish and trendy home furnishings boutique full of gorgeous items for any personality. Choose from sophisticated home accessories, furniture, lighting, kitchen furnishings, décor and much more.

Trend + Relic

1501 Indiana Ave., St. Charles (630) 803-5253

trendandrelic@gmail.com

This “creative co-op” features a team of merchants and artisans who work to curate and handcraft the most unique and quality items for anyone to treasure in their home. Items include furniture, décor, candles and more.

Bell Jar Vintage

313 W. State St., Geneva (847) 514-3350

belljarvintage.com

Every bit and bauble in this shop is chosen carefully for vintage and antique charm. Items at Bell Jar Vintage are perfect to cherish and showcase in your home.

Red Hive Market

6 W. Wilson St., Batavia (630) 326-9016

redhivemarket.com

This sprawling and one-of-a-kind shop is located in historic downtown Batavia. Red Hive Market features artisanal, vintage, antique, upcycled and recycled items for every taste and style.

The Cottage

227 S. 3rd St., Unit 103, Geneva (847) 409-5834

thecottagegeneva.com

Married couple Jonna and Sean own The Cottage in Geneva. Jonna finds the trendiest furnishings and Sean creates his own furniture for the shop where you’ll find unique items made, or found, with love and passion for creating a home.

REAL ESTATE REAL WORLD in the

The Move Smarter Team guides clients through home sales, from start to finish

Real estate is quickly becoming one of the most relevant topics in our country today. After the pandemic vastly affected housing and market rates, the time has come to start paying attention as the tides turn. Business owner and Real Estate Broker Samantha Bauman at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago has the heart and tenacity to help guide real estate investors on any level through the often arduous process. BHHS Chicago is a leader in Chicago’s real estate industry with 24 office throughout the Chicagoland area.

“I became a realtor seven years ago with what is now Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Chicago, and as business grew I decided to bring on a business partner, Raul Delgado, and we created The Move Smarter Team.” says Bauman.

“My home base was our Wheaton office and, just recently, I’ve moved further west into Batavia and have fallen in love with the Tri-Cities. You go to a different community like the Tri-Cities and it’s so unique and different and it created this idea of mine to open up an office in Geneva.”

Berkshire Hathaway corporate agreed with Bauman’s plan and soon, the Geneva office was off to a running start. “To be successful, you really have to embrace the community,” says Bauman. “It’s about getting involved in the chambers, getting involved in the park districts.”

As a successful real estate broker, Bauman is dedicated to the advocacy of her clients, and she has instilled that into the philosophy of her branch as well. “Sometimes I have to share bad news, and sometimes I have to share

good news,” says Bauman. “It’s this life journey you are going through when purchasing your first house or moving out of a house you’ve lived in for fifty years. It’s an emotional experience.”

To Bauman, anyone can put up a for-sale sign, but she desires to be there with her people through the worst and best of the process. “My clients have become my friends and family,” says Bauman. “When you go through big things in someone’s life, you learn a lot about each other and if you have that foundation, why stop it after the closing table.”

In times of uncertainty and what seems like constant change, Bauman is a rock for her family and her clients, a mentality that extends throughout her fellow agents at Berkshire Hathaway. “There are plenty of realtors and real estate companies out there, but I am

here to be your advocate, to teach you, guide you and be a cheerleader for the community,” says Bauman. “I’m excited to branch out and get involved in all these different communities. I’ll break down housing market terms in a way people will understand as it pertains to their neighborhoods. I want to be a resource for the community.” n THE MOVE SMARTER TEAM

CELEBRATE CELEBRATE

ROOKIES 1

ST. CHARLES

1545 W. Main St. St. Charles

P: 630.513.0681

Corned Beef & Cabbage

ELGIN

ROOKIES 2

THE GROVE, ELGIN

2486 Bushwood Drive Elgin

P: 847.551.9006

ROOKIES 3

HUNTLEY

12220 Princeton Dr. (Rt. 47) Huntley

P: 847-669-8600

ROOKIES 4

POPLAR CREEK PLAZA

4607 West Higgins Rd. Hoffman Estates

ROOKIES 6 GENEVA 1996 S. Kirk Rd., Geneva

P: 630-402-0468

ROOKIES 5 ROSELLE 1360 Lake St. Roselle P: 847-278-1666

ROOKIES 7

LAKE 72 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake

P: 815-893-2030

Enjoy

ROSELLE

STEAK DINNER SPECIAL ALL MONTH LONG

SOON

CORNED

Tender corned beef and cabbage served with steamed carrots, buttered parsley red potatoes and Irish soda bread. Your choice of soup or salad.

Four area women share the joys and hardships that come with the experience of owning their own businesses.

By Patti MacMillan

TANYA SMITH (LEFT) & JESSICA DEMPSEY (RIGHT)

TANYA SMITH ADDELISE

An entrepreneurial spirit — it’s something Tanya Smith has always felt innately. It was in 2016 when this force within met its purpose in the world. It was the year Smith established her marketing firm, Addelise.

Named for Smith’s daughters Addison and Elise, the Geneva-based firm works with businesses across the country, helping clients with branding, web development and merchandise as well as print and storefront design.

“We get to know each of our clients on a personal level,” Smith said. “We want to know their passions and how they want to grow.”

Clients of the firm, which now boasts four staffers including a creative director, run

the gamut from boutiques, breweries and fitness companies to those in the industrial space.

“It’s so exciting to come up with a brand and see how it touches and resonates with the client and their vision,” Smith said.

Exciting though it’s always been, Smith admits the early years were challenging.

“I was wearing all the hats, but now I have a team,” said Smith, who has also embraced automation for many of the firm’s administrative needs.

In looking at her burgeoning business, Smith is the personification of gratitude.

“I can’t express how thankful I am,” she said. “I get to follow my dreams.”

DEKOVIA LIVINGSTON LIVINGSTON TAXES

Dekovia Livingston lives her life by a mantra she’s had to learn the hard

“You’ve got to make yourself recession proof,” proclaimed the owner of Livingston 9/11 and past downturns in the economy had left Livingston, who previously worked as an electrical engineer, scouting for new opportunities in business

Livingston started out in the field of tax preparation in 2004, and has seen her company, in which she handles both personal and tax matters, grow considerably.

Her professional life took an unexpected turn in 2021 when she received a call from the Internal Revenue Service. The government

agency wanted to partner with Livingston to aid those grappling with difficult financial circumstances. She said yes.

“It’s about helping people who are struggling like those who are delinquent in taxes because they can’t pay the fees,” said Livingston of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. “A lot of people are immigrants who are scared or unsure of the process.”

And it’s not only tax assistance on offer but a range of workshops focused on budgeting, home buying, building interview skills, and more Livingston finds the work immensely gratifying.

“I love being able to tell people ‘let me help you out,’” she said.

For more information or to support the VITA program and its mission, visit www.freeforyouservices.org.

JANET FOSTER

WILSON TRAVEL & CRUISE

Since 1976, Janet Foster has had the same boss: Herself.

For more than 35 years, she has been president of Wilson Travel & Cruise in St. Charles

“I had to learn the business from scratch,” said Foster, who purchased the business from its original owners in 1986.

One of the first things she discovered about the travel industry remains as true today as it was then—the only constant is (frequent) change. Never was this more the case than when the pandemic struck.

“Our entire industry was impacted, perhaps more than any other,” said Foster, whose team currently includes three consultants. “We had zero options. If no one is traveling, no one is traveling.”

Foster’s business weathered the storm, though the pandemic’s impact – particularly labor shortages in the

hospitality industry abroad – continue to be felt.

It’s a keen eye to the ins and outs of international travel that keep Foster and her staff busy. Their work centers largely on planning customized itineraries for clients looking to visit Europe as well as other distant destinations.

“We find out what the customer wants, and we have the resources to put the pieces together,” Foster said.

This includes any and all transportation, accommodations, tours and more. The company can also offer plenty of personal experiences and advice for those asking.

“Our motto is ‘ask us, we’ve been there,’” Foster said.

In traveling extensively for both business and pleasure, Foster has set foot on all seven continents.

“The world is an unbelievable place to go.”

JULIANA CANCELO BOCADITOS CAFÉ

Outside, late winter reigns, but inside Batavia’s Bocaditos Café, the sights and the smells are an altogether warmer climate.

Mother-and-daughter team, Silvia Sanchez and Juliana Cancelo, own and run the Argentine restaurant — a place where patrons can delight in the country’s cuisine and wine and an array of artisanal goods such as apparel and accessories.

“Becoming business owners has been a completely new foray for us,” said Cancelo of the enterprise. The two opened their doors in 2019 but relocated to their current space at 11 N. Batavia Avenue in late 2021. “My mom was a kindergarten teacher, and I was in the business world. When she moved away from teaching, she bugged me to open a restaurant for years.”

It’s a move that’s paid off as people seek out Bocaditos Café for its farand-away favorite: empanadas.

“We use fillings that are traditional to Buenos Aires, which is where we’re from,” Cancelo said.

The baked dough-encased dish comes with assorted fillings, from ground beef and chicken to vegetarian choices like onion and pepper. The café also sells sandwiches, salads and grilled sausage with chimichurri sauce.

Owning and operating a business brings about many blessings, among them the connections Cancelo and her mother have made with members of the community. But it’s not without its share of difficulties, the largest of Cancelo can distill into one word: “Construction.”

But following such essential work as the installation of gas and water lines, Bocaditos has found itself primed to welcome patrons hungry for the authentically delicious.

JULIANA CANCELO (LEFT) & SILVIA SANCHEZ (RIGHT)

START SOMETHING! These women want to help you

Jamie Saam and Lisa Koivu are here to help with small business development

By Diane Krieger Spivak

• Photos by April Duda Photography and courtesy of Start Something Studio

It’s no secret that the pandemic has made the entire world rethink business. Working from home has spawned a whole new generation of small business owners, many of them women, and many of those, moms.

That’s where the Start Something Studio – Small Business Help Center comes in.

“We saw a need,” says Jamie Saam, who launched the women-owned digital marketing company in Batavia in August with Lisa Koivu. Saam has an extensive business background, including co-owner of a plumbing business with her husband for 12 years, former city council member, former executive director of Batavia MainStreet, and co-creator of Batavia Boardwalk Shops, among other positions.

“Through all of that I was seeing that local small business entrepreneurs needed so much assistance,” says Saam. Saam praised existing business resources but saw a need for a space female owners in particular could “come in, collaborate, bounce ideas off and brainstorm.” She and Koivu, a website designer, work together to help those small businesses. “We thought it would be good to give business owners a space to get friendly, [gain] honest advice and assistance with

websites, social media training and accountability partnership.”

Start Something’s clientele includes a plethora of businesses such as small retail, dementia training, realtors, therapists, online businesses, food-based, and nutrition-based businesses. Some even conduct classes at the studio such as healthy cooking, knitter education and life and health coaching.

Growth in the small business community in the Tri-City area has been “huge” in recent years, according to Saam. “That’s kind of what got us started,” she said. “You’re seeing more home-based businesses and a lot of them are female. People want something that they feel is going to be flexible in their schedule and their lifestyle; something that works around kids and family time.”

Start Something’s team offers a free 30-minute consultation which can be booked on their website. “We sit and chit chat. We see what they want to talk about, and we try to send them away with a couple of takeaways,” says Saam. Clients then receive proposals for services based on their needs. There are two membership levels. Based on the level the client chooses, services can include access to space, coworking, scheduling social media, monthly chats, one-

hour working sessions, SEO and website assistance, networking events and a small business book club. “We provide the team that most of them don’t have because they are solo entrepreneurs,” says Saam. While Start Something’s target audience is female, the studio does have male clients as well. “We are an everyone-friendly environment, but we saw a strong female camaraderie in Batavia and Aurora,” says Saam. “The women were looking for community, for help, for a female-focus.”

The community aspect is particularly important, Saam has learned through the years. “We all thrive better in community. We noticed that during the pandemic. Here, we’ve created a positive, friendly environment to walk into,” she says. “We hear it every day. I think the energy we’re sharing, while it is stressful, can be fun and exciting. There’s so much that happens around the table. A lot of tears happen around the table. These women can be vulnerable in a fixed, comfortable, fun, safe environment where they can get it all out and work through things. We know women; that’s what we are.” Book a free consultation at https://startsomething. studio or contact Saam directly at jamie@ startsomething.studio.

LEGAL ETHICAL

This month my wife and I attempted to purchase a historic building with the plan of moving My Advisor & Planner into it. It was my first endeavor to do this, and fortunately we had assembled an excellent team of advisors to help. We carefully viewed the property, had it appraised, agreed to terms with the seller and we signed both the contract to purchase as well as the escrow agreement. Unfortunately, rather than countersigning the negotiated contract, the seller elected to go to another buyer. We incurred real expense in this exercise, which I am choosing to view as tuition as I certainly got “schooled.”

Was the seller’s action illegal? No, it was not. Was it unethical? I certainly think so, but you’ll need to draw your own conclusion.

This caused me to pause and reflect on the differences between legality

and ethics in wealth management. My team’s conviction to transparency, full disclosure and to a fiduciary mindset resonate to our very core. Unfortunately, many of the people who see us learn that their prior financial advisors have not always had the client’s best interest in mind. Although usually the prior work done was legal, we often find the services provided by clients’ past advisors to be unethical and detrimental. Here are just a few examples:

• A senior couple were sold an annuity with a “lifetime withdrawal” benefit. Unfortunately, they had to own the annuity contract for 10 years before this benefit would begin to work for them. They shared that their advisor did not explain that they would be 90 years old before realizing this benefit.

• A couple who are successful professionals with advanced

college degrees were convinced to take a significant portion of their net worth to purchase indexed annuities. The couple was convinced by the agent who sold the products that these annuities would mirror a major stock market index. Unfortunately, the insurance company that underwrote this product capped the return at 1%, resulting in the couple feeling “stuck” due to extensive penalties to get out of the product. (More on why our team hates index annuities in a future article.)

• A widow had her trusts managed by a prominent trust bank that claimed to have written the book on being a fiduciary. That trust company then proceeded to invest her significant assets in their own, poorly performing proprietary investment products and would not take time to provide her even an annual review.

• A nonprofit had a nationally known brokerage firm manage their endowment. The financial advisor utilized an investment model managed by the home office of the brokerage firm. Eventually, several highly rated funds in the portfolio were swapped out for new, unproven and unrated proprietary funds of the brokerage firm without advising the nonprofit’s Board of Directors or investment committee. The Board of Directors has a fiduciary responsibility to the nonprofit and was not happy. Space limitations prevent sharing many, many more stories. Although the acts described above were not illegal, our team sure finds them to be unethical. Wealth management services can be complex and complicated and can be challenging to stay on top of for even the most enlightened client. Here are a few suggestions for you to try and protect yourself:

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.

In business and finance, not all legal doings are created equal

• Work with a fiduciary who does not use proprietary investment products. Although proprietary products can be competitive, the potential conflict of interest is not worth it.

• Demand transparency regarding the financial advisor’s compensation as well as of all the expenses you’ll either directly or indirectly incur.

• Understand the limitations of the financial advisor you are working with. Is your financial advisor making a recommendation to deploy a financial product because it is truly in your best interest or are they doing so

because they have limited licenses and can only offer a limited set of solutions?

• Research your financial advisor. At a minimum, look up their history by visiting https://brokercheck. finra.org, https://adviserinfo.sec. gov, and by visiting your state’s department of insurance website. Be especially watchful for any disclosures regarding sales practice violations.

You’ve worked hard to build your net worth. Take the time to thoroughly vet the professionals you are entrusting to oversee your life’s savings.

 Tom McCartney is the Founding Principal of My Advisor & Planner and a Wealth Manager. Securities and Investment Advisory Services Offered Through Raymond James Financial Services, a Registered Broker/Dealer and Investment Adviser, Member FINRA/ SIPC. My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated. Tom and his team can be reached at info@mapyourfuture.net, at 630-457-4068, or you can visit them at www.mapyourfuture.net.

Paving the

PATH FORWARD

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

From the loss of a child, parents share their stories to be a voice for others

By definition, advocacy is to speak for others. As a child, Ashley Tabata remembers helping her uncle as he spoke up for those suffering from the AIDS epidemic and today the Geneva resident finds herself in the role of advocate for parents who, like her, experienced perinatal loss.

“The loss of my daughter forever changed me,” Tabata said.

In pregnancy, there are questions at every turn, but when parents shift from asking what color to paint the baby’s room to facing a health crisis, there is little to help prepare for that moment. In many medical facilities, there is no one to support the parents’ emotional needs.

Tabata vividly remembers the pregnant emergency room doctor who delivered the news that her daughter no longer had a heartbeat. She was in her second trimester of pregnancy and remembers the sudden rush of emotions she felt when she received the news. She looks back on the day she delivered Harper Janette in 2019 and while there were many caring nurses and doctors, she wished she had more.

Today she is just a few months away from completing a Master of Social Work program and working on becoming a perinatal social worker specializing in perinatal loss, pregnancy after loss and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Through the loss of her daughter and her own healing journey, she found the calling to be an advocate for others.

“I am very mindful and honored when someone allows for me to be a part of their healing journey,” Tabata said. “We need to create safe spaces for someone grieving an unbearable loss and to honor their human experience.”

In addition to finding opportunities to help others in a clinical setting, Tabata said she plans to integrate perinatal support with her yoga practice, My Inner Peace Wellness. For years she has taught

yoga classes, including pre-natal, post-natal and even yoga for children. Tabata said yoga and therapy can offer the opportunity for the body to release trauma.

“It’s OK to explore ways to allow grief and gratitude to co-exist,” Tabata said. “There is a lot of emotions that can come with this journey.”

While many medical facilities provide staff training on pregnancy loss, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove has included personnel dedicated to perinatal support for more than 30 years. Today, Jessica Kincaid, a registered nurse, is the perinatal support service coordinator at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, a facility whose primary responsibility is providing support to parents in a pregnancy crisis.

“I have a unique position and not all hospitals have a person dedicated to helping patients with perinatal crisis,” Kincaid said.

Perinatal support refers to the care before a pregnancy, the duration of pregnancy and postpartum. Kincaid has cared for patients with highrisk pregnancy, those who’ve had losses early in the pregnancy as well as supported families who’ve lost a child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Kincaid first spoke to Jennie Goosby when, at 23 weeks into her pregnancy, she went to the Downers Grove hospital and began experiencing health problems. Goosby and her husband, Tony Bakken, had planned to deliver their first child at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, but they didn’t expect that would happen at 26 weeks and six days into the pregnancy.

Their daughter, Charlotte, was born Aug. 4, 2022. She died a few hours later.

Goosby recalled how Kincaid was the first person she cried with following the death of her daughter.

“I remember she talked us through what we needed to deal with that day, what could wait,” Goosby said. “She saw the humanity.”

While each person faces the loss of a child in their own way, Kincaid said one thing she has learned in her role is that time and again, parents want to be able to talk about it.

Kincaid’s role doesn’t end once a patient is discharged from the hospital. She continues to meet each month with families experiencing loss through the Advocate Health Care’s Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support program, which provides resources including opportunities for parents to meet in discussion groups.

The support group meets monthly at the hospital. Kincaid said it recognizes pregnancy loss at any stage, including those that occur just a few weeks into the pregnancy. Additionally, Kincaid has organized remembrance events, as well as events to mark Mother’s and Father’s Day.

The labor and delivery nurse said she feels honored to be a part of the families and their journeys. She said her favorite part of the role is when she meets or learns about rainbow babies, a term used to describe a child born following a couple’s prior loss.

“Those are happy days,” Kincaid said.

She understands there is no expiration on grief, so the Share support group welcomes members, including those who were not patients of the hospital, to attend the group as long as needed. Some have been a part of the group for years, she said.

For Goosby and Bakken, the support group has been a way to share their feelings, to talk openly and to glean advice from other members. Bakken said talking with the group has helped him validate emotions, like when he didn’t want to let go of an object he had bought for his daughter.

The couple said it’s important that they talk about their daughter, to remember her and recognize she existed.

“I feel I have to be vocal to help other people, so they don’t feel alone,” Goosby said.

Jennie Goosby & Tony Bakken

Jessica Kincaid Ashley Tabata

GO!

Travel. Whether you are looking to fill up your passport or find a quiet spot to sit in the sand, there is one thing for certain. The time to plan is now.

The first few months of the year are always a busy time for Terri Henderson of Geneva Travel and Cruise, but after more than 33 years of experience in the travel industry, she said this year is already off to one of her biggest yet.

“There is a lot of pent-up demand for travel,” Henderson said.

While it’s possible to book an entire vacation from one’s phone, there’s a renewed interest in seeking a travel professional who can research and book air and hotel reservations.

“With all my years of experience in doing this, and I travel as often as possible, I think that firsthand knowledge can be very helpful,” Henderson said. “My team and

Travel pros take the stress out of vacation planning

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske Photos courtesy of Terri Henderson and Kathy Barkauskas

I are there before, during and after your travel.”

While tropical locations like Mexico, the Bahamas and Hawaii remain popular destinations, Henderson said she’s seen an increased interest in Europe for 2023, with Italy as one of the top locations. Her team can help a client whether they’re interested in an escorted tour through the ruins of Pompeii or a visit to a Tuscany winery, and even find experiences, like making fresh pasta.

An internet search of resorts in Riviera Maya can list dozens of results. Kathy Barkauskas, concierge vacation planner and owner of Teddy Bear Travel, LLC, said she can help her clients find the one to best match their interest, whether it boasts great water parks for the family or a quiet resort with great dining options.

One of Barkauskas’ favorite itineraries is helping families plan their Disney vacations. As a child, she grew up going to Disney World each year for a family vacation. It was after taking her own children to Disney World that she realized the opportunity to change careers and follow her passion for travel and travel planning.

A TIP FROM TERRI HENDERSON Make sure passports are valid for at least six months after your planned return date. Apply for or renew passports as early as possible.

She’s quick to point out Disney travel today is far different than the experiences of her childhood, and a travel professional can be a great asset, from navigating accommodations with more than 30 on-property hotels to helping a family plan experiences like meals with characters or special activities. She often sets her alarm for a 4 a.m. wake up to book her clients dining reservations.

“Having a travel agent is a nice luxury,” she said.

The past few years have rocked the travel industry and if there’s one lesson to be learned, it’s say yes to travel insurance, Henderson said.

“We’ve always recommended it, but more so now after COVID,” she said.

Travel insurance can provide cancellation protection, medical coverage while traveling and some plans even provide protection if one needs bed rest, quarantine or to extend a trip due to illness.

“Not all travel insurance is created equal,” Barkauskas said. “Shopping for travel insurance is almost as important as shopping for the trip itself.”

For international travel Henderson said it’s important to check passports and make sure they are valid at least six months after the date of travel return. She said processing for passports appears to be back to normal, but she encourages anyone applying or renewing to do that as early as possible to avoid stress.

Bunny Trolley

A TIP FROM KATHY BARKAUSKAS Shop for travel insurance to protect yourself in the event of trip cancellation, medical needs arising while traveling, etc.

Sledding Past Deadlines

It wouldn’t be fair to completely blame the melting snow for reordering the priority list. But on that sunny, cold, winter Saturday, it certainly helped to bring a bit of dazzling clarity to what really needed to be done, deadlines or not.

For the past quarter century, respect for the concept of deadlines has been seared into my brain. It began with many years spent in what is affectionately known in the world of journalism as “the newsroom” – a fancy term for a large room, usually in an office building somewhere, holding a collection of desks and cubicles where reporters, photographers and others in the business of newsgathering spend hours under the all-seeing gaze of a group of often cantankerous folks known as “editors.”

For those unfamiliar with newsrooms, allow this seasoned journalist to wax romantic for a moment. Few office environments can match the vibe and verve of a well-populated newsroom: The squawk of the police scanner, periodically carrying over the

To-do lists will always be there, moments with your kids will not

ringing of phones. Rare moments of relative silence, against the clacking of keyboards, voices murmuring questions, gaggles meeting inside or just outside cubicle clusters, punctuated by occasional outbursts of laughter or disagreement.

The creative friction generated by a blend of creative, verbiage-obsessed personalities keeps everyone on their toes, and can produce truly LOL moments, assuming punny wordplay and witty put downs and comebacks are your thing.

The moments often came fast and furiously, usually to the point where the exchange was unfortunately forgotten, amid a constant barrage of laughter (or groans from others in the office less appreciative of the displayed wit.)

With this in mind, a quick-thinking reporter at one of the newsrooms at which I was stationed years ago had the sense to quietly begin jotting down the exchanges, then dropping the lists into everyone’s inbox at the end of each month, generating a fresh shower of guffaws from throughout the office as the moments were relived.

While most of the intraoffice missives have been lost to the ether, a few notable examples still stand out in memory.

One of my favorites?

Reporter 1: “I love deadlines.”

Reporter 2: “Especially the whooshing sound they make when they blow past.”

Jokes aside, for those in the news and writing industry, deadlines remain (mostly) serious business.

After all, miss deadlines too often, and those attentive editors may just help reporters, whether young or more seasoned, to find new lines of work.

The memory remains a strong motivator. Even when my duties shifted to a home office, tucked in my basement, away from the immediate gaze of any editors, the respect for deadlines remained.

Yet, there I was, on a Saturday morning that, by all accounts, had been reserved for writing and checking boxes off the to-do list, instead standing at the top of a wind-blown, snow-covered hill.

The knowing nods from the other dads sharing the top of the hill with me told me they got it, too.

While the work will still be there waiting tomorrow, the snow may not, disappearing even quicker than the rapidly receding young childhood of the not-so-little one who greeted me that morning with a running hug and “Can we go sledding today, Daddy, please, please, please?”

So, on a bright sunny winter morning, the long to-do list got shoveled to the side, replaced with a trip to a local park, to listen to the kid whoop and holler as she slid down to the bottom of that hill on a plastic disc, and then again and again, whooshing right past my deadlines, until frozen noses, toes and fingers allowed the desire for hot cocoa and a warm lunch to prevail.

Because, while the glare of editors on deadline may remain seared in the memory, it can easily be obscured by the gaze from the pleading little eyes of a child, both of us looking out the window, knowing that snow will probably be gone tomorrow.

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

FUN St. Patrick’s Day

IN ST. CHARLES

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske • Photos courtesy of St. Charles Park District

It’s time to go green. Shamrock green.

Come dressed in your Irish best to start celebrating the magic of St. Patrick’s Day! St. Charles’ downtown activities are held on Saturday, March 11. Before the parade starts and the green beverages are served, the St. Charles Park District is planning for some morning fun to commence the festive day.

The second annual Shamrockin’ Along the Fox River all terrain 8K race course begins at 9 a.m. in Pottawatomie Park. Runners will spend a large portion of the 5-mile race on the bike path parallel to the Fox River, said Melissa Caine, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation. The race is in partnership with Dick Pond Athletics.

In its inaugural race last year Caine said she loved to see the runners’ enthusiasm for the event with plenty of runners wearing green, even green tutus and striped green socks. Following the race there will be refreshments, music and awards for top runners in this chip-timed event.

For those who prefer a stroll to running strides, the St. Charles Park District is bringing back for a third year its Pot of Gold Park Stroll in Mt. St. Mary Park. Caine said this event is perfect for young families as they walk a half-mile winding path and search for slightly hidden posters along the trail of holiday images, such as leprechauns and rainbows.

Participants will pick up a card at the start of the trail and cross off the items found along the way. At the end of

DONATE DINE While You

Wednesday • March 15

the loop, walkers may turn in the card for a small prize.

The walk is free and stroller friendly, but advance registration is requested to help pace the visitors and avoid too much crowding. Visitors can even enjoy the walk with their favorite pup as long as their dogs are on a leash.

“These events are such a fun way to enjoy the start of a great day,” Caine said.

From Pottawatomie Park or Mt. St. Mary Park, it’s an easy walk to the downtown business district where runners and families can enjoy the day’s festivities, including holiday specials at local restaurants and shops as well as the activities hosted by the St. Charles Business Alliance.

“Park District staff planned our events in partnership with the St. Charles Business Alliance hoping runners and families will enjoy our activities in the morning before heading over to the parade and other events taking place throughout the day in the downtown,” Caine said.

This year’s Opening Ceremony with an Irish Dance performance and entertainment starts at 11 a.m. in First Street Plaza. There’s plenty of time to meander downtown among the Irish festivities before finding your spot along Main Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, slated to begin at 2 p.m. Details on the day’s events can be found online at stcstpatricksparade.com. Visit stcparks.org for more information on the race, stroll or to register. The park district is also seeking volunteers to help with the race, including at its water stations. Advance registration for the 8K race is advised and those who register before Feb. 14 can save money with the Early Bird Rate.

OF THE MONTH

Artist Maggie Capettini

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.

Water Street Studios artist Maggie Capettini defines her drive and purpose with a need to paint.

“It is an urge, a compulsion,” says Capettini. “It’s an addiction, if you will, complete with rituals, highs, and lows. Unabashedly, confidently, informedly colorful, involving the texture and surface of the paint itself, my paintings interpret the landscape and nature in both representational and abstract ways. I seek to create authentically, to “feel the rush,” to puzzle, ponder, and grow as a creating, creative human.”

In 2011, Capettini discovered her favorite medium in a workshop after a childhood full of outdoor discoveries. “Today, nature inspires much of my work, in both representational and abstract expressions,” says Capettini. “I paint en plein air and from life whenever possible, including in my own gardens where my motto is ’plant what I like to paint.’”

Capettini received her bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and has a Master of Arts in Teaching. She has also studied at Palette and Chisel in Chicago. You can find many of her paintings in museums and galleries throughout Batavia, West Chicago, Warrenville and other private collections, globally.

Having grown up in Batavia, Capettini was naturally drawn to Water Street Studios and admires the studio’s cultural impact in the region. “I have been a Water Street Studios School of Art instructor since late 2021,” says Capettini. “Water Street Studios brings together art exhibits, events and outreach; studio spaces with contemporary artists actively working in a variety of media; and art appreciators and creatives of all ages from communities up and down the Fox River and beyond.”

Perhaps it is no surprise the Morton Arboretum is one of Capettini’s inspirations and a haven for her to paint outdoors. “There are so many beautiful scenes, with woods and water, prairies and pines,” says Capettini. “The many parking areas allow me to do my car camping style of plein air painting, where I can pack heavier and not have to walk too far to find a good scene to paint.”

Art is central to Capettini’s life and her awesinspiring talent showcases her passion. “Art has the ability to bring people together and build community if it is done with community in mind,” says Capettini. “Artistic expression has existed for as long as we humans have existed, and modern studies show that it plays a vital role in everything from the health of our bodies and brains to the health of our towns and economies.”

Painter and instructor Maggie Capettini has two decades worth of experience and several awards to her name. She is an instructor for both children and adults and continues to paint breathtaking works of natureinspired artistry while maintaining a successful rapport with her students.

DETAILS OF Maggie Capettini's WORK:

See her work at www.maggiecapettini.com or follow @maggiepaints on Instagram and Facebook.

u Sunny Glow: oil on cradled board, 12.5x8.5", available

v Early Summer at Schweikher House: oil on cradled board, 14x11", available

w Square Vibes: Ghost Vibes: oil on canvas, 24x24", available

Aster and Hibiscus Leaves: oil on oil primed linen panel, 6x8", available

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

Celebrate Women’s History

Month with a book by a female author. Here are two recommendations for your March reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

Grab a

FOR TEENS AND ADULTS:

“Stalking Jack the Ripper” by Kerri Maniscalco

Audrey Rose Wadsworth does not fit the mold of “proper young lady.” In fact, she often finds herself observing autopsies in her uncle’s laboratory. The only downside is the constant presences of her uncle’s irritatingly intelligent apprentice, Thomas Cresswell, who quickly becomes Audrey Rose’s rival. But when a series of gruesome murders shakes London to its core, Audrey Rose begins to see the killer everywhere. When a family member is suspected of the crimes, Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate, but struggles to keep ahead of the killer. As the title suggests, this is a Victorian era thriller that follows the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. Do not let the macabre subject matter fool you: feminism and romance play an important role for these characters. If you enjoyed the new Netflix Show “Lockwood & Co.,” this book will surely fill the horror-sized hole in your heart until the next season. Recommended for ages 15 and older.

— Margaux Morrone, librarian

FOR READERS:

“Four Treasures of the Sky” by Jenny Tinghui Zhan

Daiyu is a young girl from a small village in China, next to a river that feeds the ocean, and is named after a tragic, helpless figure from local folklore. Daiyu hates her name, feeling that it has determined her fate, so she fights for her own autonomy. Even so, tragedy strikes as her parents are spirited away by the palace special police and leave Daiyu to fend for herself. Life is not easy for a Chinese orphan, let alone an orphan girl. To ensure her safety, Daiyu chooses to pass as a boy, but one day, a vicious predator sees through her disguise and sells her as a slave bound for America. Ripped from her home, and everything she knows, Daiyu refuses to give in to tragedy and forges her own destiny in the New World. Truly exquisite prose paired with masterful storytelling, Four Treasures of the Sky is one of those amazing stories that can shine light into the darkest of moments and tell a tragic story without weighing you down. Inspired by real events, this moving story will inspire readers while illuminating a little-known historical period.

— Rebekah Noggle, librarian