Fall 2026
Autumn Sips and Savors PAGE 14
Fall Fun & Festivals PAGE 4
Your Seasonal Fitness Fix PAGE 18
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What's
Published by ShawMedia Phone: 630-553-7034 news@kendallcountynow.com
RECORD NEWSPAPERS The Record Oswego Ledger
Inside
4 FALL FUN & FESTIVALS 7 CORNISH CHIROPRACTIC 8 COFFEE, CROISSANTS & CONFECTIONS
PUBLISHER
Shaw Media - Laura Shaw 630-709-4497 | lshaw@shawmedia.com
ADVERTISING
Kristin Hawkins 630-272-2930 | khawkins@shawmedia.com
DESIGN
11 GATEVILLE LAW FIRM 12 FUN FALL RECIPE: WITCHES BREW 13 DOWNTOWN DENTAL & IMPLANTS 14 AUTUMN SIPS AND SAVORS 18 YOUR SEASONAL FITNESS FIX
Amy Guessford
22 L ANDSCAPING AND MORE
est. 1851
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5 miles South of Plano on Corner of Fox River Rd. & Millbrook Rd.
Fall 2026
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Scan To Visit Our Website For Inspiration!
Celebrating 40 years of travel service. 801 N. Bridge St. (Rt. 47), Yorkville • 630.553.7200 Info@TravelServicesOfYorkville.com | TravelServicesOfYorkville.com Kendall County Magazine | 3
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Fall Fun & Festivals By Vicki Martinka Petersen | Photos provided by Treats on the Streets and Harvest Moon
W
ith the arrival of autumn comes a shift in weekend fun from lounging at the pool to picking pumpkins and other events celebrating the season. From fall festivals to Halloween outings, you’ll want to add some of these upcoming events to your calendar.
Fall Festival Oct. 11
Farnsworth Fall Festival Oct. 18
Boos at the Bridge Oct. 16
Treats on the Streets Oct. 23
Kendall County Fairgrounds in Yorkville The festival kicks off with a car show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring an impressive display of classic cars, sleek sports cars and unique vehicles. Once you’ve viewed the array of cars, head over to the craft show, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit the vendors who will be on hand to sell handmade crafts and artisan goods, delicious treats and local specialties. This free family event will also include music by Carousel Sound, food vendors, and other activities. For more information, visit www. kendallcountyfairgrounds.org.
Hudson Crossing Park in Oswego Celebrate the Halloween season with an evening of festive fun along the Fox River. From 6 to 10 p.m., adults 21 and older can enjoy local craft beverages, food trucks, a live DJ and activities. Come dressed to impress for the costume contest, featuring prizes for the funniest, scariest, most creative and best group costumes. Boos at the Bridge is the perfect way to gather with friends and enjoy a festive fall night out. Visit www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org to learn more.
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Edith Farnsworth House in Plano Whether you enjoy art, nature or simply want a unique way to enjoy the season, the second annual Farnsworth Fall Festival offers a variety of hands-on activities for all ages. Bring a sketchbook or camera to capture the beauty of the grounds or take a walk along the scenic trails. There are also opportunities to support local vendors who will be selling food, drink and artisan products. The festival is from noon to 4 p.m. Learn more at www.edithfarnsworthhouse.org.
Plano From 4-6 p.m., visit businesses along Main Street for candy and other treats whether or not you’re in costume. In the past, the first 300 attendees who stop by the Plano Area Chamber of Commerce receive a free bag, great for collecting candy and items distributed by participating businesses. More details about this free family event will be posted on the chamber’s Facebook page.
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Harvest Moon Oct. 24
Knights Park in Sandwich An evening of free hayrides, treats and a campfire awaits at Harvest Moon from 6 to 8 p.m. at Knights Park. The event includes an inflatable obstacle course from 6 to 8 p.m. Kids ages 16 and younger can flex their creativity in the decorated pumpkin contest. Prizes will be awarded for best overall, scariest and silliest pumpkins. Entries are due at 6:30 p.m. with winners announced after the Halloween Egg Hunt, which takes place from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Wear a costume and bring a flashlight as you hunt for prizes in the dark. There is a limit of eight eggs per child. Visit www. sandwichparkdistrict.org to learn more.
113 S. Main St., Downtown Oswego
331-216-5133
Voted One Of The Best!
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BEHIND THE BEST
Cornish Chiropractic
helping patients feel their best F
or more than 30 years, Dr. Lea Cornish has been helping patients feel their best, from newborn babies just a few days old to adults of all ages. At Cornish Chiropractic in Yorkville, she has built a practice focused on personalized care, with specialized training in pregnancy and pediatric chiropractic.
Cornish enjoys caring for patients through every stage of life, but she has a special passion for helping women before, during, and after pregnancy. While she prefers to establish care before pregnancy whenever possible, she also helps expectant mothers find relief from the aches and pains that often come with pregnancy. Chiropractic care during pregnancy may help improve pelvic alignment, giving babies more room to move into an ideal birth position. Many of Cornish’s patients have also experienced smoother, more efficient labor as a result of improved pelvic balance and mobility. Her passion for prenatal care comes from personal experience. After facing her own challenges during pregnancy and childbirth, she decided to pursue advanced training and certification so she could provide the kind of care she wished she had received herself. That same passion extends to newborns. Cornish has cared for infants just hours after birth, on their way home from the hospital, and during their first weeks of life. Gentle chiropractic care may help babies experiencing colic, reflux, constipation, excessive arching, and even nursing difficulties.
Every patient begins with a thorough consultation so Cornish can understand their concerns, goals, and lifestyle before creating a personalized treatment plan. Whether someone is recovering from a pickleball injury, healing after an accident or looking to improve everyday mobility, care is tailored to their individual needs. Cornish also helps patients living with peripheral neuropathy, including those experiencing numbness, tingling, balance problems or weakness related to several causes including diabetes or chemotherapy. Her goal is to help patients regain confidence, improve stability and stay active. For patients looking to improve their overall health, the practice also offers gut health and metabolic reset programs designed to support metabolism and address digestive concerns as part of a holistic approach to wellness. At the heart of everything she does is a simple goal: helping people enjoy life without pain limiting what they love to do.
I want my patients to live the life they want and be able to do what they want to do,” Cornish said. “If I can help them get there, that’s what makes this work so rewarding.”
Care doesn’t stop after delivery. During the postpartum period, chiropractic care can help support a mother’s recovery as her body heals and adjusts after childbirth. Fifteen years ago, Cornish opened her practice in Yorkville after discovering a community that reminded her of the small town where she grew up in Crystal Lake. “One of the best things about a small town is seeing familiar faces wherever you go,” she said. Over the years, her practice has expanded well beyond traditional chiropractic care. Today, Cornish Chiropractic also offers spinal decompression therapy, red light therapy, neuropathy treatment and metabolic health programs.
630.385.6200 • 624 W Veterans Parkway, Suite A, Yorkville • CornishChiropractic.com Fall 2026
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Coffee, Croissants & Confections By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske Photos submitted by The Hinckley Coffee House
F
resh-made muffins, house-made coffee syrups, and locally roasted beans help differentiate these destinations from just any coffee shop and bakery. These businesses represent a passion for pastries and blending flavors to build the perfect cup of coffee ready to be savored.
This autumn as the leaves change color and the cool, crisp air sets in, it’s the perfect time for a drive to visit these destinations to indulge in the house-made specialties and support incredible local businesses and the entrepreneurs who are following their passion and dreams one buttery croissant at a time. Baking up new recipes each week As a baker, Bailey Knapp loves to let her creativity shine. She has no patience for boredom and mundane tasks in her tiny kitchen when there are so many wonderful combinations of flavors to explore.
Coffee creations and collaborations Local couple Tiffany and Colton Foster are building a following for their incredible coffees served from the cutest coffee trailers parked around Kendall County and now their first brick and mortar café in Plano. They are the creative baristas behind The Hinckley Coffee House, launched in 2022. “We’ve always loved coffee and enjoy crafting recipes and seeing the customers come in person and interacting and being the bright spot in their day,” Tiffany Foster said. The Fosters have built the business with local partnerships, from purchasing coffee beans from Barb City Roaster in Cortland and Kay’s Homemade Desserts & Bake Shop in Sandwich provides many of the baked goods and pastries.
In December Knapp will celebrate the third anniversary of Little Loaf Bakehouse in Yorkville. She brought her love for baking back home to her native Kendall County after culinary school and today, her customers stop in to see her latest creation at work in the kitchen. “I prefer savory over sweet,” Knapp added. She fills the glass cases with croissants, scones and cinnamon rolls, but that’s just the start of the menu. She also creates cakes and customers scoop up the individual slices, along with cookies, and there are breakfast and lunch sandwiches as well. She aims to support her fellow small businesses as much as possible, whether it’s buying produce from a local farmer or using a local coffee bean roaster to create her cold brews and espresso served with a dollop of house-made ice cream for affogato. She started creating small-batch ice cream and the “warm-weather treat” is worth the visit as she combines fresh, seasonal produce and cream. She’s particular about ingredients, so she creates her own coffee syrups, also highlighting seasonal flavors.
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She is a small operation but enjoys a challenge when customers share ideas and requests. Like many bakeries, she has developed recipes for those with food allergies and preferences and with an advance order she can create items that are vegan, nut-free and gluten-free. “I know finding a place that can do all of that is hard,” she said, adding that her kitchen isn’t a gluten-free facility but she is able to create gluten-free items. 630-554-8496 AndersenPH.com
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It’s a family operation where Tiffany’s sister-in-law rolls out dough for their fresh-made cinnamon rolls, and you can find the Fosters and their team creating the newest menu offering. Don’t forget their fresh frozen custard featuring seasonal flavors or their house-made cold foam. From April through October customers can get their coffee fix from the business’ coffee trailers in Hinckley, Sandwich and Sugar Grove. The Hinckley location is also the home of the Sip & Shop on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, featuring local vendors set up around the coffee trailer. The final event will be Oct. 24 and customers will be able to order the “White Pumpkin” a white chocolate pumpkin latte, which is a favorite on the fall menu, Tiffany Foster said.
DESTINATIONS Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery
1004 E. Church St., Sandwich (815) 786-7774 angiessugarbuzzbakery.com, Facebook This bakery has been serving up cakes made from scratch and cookies that have ensured sweet dreams since 2014. The in-house coffee bar serves up seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice served hot, cold and blended too. And in the fall, be sure to arrive early to grab apple cider doughnuts. The bakery can create custom cake and cookie orders as well. Don’t plan to grab and go; owner and baker Angie Davis wanted a place where people would feel cozy as they enjoyed freshly baked goods with family and friends.
Upcoming Events
Grace Coffee & Wine
42 W. Countryside Parkway, Yorkville (630) 385-2148 gracecoffeeandwine.com, Facebook, Instagram It’s never too late to order coffee at the family-owned café that also serves handcrafted bites and maintains a curated wine list to enjoy as well. Open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 p.m. on Fridays, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine or evening refreshment. The café has space for small private events, and the entire café can be reserved for these private events such as bridal showers and birthdays in the evenings and on weekends.
Little Loaf Bakehouse
101 W. Center St., Yorkville (630) 381-9017 littleloafbakehouse.com, Facebook At this French-American-style bakery, customers can enjoy homemade croissants, brioche often filled with seasonal flavors that are savory and sweet. Customers know it’s best to arrive early for the best selection, but there’s always something baking in the oven. Little Loaf Bakehouse also serves breakfast and lunch offerings.
It’s Caramel Apple Season!
Vintage Shop Hop Oct 2nd-3rd 10-6
Plano Harvest Market Oct 3rd 10-3
Holiday Open House Nov 7th 10-6
Christmas Open House Dec 5th 10-6
12700 Rt 34, Suite D, Plano Fall 2026
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Open Mon-Sat 10-6 12700 Rt 34, Suite A, Plano (630) 465-5755 www.chocolate-shoppe.com Kendall County Magazine | 9
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Kay’s Homemade Desserts & Bake Shop 1312 E. Church St., Sandwich (815) 764-6380 Facebook
Desserts are just the first course at this shop where each day the team also prepares a lunch special that can include a soup, salad or tacos. Follow the social media pages for latest updates and specials.
The Hinckley Coffee House
6572 US-34, Plano Coffee Trailer locations in Hinckley, Sandwich and Sugar Grove thehinckleycoffeehouse.com, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok From handcrafted coffee to custards and delicious items prepared by Kay’s Homemade Desserts along with in-house made items there is always a new flavor brewing at the coffee house.
Village Grind
19 Main St., Oswego (630) 554-6678 villagegrindcoffee.com, Facebook, Instagram Celebrating 30 years in downtown Oswego, Village Grind is more than a café. It is a place where friends gather, neighbors settle in and catch up and there’s a quiet corner to work while sipping coffee and tea. Coffee is a great place to start, but be sure to save room for the scratch-made muffins baked fresh each morning, or, in the fall and winter, a slow-simmered soup is the perfect warm-up.
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Visit HomeTownLanesPlano.com For Hours & Specials!
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Must be 21 or older to game. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or text “GAMB” to 833234. Individuals can enroll in the IGB Self-Exclusion Program at all of the IGB offices located at all casinos. Additional information can be found on the Self-Exclusion Page at https://igb.illinois.gov/.
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Gateville Law explains importance of trust administration Y
ou can trust the Gateville Law Firm with the coordinate tax matters, sell or transfer management and distribution of assets held property, and determine when distributions in a trust after the death of the trust’s creator. should be made,” Robertson said. “For those who recently learned that they were appointed “Even when a family has a well-drafted trust as the trustee of a trust, they may not have and avoids probate, important legal and any idea where to begin, but one of the first financial responsibilities remain,” said Sean steps would be to call us.” Robertson, attorney and founding partner of Gateville Law Firm. “The successor When you consider the different, trustee must understand the trust, identify challenging family circumstances that and protect assets, communicate with can factor in the trust administration, it’s beneficiaries, address debts and expenses, apparent that professional help can make and ultimately distribute or continue matters less complicated. managing the trust property.” “Blended families, second marriages, Trust administration may involve real estate, divorce, estranged children, unequal investment accounts, bank accounts, inheritances, beneficiaries with disabilities businesses, retirement benefits, life insurance and disagreements among siblings can and other family assets. create significant challenges,” Robertson said. “A trustee must follow the trust rather than “The trustee may also need to obtain valuations, simply divide property according to what prepare accountings, address creditor issues, family members believe is fair.”
Trust administration is ultimately about completing the family’s wealth transition. “Proper administration can help preserve assets and protect beneficiaries,” Robertson said. “It can reduce family conflict while ultimately ensuring that the deceased person’s estate plan is actually implemented.” While the creation of a trust can help you protect your assets, the Gateville Law Firm can turn the estate plan into an effective transfer of wealth, property and responsibility to the next generation through careful trust administration. The Gateville Law Firm is located at 520 E Kendall Drive, Suite C, Yorkville For more information, call 630-780-1034 or visit www.gatevillelawfirm.com.
Protecting Families. Managing Risk. Preserving Wealth. Our Estate Planning & Asset Protection Services Include: • Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation Strategies • Protecting your spouse from $8,000 to $12,000 per month in Long-Term Care Costs • Strategic coordination of Trusts, Beneficiaries, and Asset Ownership Scan Here For Details On Our Educational Events
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Voted THE BEST Law Firm!
NEW LOCATION! 520 E. Kendall Dr., Ste C, Yorkville • 630-780-1034 • GatevilleLawFirm.com Fall 2026
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Witches Brew
For A Crowd This Witches Brew For A Crowd makes 5 gallons of Halloween fun!
2 gallons apple cider 1 bottle apple schnapps 1 bottle cinnamon schnapps 1 bottle champagne Lots of ice
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11000 Us Route 34, Suite 6, Plano 630.552.8213 • KSSHLaw.com
SPOOKY SEASON STARTS HERE! Halloween celebrations for grown-ups & little monsters!
Fri, October 16 • 6:00-10:00pm Hudson Crossing Park • Ages 21+ DJ | Costume Contest | Spirits | Food Trucks $25 pre-registered, $30 at door
Sat, October 24 • 2:00-4:00pm Oswego High School • Kids Crafts | Candy | Games | Costumes $6 pre-registered, $9 at door (adults free)
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BEHIND THE BEST
Three years running:
Downtown Dental & Implants of Oswego raises the bar for local dentistry
This Best of the Fox winner combines digitally guided implant dentistry, advanced technology, and more than 2 decades of patient-centered care in Oswego For Dr. Shalini Mohan, advanced dentistry isn’t really about the technology - it’s about helping people eat, smile and feel like themselves again. For some patients, a trip to the dentist is routine. For others, simply walking through the door can take courage. They may have spent years hiding their smile in photographs. They may avoid certain foods because chewing has become difficult. Some have missing or broken teeth, while others have been told their dental problems are too complicated to fix.
Dental implants can replace a single missing tooth, several teeth, or sometimes help rebuild an entire smile. But Mohan says the conversation rarely begins with, ‘You need an implant.’ Instead, it begins with listening. What is bothering the patient? What do they miss being able to eat? Are they embarrassed to smile? What would they like to change? “The goal isn’t simply to place an implant,” Mohan said. “We have to think about the person at the end of the treatment - how they want to smile, eat and live.”
Those are often the patients Dr. Shalini Mohan Today, digital technology allows Mohan and remembers most. associate dentist Dr. Caroline Cwiek to plan “Being able to give someone back the many implant procedures in remarkable ability to eat comfortably and smile detail before treatment even begins. confidently is incredibly rewarding,” Mohan Rather than overwhelming patients with said. “Sometimes we aren’t just replacing the technology behind it, Mohan sees it teeth. We’re helping someone feel like simply as another way to provide thoughtful, themselves again.” carefully planned care. That philosophy has helped Downtown The technology may be sophisticated, but Dental & Implants of Oswego earn the the goal is very simple: make treatment as community’s trust - and, for the third precise, comfortable and predictable as consecutive year, the title of Best Dentist in possible. the Best of the Fox awards. Both Mohan and Cwiek have pursued For Mohan, who has cared for patients in the advanced education in implant dentistry and Oswego area for more than two decades, the are Fellows of the International Congress of recognition is especially meaningful because Oral Implantologists. Mohan continues to it comes from the community she serves. travel for hands-on training in implant surgery, “Our patients trust us with something very complex restorative dentistry and full-mouth personal - their health and their smile,” she rehabilitation. said. “Being chosen by them three years in a Even after more than 20 years in dentistry, she row is something our entire team is incredibly says there is always more to learn. grateful for.” “Dentistry has changed tremendously since When patients think there is no hope I started,” Mohan said. “If there is something that can help us give our patients a better One of Mohan’s particular passions is experience or a better result, I want to learn it.” helping people with missing, failing or badly damaged teeth.
That same philosophy extends beyond implants. Downtown Dental & Implants has used digital dentistry for more than a decade, including technology that allows many crowns to be designed and completed in a single visit. The practice also provides family, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, allowing patients to receive everything from routine care to complex smile rehabilitation in one familiar office. But Mohan is quick to point out that technology alone isn’t what makes a dental practice special. It is the relationships built over years - the patient who brings in a spouse, then a child; the person who once covered their mouth when they smiled and now smiles freely; and the familiar faces who have trusted the team with their care year after year. After three consecutive Best of the Fox wins, that trust is what Mohan values most. “The award is wonderful, but what it represents means even more,” she said. “It tells us that our patients feel cared for. We want to continue earning that trust every single day.”
630.554.1855 • 60 C Main Street, Oswego • DowntownDentalAndImplants.com Fall 2026
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Autumn Sips and Savors By Chris Walker | Photos provided by Foxes Den Meadery
C
ozy fall nights are quickly approaching. So, what are you drinking? A few local establishments are enhancing their drink menus to include special fall cocktails.
Warm spices and seasonal flavors highlight this wonderful time of year when the temps begin to drop along with the leaves. Belly up to these bars and enjoy!
113 Main
113 Main in Oswego features seven cocktails on its drink menu, including a Blackberry Bourbon Smash, which blends Redemption Bourbon, blackberry puree, lemon and simple syrup. Jeff Sexton, general manager of 113 Main, just revamped the cocktail menu, which still includes the ever-popular 113 Old Fashioned as well as the Spice Up Your Life, which will certainly warm up your fall with Corazon Tequila, Triple Sec, guava juice, lime, watermelon puree and jalapeño in a Tajín-rimmed glass.
Fall
FOX est F
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH 2026 (9 AM – 3 PM)
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Join us for the Annual Fall event in downtown Oswego.
LIVE MUSIC FOOD TRUCKS HANDCRAFTED MARKET FARMERS MARKET VENDORS SPONSOR BOOTHS KIDS ACTIVITIES AND MORE.
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Foxes Den Meadery
Apple meads are now available at Foxes Den Meadery, 101 S. Bridge St., Yorkville, including Apple Strudel, featuring warm baked apple layered with cozy cinnamon spice and soft vanilla. Smooth and dessert-like with a comforting pastry-inspired finish, this mead will remind you of fresh apple strudel. Sticky Apples takes juicy baked apple and rich caramelized honey, warm cinnamon spice and subtle roasted peanut nuttiness to deliver a drink that’s sweet and cozy. You’ll think you’re biting into a caramel apple and a nutty crunch without the stick. For those looking for an alternative to apple flavors, Foxes Den Meadery has Cranberry and Pumpkin Spice sparkling session meads. The cranberry is bright and refreshing with tart cranberry up front, balanced by a touch of honey sweetness, while the pumpkin spice is warm and inviting with classic pumpkin pie spices, honey and a smooth seasonal character. It’s light, crisp and refreshing with a perfectly cozy spiced finish.
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Burnt Barrel Social
At Burnt Barrel Social, 508 Center Pkwy, Suite A, Yorkville, the cocktails feature aged spirits and unique creations that are delicious in the fall as they are year-round. Fall In Line is one of the cozy cocktails on Burnt Barrel Social’s menu, featuring Wheatley vodka, Angostura bitters, unfiltered apple juice, cinnamon and fresh lemon juice. The Apple Whiskey-Rita mixes Jim Beam Apple, Triple Sec, Reàl Agave Nectar, fresh lemon and lime, while the old standby Old Fashioned is as good as ever with Sazerac Rye, cinnamon syrup, Scrappy’s orange bitters and Angostura bitters.
Craft’d
Head over to Craft’d, 2075 Marketview Dr., Yorkville, any time of the year for its Smok’d Maple Bacon Old Fashioned featuring Elijah Craig, maple syrup and Angostura bitters with a garnish of filthy cherry, orange peel and pig candy bacon.
Oak + Bean
Oak + Bean, 100 W. Washington St., Oswego, hasn’t added any special fall cocktails, but its mimosas are available and come in a variety of flavors, including blood orange, which sounds perfect as Halloween approaches.
Bay 54 & Grace
Don’t forget to check out Bay 54, 57 Main St., Oswego. At press time, its opening cocktail menu, including any autumn-specific drinks, was being finalized. Similarly, Grace, 42 W. Countryside Pkwy, Yorkville, is in the process of unveiling its fall specials.
Fall In For A New Look From furniture & home decor pieces, to tees, purses & jewelry, our huge store is packed with handpicked items for you that are comfortable, quality-made & stylish.
Promising The Lowest Prices, Excellent Customer Service & Free Delivery! 16 | Kendall County Magazine
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112 W. Main St., Downtown Plano Plano, Illinois EST. 1886
630-552-8288
CooperHomeFurnishings.com Fall 2026
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Fall 2026
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Your Seasonal
Fitness Fix
By Cayden Wells | Photos Courtesy of Oswegoland Park District
A
s temperatures cool and the Fox River Valley trades summer green for autumn gold, Kendall County residents have plenty of reasons to lace up their sneakers and head outdoors. From prairie trail runs to riverside 5Ks, this fall’s lineup of community races, walks and wellness programs stretches across the county, giving families, casual walkers and serious runners alike a reason to get moving before winter sets in. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just looking for a reason to get outside with your neighbors, there’s a fall event within a short drive no matter where in Kendall County you call home. To start off, Sandwich is bringing its own dose of autumn energy with the Sandwich Fair Association’s third annual Shake Up Shuffle on Sept. 7. This event, which takes place on Labor Day, offers both 5K and 1-mile routes winding through the fairgrounds, finishing with a post-race celebration complete with music, games and a kids’ zone. Registration includes a race shirt, timed bib and finisher’s medal, with discounted pricing available for those who sign up early, a familyfriendly way to mark the unofficial start of fall in Kendall County.
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83 Templeton Drive, Suite F Oswego | (630) 554-8002 18 | Kendall County Magazine
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Hardy Mums Pumpkins, Gourds, Mini Pumpkins Fall Squash Straw, Corn Stalks, Indian Corn
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9/8/26 6:59 PM
MEOW MILE
Oswego Chamber of Commerce invite you to run with us in the
FRAIDYCAT 5K
16th Annual FraidyCat 5k, 8k and Meow Mile in Oswego
Sunday, Oct. 25th
Mile at 9:00 am • 8K at 9:20 am 5k at 9:30 am approximately Use code Shaw26 to
save $5 off registration through Sept 24th Fall 2026
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GHOST RUN 8K Kendall County Magazine | 19
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Fall 2026
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In Oswego, runners can kick off the season with the Saw Wee Kee Fall Trail Run on Oct. 17, then close it out with the Gobbler Hobbler 10K and Mashed Potato Mile on Nov. 8, a fitting pair of events for the fall racing season. For residents looking for something more gentle, the district is offering Community Yoga in the Park sessions on Sept. 20 and Sept. 27. There will also be a Forest Bathing Walk and a Crystal Bowl Sound Bath, both held Sept. 22. Altogether, these events give Oswego residents options, whether they’re chasing a finish line or just looking to slow down and reconnect with nature. Yorkville will host a seasonal race via the Rudolph Run 5K and Jingle Jog Family Fun Run, part of the city’s Holiday Celebration weekend Nov. 20-21. Preregistration opens Aug. 1 and runs through Oct. 21, with proceeds benefiting the Knights of Columbus’s Helping Hands Program, which delivers food and gifts to Kendall County families in need each holiday season. Both walkers and runners are welcome, and every registered participant takes home a finisher’s medal, a small keepsake from a race that supports a larger cause. Taken together, these fall events reflect something bigger than any single race or yoga class: a countywide culture of getting outside, staying active and showing up for one another as the seasons change. Whether you’re running your first 5K or just taking a walk through the prairie, Kendall County’s parks and trails are ready for fall.
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Fall 2026
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Seasonal landscaping
top priority for yard By Patricia Szpekowski | Photos provided by Rovak Turf and New Leaf Services
F
or a homeowner, there’s nothing more satisfying than admiring their well manicured lawn, immaculately trimmed bushes, vibrant perennials, and healthy growing trees. No matter if the work gets done by the homeowner or with help from professional landscapers, the cycle of seasonal landscaping duties should be scheduled as a top priority to enjoy your yard year-round. Fall is the perfect time to prep for success and take steps to encourage a healthy yard that bursts back to life in the spring. Local landscapers, with years of experience and their own service specialties, are happy to offer well-seasoned advice. “The absolute best thing you can do for your yard in the fall is a thorough fall cleanup,” says Sergio Uribe Beltran, owner of New Leaf Services LLC in Oswego. “Get all fallen leaves completely off your lawn before winter hits. If you don’t, when snow piles on top, it creates ideal conditions for mold and disease, leaving dead or bare spots come spring. Cut back your perennials and handle seasonal shrub trimming to direct energy into root health, ensuring they are fully prepared to bloom in the spring.” “We take all the heavy lifting off your hands, handling everything from complete leaf removal and plant cutbacks to professional seeding and sodding so your property enters winter in top condition,” adds Sergio. Taking care of a lawn takes time. “Aeration and overseeding are important to have a healthier lawn come spring,” said Meredith Rovak of Rovak Turf in Yorkville. She and her husband Brandon are owners of this thriving small family-owned business that’s been voted as “Best of the Fox” the last three years by Shaw Media Newspapers’ readers.
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“The aeration process works to pull cores from compact Illinois soil,” notes Meredith. “The process relieves compaction and allows nutrients like any fertilizer or weed control and water to better access your lawn’s root system. When paired with overseeding, the process works to build a healthier lawn through new growth. Even though the grass blades above ground go dormant during winter, the roots remain active beneath the soil.” She adds that an important thing for homeowners to note is the importance of quality seed applied to their lawns. “We work closely with our local vendor to ensure we provide whatever type of quality seed our clients are looking to have applied to their lawn,” adds Meredith. Rovak Turf concentrates on turf services and provides a “Signature Seven Step” fertilization and weed control program, along with soil enhancement and fungicide programs.
Fall 2026
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Winding Creek Nursery and Garden Center LLC in Millbrook provides products for tree, lawn, and garden care. Its garden center is filled with high-quality plants straight from their nursery and a unique gift shop. “If you’re looking to fill in bare spots in your yard, the fall - not spring, is a great time to plant a tree,” says Penny Monkenmeyer, owner, who along with her husband, family members, and expert staff, provides personalized customer assistance. The business is celebrating its 69th anniversary this year and provides expert lawn and garden products and a complete selection of Fertilome products to keep lawns and gardens thriving. “We basically grow and sell many types of trees that do well in our Zone 5,” notes Penny. “You’ll find a wide selection of maples and oaks, plus birch, ginkgo, and others. We advise homeowners to take care of their trees by watering and fertilizing them, plus check for telltale signs of problems, such as sap oozing from the trunk area or tree leaves with many holes.” Looking to plant bushes? Penny recommends evergreens, hydrangea, boxwood, spirea, and Rose of Sharon that do well in our climate. “Now’s the time to make your garden pop with hardy annual mums available in many colors and to plant bulbs for a spurt of color in the spring,” she says. As the summer fades into fall, take time to inspect your lawn and garden. Being proactive, not reactive, will reap many rewards for your yard to burst with freshness in the spring.
Fall Family Fun!
69 W. Washington St / Rt 34, Oswego, IL 60543 69 W. Washington St / Rt 34 · Oswego, IL 60543
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2500 Johnson Rd, Oswego, IL KellersFarmstand.com 630-219-8194 Fall 2026
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