Kendall Mag Summer 2018

Kendall County MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2018

SLIDE into summer

Splash-tastic fun and new attractions can be found at Raging Waves Water Park page 7

FOOD

FESTIVALS

FUN

Embrace patiodining season in Kendall County

Great events coming to a neighborhood near you

The Ethan Bell Band is busier than ever, but up for the challenge

page 20

page 16

page 22

A NEW APPROACH TO HEALTH + WELLNESS Asbury Gardens SUPPORTIVE LIVING opened in 2003 to serve the Aurora and North Aurora communities with an affordable priced and elegantly designed residential community for those 65 years or older in need of some level of support with activities of daily living.

In 2011 Asbury Gardens opened a 30-bed SUPPORTIVE LIVING MEMORY CARE UNIT as part of the pilot program regulated by the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services. Both the Supportive Living and the Memory Care unit have excellent compliance history with the department.

In 2014 Asbury Gardens opened a SKILLED NURSING + POST HOSPITAL REHABILITATION UNIT, the unit is connected to the supportive living

2017 the SNF designated a new post acute rehab unit with private rooms.

THE FOX VALLEY’S HIDDEN GEM IN SENIOR LIVING + POST HOSPITAL REHABILITATION 210 AIRPORT ROAD, NORTH AURORA, ILLINOIS 60542 | (630) 896-1631 2 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

| SUMMER 2018 |

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INSIDE ON THE COVER New attractions and splash-tastic fun can be found at Raging Waves Water Park in Yorkville.

FASHION & BEAUTY 10 NATURAL BEAUTY Oswego boutique Aroma Roots offers natural bath and products

HEALTH & WELLNESS 12 A FLEXIBLE APPROACH TO HEALTH Spine and Sports Chiropractic expands practice to include yoga 14 BOXING: Putting on Gloves to pick up life skills

OUT & ABOUT 16 FESTIVALS, FAIR & FUN Great events coming to a neighborhood near you

HOME & LIFESTYLE 18 DIY REVOLUTION Family businesses capitalize on DIY projects, vintage look

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

18

DIY REVOLUTION

Family businesses capitalize on DIY projects, vintage looks

4 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

20 FRESH AIR, FRESH SPACES Embrace patio-dining season in Kendall County 22 ETHAN BELL BAND The Ethan Bell Band is busier than ever, but up for the challenge

| SUMMER 2018 |

FOX VALLEY COINS, INC. IS

BUYING AND SELLING

ALL FORMS OF GOLD, SILVER, PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM BARS AND COINS.

We purchase based on the collectible rarity. When the collector’s value is minimal we will still purchase based on the precious metal content. We currently (at time of press) have 100-year old $20 gold coins that we can sell right at or around spot gold! We purchase non-precious metals collector coins as well from Wheat cents and Buffalo nickels to Proof sets, tokens and medals. Currently we have collector currency from 3-cent fractional currency to $1,000 bills! We are major supplier to other national and local dealers as well as a major national buyer or bulk coins and currency as well as the rarities. Now that we have sold our auction company (to Leland Auctions), we can concentrate on strictly buying and selling, as well as appraisals.

Owner Marlon Mathre has lived in Kendall County all his life and started buying and selling coins in downtown Yorkville way back in 1981. His coin shops have been serving Kendall County for over 36 years. Let them show you why coin collecting is still the world’s number one collecting hobby. Or, if you don’t have any interest in collecting, they can appraise your collection and even make you an offer right on the spot for cash or an instant check.

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| SUMMER 2018 |

4S100 N. Route 59, Naperville, Illinois 60563 1 Light North of I-88 at Naperville/Warrenville Border KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 5

Editor's Note Kendall County offers an amazing array of opportunities for residents and visitors to discover year-round, but as we finally step into summer lets take a deep breath and consider all the possibilities to explore this season.

listing of events, from Yorkville River Fest to Kendall County Fair to Montgomery Fest and the Sandwich Fair, where you can listen to some great music, nosh on some tasty fare and get your heart pumping on carnival rides.

Let’s think water, specifically Raging Waves Water Park in Yorkville. Now in its tenth year of operation, there are even more ways to stay cool and have fun since the largest water park in Illinois unveiled a new children’s play area and two new body slides May 26. You can read all about the expansion on Page 7.

Patio dining is another summertime activity where you can enjoy the weather as well as a cool beverage and fine cuisine – which means anything from a steak to a juicy burger, depending on your appetite. Our story on Page 20 highlights a few locales with al fresco dining.

Avoiding chemical-laced beauty and home cleaning products is a year-round goal for many folks. Oswego boutique Aroma Roots offers up natural products that coincide with that philosophy. The shop carries more than 100 all-natural soaps, lotions and cleaning products handcrafted by owner Maria Skokan and her husband Peter. Read their story on Page 10.

Summer is the season for outdoor festivals and carnivals, and Kendall County does not disappoint! On Page 16 we have gathered a

I hope this edition of Kendall County Magazine inspires you to get out and try something new or revisit an old favorite in your community.

Thanks for reading,

Kelli Murray, Editor

Kendall County MAGAZINE

Kendall County Magazine Published by Shaw Media 109 W. Veterans Parkway Yorkville, IL 60560 Phone: 630-553-7034 news@kendallcountynow.com Publisher Daily Chronicle & Suburban Weekly Group Laura Shaw lshaw@shawmedia.com Local Sales Manager

Jaclyn Cornell 630-845-5234 jcornell@shawmedia.com Advertising

Kristin Hawkins 630-553-7034, ext. 2004 khawkins@shawmedia.com Julie Harn 630-385-4402 jharn@shawmedia.com Editor Kelli Murray 630-427-6266 kmurray@shawmedia.com Designer Allison McCaleb 815-526-4485 amccaleb@shawmedia.com

COVER

on the Raging Waves water park in Yorkville is expanding its lineup of rides and adding a children’s play area.

Correspondents Kelsey O’Connor, Aimee Barrows, Erin Sauder, Sheryl DeVore and Allison Horne

Photos courtesy of Raging Waves 6 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

| SUMMER 2018 |

SintoLsIumD E

By KELSEY

O ’C O

NNO

R

me r

rk a P r e at W es v a W g n i ag New a R t a d ttractio ns and splash-tastic fun can be foun The largest waterpark in Illinois is about to get even bigger. Raging Waves, located in Yorkville, unveiled their largest expansion to date, including two new body slides and a new children’s play area, when the park opened for the season May 26.

“We always keep our ear to the ground to what’s new in the industry and what’s coming down pipeline,” says owner Randy Witt. “We follow that closely and see what’s out there and we try to fill what we think is a need. It’s always important in this industry to give people something new to keep them coming back.”

— Continued on page 8 | SUMMER 2018 |

KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 7

— Continued from page 7 Witt’s goal for these new additions, and his mission for the park, is to create a place the whole family can come and enjoy together. The park currently offers tons of unique attractions, including more than 20 water slides, a wave pool, kiddie areas and a lazy river, that cater to everyone from young children to grandparents.

“We strive for cleanliness, friendliness, and, most importantly, safety,” says Witt. “When you combine worldclass attractions and you bring them all together in a clean, friendly, safe environment, I think that’s what makes this unique.”

As the park enters its tenth year, Witt and his team are always thinking up ways to update the park and provide an even better experience for guests. From adding more shaded spots to revamping the rides, they’re always on the lookout for the next big thing.

into high-speed, near-zero gravity experience that emulates the feeling of weightlessness. “We wanted to give them a very safe, fun, exhilarating ride,” says Witt. “You go home and you’re talking about Wonambi.”

Adrenaline junkies will also love The Boomerang, a popular and heart-pumping four-person ride. The slide, Witt’s personal favorite at the park, features a 40-foot drop into a giant funnel that thrusts riders back and forth up it’s walls.

“That’s always been our number one ride,” says Witt.

“When people get off a water slide, they’re happy smiling and laughing. At the end of Boomerang, they’re flat-out giddy. That’s really something to behold.” The park is also debuting two new body slides, the Wild Wallabies, this season.

But Raging Waves offers more than just thrills. Witt is strategic about making sure there is plenty of entertainment opportunities for all ages. That’s why he recently decided to create a new area of the park dedicated to younger children.

One of these next-big-things is the Wonambi. The fourperson tube ride first opened in 2016 and has been a hit ever since. Raging Waves was one of the first parks in the country to debut the ride, which has won numerous industry awards, including best new ride in 2015.

“We came up with idea to expand the kiddie area,” says Witt. “What we’ve seen is when we open the gates in the morning, the guests rush to the two main kiddie areas. They go pouring in there and it can get pretty packed.”

The breathtaking attraction sends riders accelerating 8 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

To prevent overcrowding, the park is debuting a brand new ON THE COVER

| SUMMER 2018 |

“I sell houses, you make them homes”

children’s play area for the 2018 season. Quokka-Nut Island, named for the world’s friendliest creatures, will feature four new slides and effectively double the total amount of kids’ areas available at the park.

“I think we’ve come up with an absolute gem of a kiddie pool,” he says. “It’s going to give parents with toddlers a place to go, spread the crowd out more and give more to do for the little ones.”

Quokka-Nut Island will be located next to existing play area Koala Cove. Both will cater to younger children around ages two to five, while nearby Kangaroo Falls is perfect for kids of all ages. That area features a four-story water fort with slides, bridges, water hoses and a giant dumping bucket.

The water park is also a one-of-a-kind spot for group gatherings. Raging Waves can host a wide array of events, including birthdays, family reunions, corporate outings, and even weddings. One couple exchanged vows on top of the Boomerang ride.

Another aspect that makes the park unique is Witt himself. Brad Donati, marketing manager at Raging Waves, says it’s not uncommon for the owner to be spotted helping with the daily tasks of keeping the park running, like picking up trash or waving cars into parking spots.

“It starts from the top,” says Donati. “That’s one of the big differentiators, being a family-owned business. We’re not a large corporation so there’s no compromise.”

Raging Waves is the culmination of a decades-long dream for Witt. The park opened in 2008, but Witt had been working for more than 20 years to turn his vision for a first-class water park into a reality. At the time, there was nothing anywhere near the size of Raging Waves in the Chicagoland market and Witt knew there was a void that needed to be filled.

“The best way I can describe it is you get bit by the water park bug,” says Witt.

“You develop this incredible passion for it and you see the potential of what they can do, not just from the business side but for bringing families together and providing wholesome entertainment.”

Today, Witt is at the park every single day. After a decade in operation, seeing his dream come to life hasn’t gotten old -- and neither has meeting all the different people who get to enjoy it.

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“At the end of the day, you see people leaving happy, they come up to you and say they had a wonderful day,” he says. “That’s really gratifying because at that moment you know you accomplished what you set out to do. For me, that’s the most rewarding thing.”

Raging Waves is located at 4000 N. Bridge St. in Yorkville. For more information, visit www.ragingwaves.com or call (630) 882-6575. | SUMMER 2018 |

ON THE COVER

Success

Bobbie Soris Realty Executives Success 1107 S. Bridge St., Unit C, Yorkville 630-553-8405 www.bobbiesoris.com KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 9

beauty

Aroma Roots offers natural bath and body products

By AIMEE BARROWS Photos by STEVEN BUYANSKY

As a child, Maria Skokan would frequent health food stores with her mother and aunt, long before the organic and natural product industry exploded. And as an adult, she’s taken the lessons she learned from her family and is now the proud owner of Aroma Roots, a boutique in downtown Oswego that carries all-natural soaps, lotions, cleaning products and more. Everything that is sold in the store is made by Skokan and her husband, Peter.

“We love to formulate. Our products are different and unique because we use fruit and veggies in our soaps,” she explained. “We consider ourselves a plant-based company because we use herbs, essential oils, clay and spices. There are no artificial colorants, dyes or fragrances. It’s so simple.”

Skokan, who lives in Aurora, began experimenting with natural products in 2005 when she owned her own cleaning business.

She remembers her husband and daughter having asthma attacks from the fumes from the conventional products. After that, Skokan researched natural ways of cleaning using minerals and essential oils. Two years later, the couple developed a natural glass cleaner, an all-purpose cleaner and a heavy-duty cleaner for the kitchen and bathroom.

Once the cleaning products took off, Skokan knew she was onto something. In 2010, she decided to try to make her own soaps, researching the best natural products to concoct her own formula.

10 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

“I wanted to dive right in. The first bar of soap was lavender oatmeal, and my family and friends were blown away by it,” she explained.

“I learned about the properties of essential oils and what they did for skin. Now we make 30 bars of soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, baby products, body butters, bath bombs and men’s shaving products. We’re always looking at new formulations.”

After selling the products at farmers’ markets in the area, the couple opened their first store in Aurora in 2013, but closed it a year later because Skokan said the location wasn’t ideal.

They moved to Oswego in 2016, and Skokan said business has been doing very well. She thinks that people are becoming more aware of the products they use, and are looking for natural alternatives.

“People are becoming their own advocates and learning more about organic and natural

FASHION & BEAUTY

products,” she said. “The skin is our largest organ, and anything we put on the skin goes into the bloodstream within 20 seconds.

We are bombarded with so many toxins and chemicals.”

Skokan explained that the products sold in most stores use detergents, artificial foaming agents and artificial chemicals, which can irritate the skin. She encourages the public to research the ingredients so they can make an informed decision about what they put on their bodies.

“When I formulate, it’s wholesome, plant-based ingredients and that’s better for you,” she said. “We make over 100 products, and my husband and I are the formulators from the raw ingredients to the finished product. We do a lot of research and take pride in what we do.

There’s a lot of love put into it.”

Aroma Roots is located at 25 Jefferson St. in Oswego. For more information, call 630-6367500 or visit www.aromaroots.com.

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FASHION & BEAUTY

KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 11

A flexible approach to health Spine and Sports Chiropractic expands practice to include yoga

By AIMEE BARROWS

D

r. Ashley Dickerson, chiropractor and owner of Spine and Sports Chiropractic, focuses on treating the whole body, not just the spine. She knows that strength, flexibility and movement are important to a healthy lifestyle, so she recently began offering meditation, exercise and yoga classes at her Oswego office.

And her patients aren’t the only ones who can benefit, as the classes are open to the public.

“I always have recommended strength [exercises] and stretching to my patients, and I wanted to offer them a place where they can do it in a welcoming, non-threatening environment.

I also wanted to set myself apart from other chiropractors,” Dickerson explained.

The classes began in the office’s brand-new exercise studio in mid-March. Dickerson said the “Werq” is a dance class, similar to Zumba but with pop music instead of Latin music. She explained that the yoga classes will increase participants’ strength and flexibility, while the meditation classes can help calm the mind and relieve pain.

12 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

“Our thoughts and feelings can manifest as physical symptoms,” she said. “It’s important to get our thoughts and emotions directed in the right way. We’re a highly stressed society and it’s important to relax the nervous system and the brain. Yoga also has a mental aspect and people can practice their breathing. It’s total mind, body and spirit.”

Dickerson and her staff have also been helping patients lose weight using two different systems. The practice’s weight loss clinic uses the Ideal Protein program that consists of a low-carb, ketogenic diet. Dickerson said she’s lost more than 70 pounds since 2009 on the program. The other system, Nourish, uses blood testing and DNA profiles to determine what diets will work best for each individual.

Clinic Ambassador Jill Loetsher lost more than 100 pounds since June, thanks to the weight loss programs and now plans to continue her journey by taking the classes at the office.

“The yoga classes are a perfect fit here.

Patients need strengthening and this

HEALTH & WELLNESS

| SUMMER 2018 |

compliments Dr. Ashley’s treatments,” she said. “The environment is positive and uplifting. I feel so strongly in the way we do things here because we care about fixing people.”

Dickerson, a native of Peoria, has been working at the practice since 2012, but took it over in 2015. She not only treats back pain, neck pain, and headaches, but also sees athletes with soft-tissue injuries. She played softball while she was an undergraduate at Lewis University, and saw a chiropractor to help “keep her on the field.” Dickerson saw the value in chiropractic and knew she wanted to help others the same way her chiropractor helped her.

“The health care system is skewed, and I want to use natural ways to keep people healthy, active and mobile,” she said. “The medical world is about following and chasing symptoms whereas chiropractic is about getting to the root cause. The nervous system controls everything, and if something is out of alignment, it can put pressure on a nerve which interferes with communication with the brain. Everyone can benefit from chiropractic. If you have a spine, get it checked out.”

Spine and Sports Chiropractic is located at 83 Templeton Dr., Unit C, in Oswego. For more information or for a class schedule, call 630554-9991 or visit www.oswegospine.com.

“We’re a highly stressed society and it’s important to relax the nervous system and the brain.”

- Dr. Ashley Dickerson, chiropractor and owner of Spine and Sports Chiropractic

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 13

BOXING: Putting on gloves to pick up life skills

Photos courtesy of Charlie Co. Boxing Club

By ERIN SAUDER

W

hile not everyone can turn a passion into a career, it’s proven to be a success for Carlos Cruz, owner of the Oswegobased Charley Co. Boxing Club.

The Oswego resident took up the sport as a child and continued to box into his teens.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2002 at age 18 and was able to use boxing to get him back on his feet when, after three combat tours and an injury in deployment, Cruz was medically retired from the military.

His wife, Patricia, said boxing helped him both physically and mentally.

great workout.

The business’ name is an homage to Cruz’s fellow Marines who were with him in Charley Company, 1st Battalion 7th Marines.

As a further tribute to those who have served, he wants to start offering free classes to veterans a few times a month.

“I want to give back to the community and target those who have depression and PTSD,” Cruz says.

“That’s my goal.”

The decision to put business roots down in Oswego, he said, “was really a no-brainer.”

“It’s close by my house. The market is really coming “Of course when you are in the military for so long and up. And Oswego doesn’t have boxing,” he says. “It you come out it’s a little bit hard,” she says. “For him, was a good opportunity to bring a boxing gym to the boxing is an outlet.” community.”

Once Cruz was back to boxing regularly again he Registered with USA Boxing, Charley Co. Boxing Club started teaching a class at a local fitness center. But offers all the necessary essentials, including a 16X16 he wanted to run a true boxing gym, one that focused boxing ring, basic and advanced techniques, mittwork strictly on the sport. and sparring, speed bags and punching bags, as well Last October he was able to make that dream a reality with the opening of Charley Co. Boxing Club. Located at 16B S. Cherry Drive, clients can learn the sport of boxing, train to be better fighters, or even just get a 14 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

as treadmills and free weights. Programs are designed for men, women and children as young as age 6.

While some of those in the latter category may take HEALTH & WELLNESS

| SUMMER 2018 |

up the sport as a means to ward off bullying, the kids end up learning more than just the proper way to throw an uppercut or a jab.

Club? A boxing cardio class taught by an aerobic instructor.

“It’s not just a session you could get at a gym. It’s teaching the sport and it’s training to make you stronger, faster and able to hold your own,” Patricia Cruz says.

They also acquire life skills.

“They’re learning coordination, and being able to focus and to calm down,” says Patricia Cruz.

“Some kids come and want to learn how to fight because they’re being picked on but they never end up fighting because instead they learn to calm themselves down and walk away.”

But the programs are not just for those who are looking to box professionally.

“We have clients that want to learn the boxing but don’t want to compete,” Patricia Cruz says. “They Sparring is also a confidence booster. And that goes want to get a good workout. They learn the basics for all ages. how to punch, how to turn, all the little things.”

“It’s a good workout. You sweat and you trim down.

You think it’s just punching and stuff but a lot more goes into it and there’s a lot more dedication you have to give to it,” Patricia Cruz says.

Charley Co. Boxing Club also offers open gym and private training sessions.

More information about the club can be found at https://charleycoboxingclub.com.

What won’t clients get from Charley Co. Boxing

Charley Co. Boxing Club helps Kendall County residents find their focus

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 15

After a long winter and a slow blooming spring, the weather has finally broken and it’s time to get out of the house, explore and discover new destinations.

Below are a few great events coming to a neighborhood near you.

•YORKVILLE RIVER FEST July 13-14

Photo by Mark Busch

Live country music includes performances by Nashville Electric Company from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, July 13; County Line Brothers from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 14; Back Country Roads from 3-6 p.m., Saturday, July 14 and Whiskey Romance Band from 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, July 14.

A team effort between Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department and the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Yorkville the River Fest is a weekend of food, music, family activities and water events at Riverfront Park, 131 E. Hydraulic Ave., As part of River Fest, the Illinois Yorkville.

Whitewater Festival will take place There will be a homebrew tasting Saturday with the Buttercup Slalom on Friday, while Saturday brings Series and Boatercross competition. a Whiskey Acres Tasting event.

Registration will begin that morning.

Advanced registration is available online or tickets may be purchased Additional activities include bounce house, cardboard boat flotilla, that day. human foosball and more. Free

Photo courtesy Yorkville Parks and Recreation Dept.

16 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

admission to all activities, River Fest-goers only pay for food and drinks.

•KENDALL COUNTY FAIR Aug. 2-5

From livestock shows to a carnival and demolition derby, there is something for everyone at the annual Kendall County Fair, 10826 Illinois Route 71, Yorkville.

Food booths will be open daily from 10 a.m. to close, but additional tasty opportunities include an ice cream eating challenge at 2 p.m. Saturday, and a watermelon eating contest on Sunday.

Musical entertainment includes Madd Hoss Jackson at 7:30 p.m.

Friday; magician Rob Thompson at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday; Cadillac Groove taking the stage at 4 p.m. Saturday; Moonlight Pickers at 6:30 p.m. Saturday; and Cluster Pluck at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The JJC Faculty Jazz Band performs noon on Sunday.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit www. kendallcountyfair.org.

Photo courtesy Yorkville Parks and Recreation Dept.

OUT & ABOUT

| SUMMER 2018 |

•MONTGOMERY FEST Aug. 10 – 12

The 34th annual Montgomery Fest is set for Aug. 10-12 in Montgomery Park. The weekend will offer carnival rides, car show, parade, fireworks, Montgomery’s Got Talent show, food and beer tent, craft booths and music.

Wristbands for carnival rides will be available for $20 Friday from 6 -10 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Music includes Back Country Roads on Friday night from 6:30-10 p.m.; LAVA Rock will perform from 5-7 p.m. and Semple will take the stage from 8-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11; Whiskeyfist will perform from 6:30-9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 12.

On Sunday, Aug. 12, the parade kicks off at 1 p.m. The festival ends with a fantastic fireworks display.

For more information, visit www. ci.montgomery.il.us.

live musical performances, Pride and Joy Car Show, baby contest and carnival. Visit Yorkville Parks and Recreation Facebook page for more information.

•SANDWICH FAIR Sept. 5-9

A long-standing favorite, the Sandwich Fair has been a destination that entertains adults and children since 1888. Always the Wednesday after Labor Day, the Sandwich Fair will take place Sept. 5-9, 2018, at fairgrounds located at 1401 Suydam Road, Sandwich.

While all the music entertainment is still lining up, confirmed concerts include Carrollton, an Indie-tock Christian band, performing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Also performing will be DeKalb band Rockin’ Moxie, at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 6. Rockin’ Moxie performs pop/rock from the ‘90’s to current hits.

•YORKVILLE HOMETOWN DAYS FESTIVAL Aug. 31 – Sept. 2

Grandstand events include harness racing, carnival rides, food stands, Kiddie Land area, truck pulls on Thursday, tractor pulls on Saturday and demolition derby Sunday.

This family-oriented festival provides activities for everyone to enjoy, including

For more information, visit www. sandwichfair.com.

Photo courtesy Village of Montgomery

Est. 2000

5600 US Rte. 34, Oswego, IL oswego@foxvalleywinery.com 630-554-0404 www.foxvalleywinery.com

Wine Tastings Daily w ne d Family O ted r & Ope a

Winemaking is a passion here at Fox Valley Winery. It is this passion that we would like to share with you. We invite you to enjoy a glass of wine on our spacious brick patio, by our cozy fireplace, or while shopping in our large retail store.

Monday-Thursday 12pm to 6pm | Friday & Saturday 11am to 7pm Sunday 11am to 5pm

Par Avail ty Room able f or Re nt

10% off your wine purchase* Valid June 9 - July 31, 2018

*Offer excludes wines already on sale, monthly specials, end of vintage specials, tastings and glasses of wine.* Must bring original ad, duplicates not accepted. Must be 21 to purchase or consume alcohol.

SM-CL1534453

| SUMMER 2018 |

Visit our website for upcoming events at the winery and around town OUT & ABOUT

KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 17

DIY revolution Family businesses capitalize on DIY projects, vintage look

By SHERYL DEVORE

K

Olde Farm Creek Board and Brush

ari Rogerson promises no matter what your skill level, when you complete a project at A Lady and Her Tools in Oswego, you’ll want to put it in a prominent place in your home. And even if you’ve never used a power drill before, you’ll leave after three or four hours having learned that skill.

Rogerson is among several Kendall County proprietors who have honed in on the do-it-yourself and handcrafted trend.

In a way, A Lady and Her Tools as well as a Board & Brush franchise in Oswego, are accidental businesses.

The owners are capitalizing on the thrill they felt when creating their own work and want to share that with others. Participants choose projects and then receive all the materials and instructions to complete them, with proprietors cheering them on.

Another store, Olde Farm Creek in Yorkville, helps customers select items to individualize their spaces to create a vintage farmhouse look.

A Lady and Her Tools is a familyowned make-and-take woodworking shop especially for women, but men also participate, Rogerson said. Projects include coffee tables, benches and planters, which can be painted or stained on site.

“People are realizing that they can do it themselves,” Rogerson said. “The sense of accomplishment you get is huge… When you take your project home and someone asks you where you got it and you said you made it, that’s the coolest thing.

“We all have full-time jobs,” Rogerson said referring to her business partners, mom Lisa Wagner and mother-in-law, Debbie Rogerson, as well as all three ladies’ husbands.

BEGAN WITH A BENCH But while at a local flea market a few years ago, family members saw a bench they liked and wondered if they could make it themselves.

So they bought the materials and built a bench, “and it was so much 18 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

HOME & LIFESTYLE

fun” Rogerson recalled.

Soon they were hosting woodworking workshops at their homes and then opening a storefront.

“Everybody asked me how I knew I could do this,” Rogerson said. “It’s because I was raised to assume I could do whatever I wanted to do.”

She added, “I was always happiest when I had a crayon in my hand, and I love to knit.

“We are having so much fun. Not many people can say they have such a cool family. My parents and in-laws have become best friends,” Rogerson said.

Workshops are held Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesday nights or by appointment. The guys – meaning Rogerson’s husband, father-in-law and father – cut the wood. The ladies run the workshops.

“We are adding a new project every month. We just prototyped a planter stand for Mother’s Day – and you can put your kids’ handprints on it,” Rogerson said.

In winter, patrons made blanket ladders. In summer, creating outdoor benches will be popular, she said.

One unexpected pleasure of running the business is watching some of their customers transform into do-ityourselfers, she said.

“Ladies walk in nervous. They’ve never used tools before. They walk out with a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment,” Rogerson said.

Katie Ilic, who owns the Board & Brush franchise in Oswego with her husband, Mike Ilic, agreed that’s one of the inspiring parts of running a doit-yourself workshop business.

THE POWER DRILL “We’ve had 21-year-olds who had never touched a power drill and by the end of the session, they were pros at it,” she said.

Clients create customized wooden boards with their own names, towns or sayings on them.

The Ilics were looking for a way to celebrate their wedding anniversary | SUMMER 2018 |

and discovered Board & Brush, founded by Julie Selby in Downers Grove and New Lenox.

“We created a home-sweet-home board. We love it.

We still have it hanging in our kitchen,” Ilic said.

“Just the idea that it’s completely made and customized by you makes it something that’s truly one-of-a kind. We can always remember that we did this together.”

They were so inspired that they worked with Selby to create a franchise, open now for about a year.

It’s a perfect business for the couple, she said. “My husband absolutely loves do-it-yourself projects and I love teaching,” said Ilic, who taught high school math for eight years before her daughter, Emma, was born in 2016.

At Board & Brush, customers choose designs and personalized stencils, which might include the date of marriage or a person’s name.

“When you come to our workshop, we have the wood laid out for you and we have your pre-made stencil ready to go,” Ilic said.

Clients use hammers and meat tenderizers to “distress” the pine wood “so it doesn’t look like it just came from the store,” she said. “There are different techniques to get desired effects.

Next, clients sand the edges, apply a fast-drying stain, apply the individualized stencil and paint it.

It takes three-to-four hours to complete the project, Ilic said. Workshops are held Fridays and Saturdays;

private parties can be arranged, and soon they’ll open on Thursday nights, she said.

“We just added our first parent/child workshop in April. We’ve had a lot of requests for that,” she said “We just had a birthday party for a 12-year-old last week.

“It’s a great experience and it’s a great time out. If you want to get together with girlfriends, you could just go to dinner, but if you do this, you get to spend the time together, you get to socialize and then you get to create something that’s kind of amazing,” she said.

PERSONAL STYLE It’s also a chance to show your individuality, she said, and that’s what Olde Farm Creek in Yorkville offers to clients. Open two weekends per month, the store located out in the country in a barn contains displays of ways to decorate your home, for example what to put above a fireplace or a cabinet, said owner Jen Gomoll.

Customers bring in photos of their spaces and she helps them choose items that would work best.

Gomoll might suggest a porch lantern made of tin, glass and reclaimed wood to go on a table next to a swing outdoors, for example.

She sells hand-crafted and retail items that have an old farmhouse feel, she said. The pieces, including furniture, have a worn look “like they’ve been around for a while,” Gomoll said. She ran an online home décor store since 2002 and now is focusing on

vintage farm décor sold in the barn, she said.

Gomoll and her husband, Joe, moved to the Yorkville property a few years ago, built a home and a barn, planted an apple orchard and set up 18 bee hives. During autumn, they sell apples, honey and pumpkins.

“My husband always wanted to have an orchard and he talked about bees for years,” Gomoll said.

“We bought the land many years ago, and recently decided before the kids got too old, it was time to make the move. It’s the start of a dream.”

And, they’re doing it themselves – 21st century-style.

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Min Kim, DMD • Dhaval Patel, DDS 110 W. Center St., Ottawa 815-434-6411 • www.ottawailsmiles.com Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-5pm

| SUMMER 2018 |

HOME & LIFESTYLE

KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 19

Fresh air, fresh spaces Embrace patio dining season in Kendall County

By ERIN SAUDER

The warmer temperatures will have many people wanting to head outdoors. For those looking to do just that while also enjoying a cold beverage and a juicy burger, Kendall County offers a variety of al fresco dining venues. Check out the list of restaurants in the area which offer patio dining. g TAP HOUSE GRILL 123 WASHINGTON ST. | OSWEGO (630) 383-2020 https://taphousegrills.com/menu/our-menuoswego/ If you’re looking for a fun afternoon in the sun or evening under the stars, head to the patio at Tap House Grill. The popular bar and restaurant is known for its rotating selection of craft beers and creative menu fare. Popular appetizers include the Cheddar Stuffed Bacon, Drunken Shrimp, and Crispy Fried Pickles. Prefer a cocktail over a beer? Other Tap House Grill selections include signature drinks such as the Southern Headache and the Bulleit Smash, as well as margaritas, martinis, mules, wine, sangria and more. Burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, tacos and house specialties such as beer-brined chicken and drunken shrimp pasta round out the extensive food menu.

With patio season nearly upon us, check out the al fresco dining experience available at Mike & Denise’s Pizzeria & Pub. This family-owned restaurant and bar specializes in pizza, including traditional Chicago-style, stuffed, pan, thin, and double dough, as well as offers a full menu of soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches, and more.

Craving a burger? The pub’s ‘Hangover’ is dubbed the perfect breakfast and lunch combination, featuring a 9-ounce burger topped with a fried egg, crispy bacon and cheese. The Cheesy Fox burger is topped with ham, a fried egg and bacon and served between two grilled cheese sandwiches. You’ll also find a wide selection of beers on tap as well as daily drink specials.

g PIG DOG PUB 1250 S. BROADWAY | MONTGOMERY (630) 340-5221 http://pig-dog-pub.business.site/ As the weather heats up, make sure the patio at Pig Dog Pub is one of your summer stops.

Located near the Fox River Trail and Montgomery dam, this casual sports bar is a hot spot for

g FIREHOUSE PIZZA & PUB 65 W. WASHINGTON ST. | OSWEGO (630) 551-0800 http://firehousepizzapub.com/#!/pageHome Slip on your sunglasses and hit the patio at Firehouse Pizza & Pub. Fare includes appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, pizza, stromboli, calzones, and wings, among other culinary delights. The establishment is also known for its extensive beer menu, including on tap, cask, bottles, and cans.

g LAKEVIEW GRILLE 604 W. VETERANS PARKWAY | YORKVILLE (630) 553-3055 www.lakeviewgrille.com Patio seating and lake views make Lakeview Grille a popular summer destination. The upscale establishment features a menu of steak, seafood, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads. Lakeview Grille menu favorites include the Mile-High Meatloaf, Grilled Chops, and Baby Back Ribs. Pair your meal with a glass of wine, craft beer, martini, or cocktail. Cap off your summer evening on the patio with a slice of Kay’s Key Lime Pie or Triple Layer Cake and an after dinner drink.

g MIKE & DENISE’S PIZZERIA & PUB 728 E. VETERANS PARKWAY | YORKVILLE (630) 882-9072 www.mikeanddenises.com 20 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

lunch, dinner and drinks. Menu fare includes specialty burgers, salads, wraps, sandwiches, pizza, hand cut fries and tater tots. Dog House specialties include Nathan’s Hot Dog, Twin Tilapia Tacos, Blackened Chicken Gyro, and the Twin Chicken Enchiladas. Patrons will also find an extensive list of craft beers and cocktails.

DINING & ENTERTAINING

| SUMMER 2018 |

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| SUMMER 2018 |

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2725 US Route 34 Oswego, IL 60543 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 21

The Ethan Bell Band is busier than ever, but up for the challenge

E

By ALLISON HORNE than Bell has always been surrounded by music and it doesn’t seem like that is going to change anytime soon.

Growing up, his dad played in the church band and Ethan used to sing with his sisters while being homeschooled in Yorkville. Before he started playing guitar at the age of 12, he used to draw guitars on notebooks and pretend to play. By age 15, he had already started playing in restaurants and church.

While he took lessons when he first got his guitar, he learned a lot of music by just asking people what they wanted to hear and teaching himself. He started teaching private lessons when he was around 16 and played covers in clubs, bars and restaurants for years.

But when his solo performances started to plateau, he began the search for a band. Three years ago, he found guitarist Brandon Weber, drummer Jonny Gifford and bassist Eric Smith, the trio that, with Ethan, now completes the Ethan Bell Band.

“When you’re doing a solo thing, you show up and you do whatever you want, pretty much,” Bell says about the change. “You’re not dependent on anyone else so there’s a freedom, which is nice. But when a band all comes together and does what they’re supposed to do, it’s way cooler than playing solo.”

Bell says he’s really into the new style of country, like Luke Bryan,

22 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt and the Zac Brown Band.

“I really love where the genre is going,” Bell says. “Some people are complaining that this isn’t the way country is, but nobody’s really wrong. What you define country as is different than me.”

He notes that Eric Church is very rock and roll, Florida Georgia Line integrates hip-hop, and Sam Hunt does more urban music.

“Guys are so far outside the box that it slightly steers the whole industry that way,” Bell says. “Stuff that was progressive 10 years ago is now the standard. It’s cool how that works.”

Weber, who has been playing music since he was five, also has an extensive music background. He credits his dad, who was a percussionist with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Johnnie Kaye Orchestra, and his mom, who taught him piano as a child. They also took Weber and his siblings to plenty of music festivals.

“Being exposed to performances in a wide variety of musical styles helped inform a lot of my tastes in music now,” Weber says. “I listen to and enjoy a wide variety, which I feel helps keep my playing from getting stagnant and also helps me be versatile as a musician.”

Bell, who generally writes or co-writes songs before collaborating with the band, describes his own band and writing as country, but they also play top-40 songs, hip-hop and pop for performances. They currently have two singles out, “Hold You Now” and “Party Bus.”

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Bell draws a lot of influence for songs from life events, but also says that sometimes ideas just hit him out of the blue. One of his songs, “Put On,” which was originally written around a verse about yoga pants, reminds him of his wife, Michalene.

“If I’m in a very peaceful, relaxed place, sometimes I just hear a whole song,” Bell says. “Sometimes it even happens when I’m doing the dishes, and I’ll just write it down and record it or whatever.”

With a couple of singles out, the band has been opening for several bigger names, like Josh Turner, Chase Bryant and Dylan Scott, and recently did their first-ever ticketed show at the Sandwich Opera House, which sold more than 150 tickets. They’ve also played at Country Thunder, Prairie Fest in Oswego, and Beer Can Alley in Des Moines in addition to over 150 shows per year.

Weber says his favorite show the band has ever played was the pre-show in Wrigley Plaza for the Zac Brown Band last summer, and although Bell gushes about some of their performances, he says he’s really just happy that he gets to play music with his band.

“All those things were cool,” Bell says. “But I just played for 30 people at a nursing home and I thought that was cool, too.”

Bell doesn’t want to say he wants to be a superstar (even though he admits it would be cool), but really, he’s just glad he can support his wife and five children as a musician and is currently enjoying living in the moment.

“For me, the best show I play is always going to be the next one,” Bell says.

You can find more information and Ethen Bell Band concert info at www. ethanbellband.com. | SUMMER 2018 |

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Newborns to seniors Weekdays: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Weekends: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Locations: Aurora (North Eola and West Galena), Oswego, Sugar Grove, Yorkville

Visit rushcopley.com/convenientcare for wait times, directions and more.

DINING & ENTERTAINING

KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE 23

GET RID OF

Seasonal Allergies Itchy eyes and throat… sneezing and post-nasal drip… sinus infection and cough/cold… all of these symptoms are commonly related to seasonal allergies.

Some people can take allergy medication a few times a year and manage their symptoms. Other people suffer with allergies and sickness despite taking the medications to manage their symptoms.

IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO

STOP SUFFERING! NO ALLERGY INJECTIONS & SHOTS! Farah Malik, M.D. has been treating patients with moderate to severe seasonal allergies for over 5 years. She has now made available a prescription for her patients to treat seasonal allergies (and finally eliminate symptoms) helping patients to STOP SUFFERING.

Call Advanced Physical Medicine of Yorkville 630-553-2111 and schedule an evaluation to see if you are a candidate for allergy testing/treatment.

A DVA N C E D P H Y S I C A L M E D I C I N E O F YO R K V I L L E 630-553-2111 • Farah Malik, M.D. • www.AdvancedPhysicalMedicine.net

24 KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE

| SUMMER 2018 |