SVM_Lake Lifestyle_October 2023

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A special night of golf at Lake Carroll gets glowing reviews

Enjoy a fun Run at a family pumpkin patch and orchard

Need a big place for your big day?

Head to the country

A Lake Carroll band just keeps on getting Better

WHY WIRELESS?

JCWIFI vs. FIBER AND CABLE: KEY DIFFERENCES

LATENCY

JCWIFI has lower latency*…no wonder even financial traders prefer wireless

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PRICE SUPPORT RELIABILITY

JCWIFI offers low, consistent, no-hidden fee pricing compared to fiber and cable providers’ often inconsistent, add-on pricing

JCWIFI is local with friendly, local tech and customer support — not outsourced like a national company

JCWIFI cannot be physically cut so is less fragile than fiber optics where cut lines can result in long outages

SPEED

JCWIFI uses radio waves that travel at the speed of light so your wireless internet is as fast as the speed of light

By Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media

sunny day under a sky of blue — it’s a perfect day for golf. But what about a perfect night for golf?

Golf?

At night?

Well, why not? If football can have Friday Night Lights, why can’t golf have Saturday Night Lights?

It can, and it does, at Lake Carroll.

It’s called Moonlight Golf and it’s become a popular annual event on the course’s schedule that attracts challengers from near and far, regardless of Lake Carroll membership, all hoping to achieve a good low score — sort of — and take a swing at playing golf in a way they’re not used to.

All it takes is players who want to try something different and have a little fun, and some lighted golf balls and glow sticks, too. About 60 to 100 participants rise to the challenge three days a year, on the Saturday evenings around Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

“It’s something different,” Pro shop employee Treyton Selman said. “I think golf can get a little repetitive sometimes, and if you throw darkness into play and glow-in-the-dark balls into a night of golf, it’s a good memory to tell.”

“It’s so different,” he said. “Your depth perception is off, you can’t see the club face, you can’t read any greens. That’s the challenge of it.”

But don’t worry: The staff doesn’t just leave players in the dark. Selman and fellow pro shop employee Tristan Woodin cruise the course on a cart to check in on golfers to make sure everything’s alright, and the golf balls are working properly.

Whether they’re playing for the first time or returning for another round in the dark, Moonlight Golf participants can count on Tristin Woodin (left) and Treyton Selman to shed some light on the game. The two have overseen the event for the past 3 years.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

“We go around and check to see how groups are doing with their golf balls, and we hear a lot about how they’re doing on the course and their experience out there,” Woodin said. “They’re having a good time, but they can be a little surprised with how it actually plays out.”

Instead of standard golf balls, night games use translucent golf balls illuminated by LEDs inside. Colors include red, green, blue, yellow, pink and orange. A box of six can be found for around $25 online, a price slightly higher than a typical set of golf balls. As for the holes, they’re illuminated by small light rings inside.

Each event begins around 8 p.m. with Selman and Wooding giving a rundown of the rules and handing out golf balls. The rounds wrap up around midnight and the golf balls are returned. Among the three dates each year, the Independence Day event typically brings out the most golfers; this year’s saw 30 foursomes compete.

The most recent Moonlight Golf was held over the Labor Day weekend event on Sept. 2, and saw 15 foursomes and one twosome play, both family and friends. Some played to compete and others just played for fun.

There were also other stars with the links that night: Golfers who looked up may have noticed a string of about 20 SpaceX Starlink internet satellites making their way through the night sky going northwest to southeast around 9:30. And had it not been a cloudy night, they could have caught a glimpse of the southern fringe of the Aurora Borealis (“Northern Lights”) around midnight.

How do you play night golf? You size up the shot, swing your club, and watch as the golf ball is glowing, glowing, aaaand gone, on its way to a cup on the course with a glow ring inside.

The scramble setup is used for scoring. Each team keeps score in the usual way, and individuals with the three lowest scores in each of the field’s flights win gift certificates that can be used toward merchandise in pro shop. Most make it through each hole — with some holes blocked as they’re not safely playable at night — but sometimes a team winds up finding scoring a bit too much and stops keeping track.

When they want to shed some light on things, players use the flashlight on their cell phones or golf cart headlights as they navigate the course.

Moonlight Golf brought out the fun in the husband-andwife foursome of Liz (left) and Steve Daughtery and Kathy (right) and Jim Lavigne. The duos decked out their cart with a string of lights during the Sept. 2 game. They were one of 15 foursomes who participated. “We all did great. We loved it,” Liz said.

There’s some relief at No. 10, where light from the clubhouse helps illuminate the teeing ground.

Players have even gotten in on the action by decorating their carts with glow rings and strings of lights.

Given the fun nature of Moonlight Golf, it can be hard to take the game too seriously, or follow etiquette to a tee, Selman said, but that’s OK.

“It’s usually a fun night for everybody out here,” he said. “It’s something different. Golf is hard enough as it is, and this makes it a little harder. But when you put some glow lights out there and have a late night of golf, it gives a good memory to share or a good story to tell.”

Alexis Long of Lake Carroll was a first-time participant during the Labor Day weekend event, and she got off to a good start. She performed the best among her foursome of family and friends.

“This was our first time doing it, and it was a fun family outing,” Long said. “It was fun to just get out, play together and try something new.”

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Moonlight Golf players who may have wondered what was up with that string of lights they saw overhead during their Sept. 2 game, they were SpaceX Starlink internet satellites zipping through the sky.

Long’s teammate, Jacob Amstutz, also had a lot of fun, even with navigating the course in the near-pitch dark.

“Finding out where we were going was probably the hardest part about it, honestly, and not getting lost out there,” Amstutz said.

“They have a good setup here.”

First-timers or seasoned pros, competitors or casual players, no matter what the case, Selman and Woodin are happy if everyone who plays is happy.

“We try to get as many people out as we can,” Woodin said. “We try to make it a bit easier and try to do it as safe as possible. We try to make sure everybody enjoys themselves, for sure.”

Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

Moonlight Golf at Lake Carroll’s golf course takes place on Saturday evenings close to Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Find Lake Carroll Golf Course on Facebook, go to golflakecarroll.com, email jhill@golakecarroll.com, or call 815-493-2808 for more information.

Fall and Winter at TLP

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MelissaMcCammack JefNorton

t’s never too late to do something you’ve always wanted to do. Take it from a group of friends at Lake Carroll: You’ll be better off if you do.

By

Cody Cutter

The foursome not only not only chased their dream, they caught up with it, and now they’re entertaining crowds who come out to see the free-flowing mix of music that their band, Better Late Than Never, delivers. The band has become pretty good jugglers too, finding time between their family and careers to carve out time for writing and performing.

Better Late Than Never is guitarists Jeff Norton and Jason Mlakar, harmonicist Melissa McCammack and drummer Scott Woodley, all of whom keep busy with their day jobs — but when it’s quitting time, the band enjoys getting together for gigs, rehearsing, and writing songs.

Sauk Valley Media

The band has performed at concerts and private parties from as close to home as the lakefront and the Clubhouse, to southwest Wisconsin and Sycamore. About 80 percent of its typical set list are cover songs, and the rest are original works that each member has had a hand in composing; and each share vocals and provide harmonies.

Norton is the group’s chief song-

Better Late Than Never's quartet of musicians all are from Lake Carroll; they are (from left) Melissa McCammack, Scott Woodley, Jeff Norton and Jason Mlakar. CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

writer, and has found inspiration for songs both close to home and across the ocean.

“For me, it’s a creative outlet,” Norton said. “I enjoy the creativity and the original songwriting. Whatever comes to mind.”

Since forming as a trio in 2016 – McCammack joined in March 2022 — the band has released a digital album, “Day After Day,” featuring five songs: the title track, “The Road Runs On,” “Fate,” “Tennessee Moonlight,” and “Reach Out.” Another song, “Stronger,” was recently released as a single after being a part of their set list for the past couple of years. Some of their songs also have received radio airplay on Savanna FM station WCCI (100.3).

The notice is nice, but entertaing is the band’s main mission. Making music just another full-time job wouldn’t be as much fun.

“I think that’s why we enjoy doing it, because we don’t have to,” McCammack said. “It’s not an obligation, it’s a luxury.”

“It’s a lot of fun, it’s like my decompression time,” McCammack said. “I work all day, and then it’s time to just be myself and get away from corporate life.”

Norton, Mlakar and Woodley knew each other from church and originally formed the band under the name Bucket List, a nod to the idea that we should all do the things we want to do before it’s too late. It didn’t take long to cross out Bucket List, though, and come up with a better name.

“They wanted to name it Bucket List, because we’re all old and had never played in a full-time or a busy band,” Mlakar said. “Then we were like, ‘Let’s make it cooler.’ It’s the same concept, but kind of cooler, and that’s how the name kind of came together.”

“I like to keep active, and playing music is a great way to do that,” Mlakar

added. “Like with Jeff, with the songwriting and creativity, I love to make stuff, whatever it is.”

With their busy schedules, sometimes making stuff takes a little flexibility — and a cell phone. Tracks don’t always come together face to face, sometimes they’ll use tech to try out new ideas, passing along song ideas in group texts or e-mails. That way, when inspiration strikes, they can pass it along on the spot — typing a line, recording a riff, humming a tune — before they forget.

“It’s kind of like a think tank,” Woodley said. “Someone will text us and say if this is anything, and we’ll say no or we’ll say that is has something and that we’ll work on it and turn it into something.”

There are always song ideas floating around in that think tank, and sometimes it takes time for them to bubble up to the surface.

When musician Jimmy Buffet passed away Sept. 1, it made Norton think back to a vacation he took with friends in Hawaii about a year ago, where he had an idea for a song, but it wasn’t until Buffett’s death that the song was pulled out and fine tuned, and “Modern Day Pirate” was performed during a lakefront concert the next day.

“I was on vacation with some friends in Hawaii,”

Norton said. “We were sitting on the beach, and my buddy said, ‘I think we’ve found the place that Jimmy Buffett has been singing about all these years.’ I sort of filed that away, and about a year later I

was playing around on the guitar and there it came.”

Not long after the concert, McCammack’s mother made mention of the late music icon during a phone call and mentioned that Buffett was 36 years old when he wrote his first hit song, “Come Monday.”

“She said, ‘You still have a chance,’” McCammack said. “I think she was trying to give me hope, but we’re just doing this for fun. Better late than never.”

When fans attend a Better Late Than Never Show, they won’t expect to hear the same cover songs over and over again; set lists are a work in progress, and there’s no one particular genre — or volume. They can crank up the power with some AC/DC, or turn things down with a James Taylor tune. Even the occasional hip-hop tune makes the set, on acoustic guitars, and some covers get mixed into four- or five-song medleys.

“Pretty much, if we like a song, we’ll play it,” Norton said. “We’ve had people come up to us almost every gig, and if it’s their first time seeing us they often say, ‘You guys play such a wide variety of music. That’s a big part of it. If you go see a country band, you kind of know you’ll hear the same 10 songs for sure. We’ll throw in someone like Vanilla Ice, and people will be like, ‘Holy cow!’”

Before joining, McCammack

would often see the band perform when they toured the area, one of many Lake Carroll residents who would follow the band’s shows.

All the world can be a stage when you’re playing music — even a friend’s backyard at Lake Carroll, where Better Late Than Never played on Sept. 2 About 60 boats pulled in to enjoy the music. “It went amazing,” McCammack said. “We ... all thought that was going to be the best way to end our summer.”

Eventually, McCammack decided to approach them about joining. They liked her singing and she joined them in time for the band’s concert at Generations Brewing Company’s St. Patrick’s Day Bash in Freeport. The first go-around wasn’t easy for McCammack, but her new bandmates helped her through it.

“I went and saw these guys a few times, and they were awesome,” McCammack said. “I thought, ‘Maybe they’ll let me sing one or two songs with

them.’ I asked them if I could come to practice just to see. Then they let me come in. They let me sing at Generations, and I couldn’t stand up, I was so frozen on a bar stool and was nervous to be in front of people. I’m definitely moving more than I was that day.”

She’s not the only one moving; the music does, too, from one song right into the next. Another feature of the band’s concerts is how they go with the flow — they’re not one to take breaks every hour, and one song tends to lead into another with only a few second in between numbers.

“We have to give the Lake Carroll community a big shout out,” Mlakar said. “They’ll travel. We’ll go an hour away, and there’ll be a lot of them.”

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“The reoccurring thing among people is, ‘I can’t believe you don’t stop playing,’” Woodley said. “We don’t like a lot of dead space between songs. If we spend 30 seconds between songs, that’s like an eternity for us.”

The band usually plays in front of people who like to hit the dance floor, but sometimes their audience are just people who find that music floats their boat.

On Sept. 2, the band set up in a friend’s backyard in Section 16 of the lake and played to an audience in boats and rafts. About 65 boats came and went during the concert, and it was a perfect way to close a summer of touring.

“It went amazing,” McCammack said. “We were going to take a break to [record] and we all thought that was going to be the best way to end our summer. We had four gigs the previous month, so this was a nice end.”

“There were a lot of people,” Woodley added. “It was great to see people swimming and dancing with their arms. It was great.”

Moments of music magic like that are what make being in a band special — finding something they enjoy, and sharing that joy with others.

“It’s been a heck of a lot of fun, and I encourage anyone that’s got a dream to chase it no matter what age you are,” Norton said.

Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

CodyCutter SaukValleyMedia

hances are, you wouldn’t want a bunch of kids, or kids at heart, running amok on your property.

The Calams of rural Freeport actually encourages it on theirs.

With plenty of pumpkins, an assortments of apples, a selection of squash and gobs of gourds, Tim and Jackie Calam open up their yard and farm buildings each fall for people to pick out the fruits of their labor at Run-a-Muc Acres.

The Calams have grown pumpkins for seven years, starting out small, planting a few hundred seeds. Today, that pumpkin patch has grown into a seasonal destination where visitors can hop aboard a garden tractor train ride, get on a go-kart, navigate a corn maze, and grab a bite to eat. This year’s season opened Sept. 7 and runs through Halloween.

Pumpkins aren’t the only thing the family’s been able to watch grow.

“We get a pretty good draw here,” Tim said.

“Over the years we’ve had people where one of the only times they ever take their kids out is to go to the pumpkin patch. It’s also cool to watch them grow up year after year.”

The Calams also host school field trips and group home trips for those who want to pick out a pumpkin, or other gourd or squash, that they want to take home.

When the family first started out, they just plopped some pumpkins on a couple of pallets at the end of their driveway and sold them on an honors system, with folks dropping money into a box. That worked so well, Tim said, that he decided to add a little more the following year, and the next year and the next year, and the next, until the operation grew into its present-day operation, with 12 acres devoted to growing the fruits, six owned by the Calams and another six they rent out. His daughter, Candice, helps manage the operation.

Tim enjoys providing a taste of fall to homes and kitchens throughout the area — whether it’s for a centerpiece on the table, a pie in the oven, or a goofy ghoulish grin on the front porch.

It may be called Run-A-Muc, but things run smoothly at the family business, thanks to Tim (top) and Jackie Calam and Tim’s daughter, Candice (bottom). The business started in 2016 with just a few pallets of pumpkins and has grown steadily since then. Today’s it’s a 6-acres pumpkin patch, apple orchard and family destination. “I like getting to meet all of the people,” Candice said. “They come from everywhere, and a lot of them come as a family; some have grandkids that also come and run around.”

PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

“It’s nice to give back to the community,” Tim said. “That’s what our plan was when we started this. None of the apple trees were here then; we planted them and now have about 60 apple trees all over the property, plus peach trees. We grew 17,000 different kinds of plants this year, about 25 different varieties of this and that.”

Pumpkin growing begins in May, and the fruits (pumpkins, squashes and gourds are actually classified as fruits) are picked beginning in early September.

They grow more than a dozen varieties of pumpkins, filling shelves and tables and carts, with sizes ranging from small to large, though this year’s crop was a little smaller than usual, due to the dry summer.

Cinderella pumpkins — named for the pumpkin in the classic fairy tale — are larger and can be used for ornamental purposes or in recipes. Their mild, sweet flavor and moist texture makes them well-suited for sauces, soups, purees, and curries; and they can be roasted, baked and steamed.

You can hitch a ride on a tractor train of bumblebees or hop on a pedal kart and put yourself in the driver’s seat.

Smaller varieties — including cannonballs, with their round shape, and babyboos, oval shaped varieties that fit in the palm of a hand — are well-suited for decor.

If it’s pumpkin pie you’re interested in, there’s a specific type that’ll do the trick: the pie pumpkin.

“The skin’s really thick, so you get a lot of pie out of them,” Tim said. “You don’t want to make pie out of a big pumpkin because it can get bland. These ones are little and high in sugar with a deep orange color inside.”

PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Hungry?

There’s plenty of tummy tempting treats at Run-A-Muc Acres. You can pick up a peck of apples, or get one “inside out” — with caramel, nuts and whipped cream — or nice and sliced — covered with nuts, chocolates, caramel and ice cream (bottom). The concession stand offers a selection of tasty treats, and you can pick up a dozen donuts (or two!). The donuts have become a favorite with customers. They’re sprinkled in sugar and come in apple, cherry and blueberry flavors.

50% OFF

After a few years of success, the Calams added a concession stand to the Run-a-Muc experience, offering nachos, pretzels, cotton candy, turnovers, snow cones — and of course, pumpkin bars. They’ve also got apple nachos (apple slices covered with nuts, chocolates, caramel and ice cream), as well as an inside-out caramel apple — “We peel it, core it, spiral cut it, and fill the inside with caramel, nuts and whipped cream,” Tim said.

Cake donuts have also proven to be big draw. They come in apple, cherry and blueberry flavors, sprinkled with sugar, and once people get a taste of them, they’re hooked, especially dedicated fall day-trippers.

“There are groups that drive around, believe it or not, and go to pumpkin patches and apple orchards,” Tim said. “We’ve had people here who have been to a lot of them, One guy once told me, ‘Not only is this the best donut I’ve had this year, but this is the best donut I’ve ever had.’ That’s pretty impressive for someone who showed me a list of about 25 different places he’s all went.” Also, look for our Red

There’s no shortage of shapes of squashes and gourds, and they’re a fun way to dress up your seasonal decor. Above, Run-a-Muc Acres employee Cynthia Colley holds a Turkish turban squash, which looks like it’s half-pumpkin and half squash.

Halloween-themed kids games, crafts and trick-or-treating accessories also are sold, as well as hay bales and firewood.

After last Halloween, when the mercury dipped down low, Run-aMuc Acres got all decked out for Christmas destination for the first time. Lights were strung along trees, and decorations adorned the driveway and farm buildings. The lights were synced to music that nearby motorists could hear through their FM radio.

The Calams plan to bring the winter entertainment back this year to add another element of family fun.

“I like getting to meet all of the people,” Candice said. “They come from everywhere, and a lot of them come as a family; some have grandkids that also come and run around.”

Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-

Run a Muc Acres, 3063

Becker School Road in rural Freeport, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday through Sunday during the fall. Winter hours will be announced at a later date. Find it on Facebook or call 815-2661737 for more information.

Located at First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Kids make their way through the corn maze at Run-A-Muc Acres.

Want to take a short jaunt for a haunt?

There’s a place just around the corner that’s Hidden in plain sight right here

plain sight right here in Lake Carroll, and the couple behind the hair-rising hike invite you over for a few fright nights

And featuring ... FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS OF THE LAKE CARROLL

COMMUNITY

Your scary scribe ...

... and a cast & crew of volunteers

a lloween time was pretty peaceful at Lake Carroll for nearly 50 years. That was, up until a couple of years ago, when the creatures of Section 10 started to come out of the woodwork. Those menacing monsters from a Halloween movie you saw? Creepy characters that tingle your spine and a cool fall evening? Chances are, they were last seen lurking some -

where in the back yard of a house along Hidden Valley Drive — you might want to ask Tom Janopolous and his wife Becky Wolter-Janopolous about them. Having lived there for a few years, they’ve probably come across some of these frightening visitors. Or maybe, they are them?

Starring

Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Tom Janopolous and his wife Becky enjoy getting in the Halloween spirit every fall, and getting others in the spirit, too. The couple open their back yard for one weekend in October and invite people to take a walk along their Haunted Trail.

Stroll through the Janopolous’ back yard on a crisp autumn day and nothing necessarily jumps out at you — yet.

A light breeze drifts across the yard on a sunkissed day. Butterflies flutter by, birds flit across blue skies, and bees buzz native prairie flowers — and sometimes those little pollinators can be heard by people who walk the quarter-mile path the couple has carved throughout their prairie.

But come nightfall around Halloween time, when stars fill the moonlit sky, the prairie is abuzz with different sounds: ghoulish giggles and shrieks pierce the air — and don’t be surprised if you hear the sound of chainsaw cut through the night.

For one weekend evening each year, the Janopolous’ turn their prairie path into a haunted trail, a devilish delight for friends and neighbors who stop by for the couples’ Haunted Trail Walk.

The startling stroll has become a popular Halloween attraction at Lake Carroll since they started doing it in 2021. This year’s Haunted Trail Walk will take place Oct. 27 and 28, when they and a group of their trusted volunteer friends entertain those young and young at heart along their backyard paths.

Some of the guest ghouls that visitors meet along the path come courtesy of frightening flicks on the big screen, thanks the Janopolous’ appreciation of horror movies.

“It’s fun to meet people,” Tom said. “A lot of people have heard about this, or were here last year, or say they look forward to this, so you know you’re doing something right, and something that they’ll remember to come back to.”

And come back to it they have.

More than 400 people wandered the trails last year, navigating their way through laser and strobe lights, as well as candles posted on sconces made from rebar. Smoke machines hidden in the thick vegetation add an air of murky mystery to the surroundings.

“We have everyone from five-year-olds to 75-year-olds who come,” Tom said. “We have a group of six older ladies that come every year, all holding each other’s arms throughout the whole thing. We know exactly where they are by their screams.”

The Haunted Trail Walk paths are about four feet wide, but on varying terrain going up or down. Paths are lit by lights and candles at night.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

The Janopolouses and their helpers know the lay of the land well, so there’s no telling where they’ll step out of the shadows to give people a start. Characters often pop up when people least expect it or stalk them along the trail.

“We can time it so we know when to scare them,” Tom joked.

The Janopolouses have lived at Lake Carroll for nearly a decade, first as part-timers, and full-time since 2020. While they loved their new home, they noticed Halloween had a different feel than what they were used to when they lived in suburban Forest Park.

“When we moved full-time out here, we found out there wasn’t a lot of trick-or-treating out here because the houses are so far apart,” Becky said.

Let's move forward. Together.

The

b crew ...

It takes work to blaze a Haunted Trail, and the Janopolouses have it, thanks to friends and neighbors who help with set-up, or don a costume for a startling role in the couple’s production.

“We have a full-blown setup with 12 actors, smoke machines, sounds and everything,” Tom said.

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Whether you are looking renovate your current home, purchase a new home or build the home of your dreams, our team is here to help you move forward.

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Heads and trails ... Parts and pieces come together in Tom Janopolous’s garage each year, where he produces props that add some fun, and a fright or two, to the Haunted Trail Walk.

So they decided, why not create a Halloween destination at Lake Carroll where people can get together for a good-old-fashioned night of frightening fun?

“We still wanted to make it feel like it was Halloween. One year, we just decided to do something,” Becky said. “The trails were perfect in the back, so we opened up a trail walk and handed out candy. It would be a place for the kids to come to.”

What they didn’t expect was how many people heard about their haunted trail and flocked in droves to their place to enjoy something new. Word of mouth spread after only the first day, end even more people came the next night. Things got even bigger and better the next year, based in part on feedback the Janopolouses got from friends and neighbors.

Along with annual ‘trunk-or-treat’ events for kids put on by the Lake Carroll’s Activities Department and campground social club, the Haunted Trail Walk provides another Halloween activity close to home.

The couple strives to make the Trail Walk welcoming for everyone, even kids who may be a little sensitive about being scared — just let the Janopolouses know and they’ll make sure the actors know when it’s time to break character to keep the kids calm.

“We did this one year and it turned out to be overwhelming, but successful,” Tom said. “It just gets bigger every year. It’s a lot of fun, because there’s not really a lot out here outside of a couple of trunk-or-treats and Raven’s Grin in Mt. Carroll. We have a full-blown setup with 12 actors, smoke machines, sounds and everything.”

Chainsaws, too — just no blades.

But for those who like a full-on frightening experience, the crew can deliver.

“The toughest guys will come through there, and you can hear them talk because sound travels,” Tom said. “They’ll say, ‘This isn’t scary,’ but as soon as you turn on that chainsaw, it’ll turn them into 12-year-olds.”

The rules for visiting the trail are simple: Stay on the path and don’t touch anything or anyone, the Janopolouses said.

“When you’re walking through there at night, you just have to remember that it’s dark,” Tom said. “You don’t know where people are coming from, and you have all of these sounds going on and a lot of distractions.”

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All dressed up and someplace to go

... Some guests like to get in on the good times at the Haunted Trail, showing up in costume. “A lot of people ... look forward to this, so you know you’re doing something right, and something that they’ll remember to come back to,” Tom Janopolous said.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

This place is habitat forming ... Now that doesn’t look so scary, does it? Before day turns to night at the Janopolouses’ Lake Carroll home, native prairie flowers make up much of the color in their back yard. Lovers of nature, they have restored prairie areas to make it more appealing to animals, and especially bees. “This prairie helps maintain the water. In big rain events, it’s like a sponge and will soak up water,” said Becky.

Setting up the trail takes about a week — laying out lights, setting up scenes, coordinating volunteers’ roles. Some displays are created ahead of time in Tom’s garage and workshop, either from recycled material or items they find while shopping.

In addition to the trail, they rearrange space below their back deck where kids can sit on bales of hay and watch Halloween movies. There’s also a ring of chairs around a fire for those who just want to kick back and relax while their friends take to the trail.

It’s not cheap the offer chills and thrills, but it’s all done for fun and not profit, but that hasn’t stopped appreciative guests from donating money, which the couple donates to the ShannonLanark Food Pantry.

For Becky, the trail also helps raise awareness of prairie restoration efforts, something she’s active in. When she and Tom moved to Lake Carroll, much of the back yard and wooded areas were invaded by bush honeysuckle and had swampy areas that were full of cruddy runoff. Since then, they have removed the invasives and improved drainage.

“We had a bad runoff problem and it was undermining some trees when we first moved here,” Becky said. “This prairie helps maintain the water. In big rain events, it’s like a sponge and will soak up water.”

Some people have come not just to be scared, but also to see the native prairie in action.

“Last year we had someone come through the trail the first night, and the next day she showed up before dusk and said that she wanted to see it in the light,” Becky said. “She wanted to see what she could do with her back yard, and I took her through and explained it.”

The Janopolous' Haunted Trail, 19-30 Hidden Valley Drive, will open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 27 and 28; with a rain date planned for the 29th. Admission is free. Refer to Lake Carroll eblasts and Facebook pages for more information as opening day approaches.

The Janopolouses are glad to be able to help their little corner of Illinois live up to its reputation as The Prairie State, and they love being able to turn their happy trail into a haunted trail for Halloween.

“We have a blast,” Becky said. “We do it because we love it, and it’s so fun.”

Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

he rush of traffic, horns honking, radios blaring — sometimes we need to go someplace and turn down the noise. Someplace where the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind, chirping birds, and the quiet rumble of a drive down a gravel road creates a peaceful easy feeling.

Riley Kenny and Alyssa Aquilino found that place, west of Freeport: a special place for special events, in a rustic setting where life is laid back, and they’re inviting you to come play in their back yard.

Kenny and Aquilino rehabbed their century-old barn and surrounding landscape to create Ensign Jade Acres, an events venue where celebrations, weddings, business meetings and more can find a home in the heart of the country.

The name comes from the couple’s middle names — boyfriend and girlfriend, respectively — who came to the area in 2019 to live and establish a business of their own after spending several faster-paced years in Florida. Now that they’ve traded The Sunshine State for The Prairie State, they’re happy to be able to slow things down a bit and enjoy the laid-back landscape in rural Stephenson County.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

“When the sun sets, you have amazing rolling hills that make beautiful sunsets,” Kenny said. “The entire property had lots of potential even before we did any work. The barn was already in really good shape, and it really fit our vision extremely well.”

The peaked prairie-style barn has two floors: a bottom floor where people can hang out and get a drink at the bar, and a top floor for receptions and ceremonies under a wide-open wood panel ceiling, rafters, and a large chandelier. The bottom floor also has a side room, converted from former storage, where you can chat in a smaller and quieter setting.

The couple spent the better part of four years converting the barn to an events venue, finally opening June 17. Along the way, they decided to stay true to the barn’s roots as much as possible. They didn’t just run to a big box store to grab a quick fix — they went to a big barn instead, searching out other old barns for parts and pieces to retain a fully rustic look.

“We try to keep it as original as possible,” Aquilino said. “We didn’t want to put anything showy or fancy in here because we want it to stay rustic. It’s laid back and doesn’t feel so uptight.”

The barn’s hayloft ramp was a big project during the rehab: It went from being incomplete to a full restoration, allowing people access to the second floor from the outside. The wide-open grassy area, with large oak trees off to the side, provides a perfect backdrop for a wedding, with seating provided by former church pews and wood planks across hay bales. Come nightfall, there’s a fire pit area where guests can enjoy the warmth of friends and family with a crackling fire under the stars.

Outdoor barn-style weddings and their receptions have become popular in recent years, Kenny said, and he and Aquilino have brought their own touch to the trend.

“When you’re talking about weddings, this is the way that people want to go,” Kenny said. “People want that eclectic feeling, being inside a place that used to operate a hundred years ago and is still standing the way it is.”

Landscape Design & Installation

Landscape Design & Installation

Seeding * Sodding

Locally Grown Nursery Stock

Seeding * Sodding

Evergreens * Shade Trees * Perennials

Locally Grown Nursery Stock

Evergreens * Shade Trees * Perennials

Hardscape Installation * Stone Walks

Hardscape Installation * Stone Walks

Retaining Walls * Fireplaces

Retaining Walls * Fireplaces

Sea Walls * Rip Rap

Sea Walls * Rip Rap

Maintenance * Mowing * Tree Removal

Maintenance * Mowing * Tree Removal

Mulch Delivery * Snow Removal

Mulch Delivery * Snow Removal

Licensed Pesticide Applicator

Licensed Pesticide Applicator

Riley Kenny and Alyssa Aquilino have turned a century-old barn and surrounding property into Ensign Jade Acres, where they host weddings, parties and corporate events in a rustic setting — and miles away from highways and towns.

Serving the Lake Carroll Community for over

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAW

In staying true to the barn’s character, Ensign Jade Acres owners Riley Kenny and Alyssa Aquilino have added touches of rural decor throughout — barrels as buffers around poles, a mixture of different dining room chairs, and a chandelier with a touch of country charm.

The couple’s idea for the place came after they attended a wedding of a friend of Kenny’s in Florida. Kenny grew up on a horse farm near Marengo and later moved to Florida, where he met Aquilino. Both had experience in the hospitality business, and they wanted to use that to create an event venue of their own. They entertained several types of settings, but Kenny was sold on a rural and rustic Midwest farm atmosphere, something Aquilino didn’t have experience with.

When Kenny found a place for sale — and only about an hour’s drive away from his hometown — he was sold. He got everything lined up, bought it, and then phoned Aquilino to tell her they had their place. She found herself part-owner of a place sightunseen, but it didn’t take long for her to see why Kenny fell in love with it. What’s made their relationship successful is the trust they have in one another, they said.

“It’s out here in the middle of nowhere, so there’s not a lot of traffic that comes down the road,” she said.

Added Kenny: “We were looking at different avenues to start something together. We had attended a wedding of my family’s at another venue, and it kind of sparked the interest. We kind of got our feet wet, looked at some places in Florida, but I kind of fell in love with the country theme.”

Customers fell in love, too.

The couple held a grand opening celebration with a small craft and food vendor show and live music from country musician Gabe Schillman, but when they were getting the word out about it on social media, they weren’t sure how many people to expect.

PHOTOS: CODY

CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM, AND SUBMITTED

They needn’t have worried. People showed up, and kept showing up, and the crowd exceeded their expectations.

“It was an amazing turnout,” Aquilino said. “There were more people than what we had imagined. We started the day a little nervous about how many people were going to show up, and all of those cars started coming down the driveway — it was an overwhelming feeling because we’ve worked so hard for this, and people appreciated everything that we had done.”

When Aquilino isn’t tending to the venue business, she enjoys crafting and repurposing old wine bottles into art, using paint, glitter or epoxy. Some of her handiwork can be seen on reception tables in the barn. Her love for crafting inspired the idea for a craft show that will take place both inside and outside the barn on Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a $3 parking charge.

In addition to exhibiting several local crafts and goods, trick-or-treating activities also are planned for the kids, and they’re encouraged to come in costume.

“We really want to dive into a lot of community-driven activities,” Aquilino said. “We picked a day close to Halloween so kids can come out and do some trick-or-treating around the booths, and parents can do some shopping for the holidays. All of the vendors are local, and we’re promoting their busi nesses as well.”

Freeport Kawasaki

3086 Route 26 N. Freeport, IL 61032 815-235-7549

FreeportHondaKawasaki.com

KAWASAKI CARES: READ OWNER’S MANUAL AND ALL ON-PRODUCT WARNINGS. ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR APPROPRIATE FOR THE USE OF THIS VEHICLE. NEVER OPERATE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. THE KAWASAKI MULE™ SIDE X SIDE IS AN OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE ONLY, AND IS NOT DESIGNED, EQUIPPED OR MANUFACTURED FOR USE ON PUBLIC STREETS, ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. OBEY THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT CONTROL THE USE OF YOUR VEHICLE. ©2019 KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.

While weddings — some already booked into 2025 — bring most of the business to the venue, the couple welcomes other special events, too: birthdays, graduations, corporate retreats, business meetings, fundraisers … if you need some space, they’ve got the place.

“We want to treat this place as an all-event venue that people can come and treat as their own personal back yard,” Kenny said. “That’s an atmosphere that we would like to create. When you get into those more industrial places, it’s not so welcoming, so we want to have a place where people can be comfortable coming and having their corporate picnic, birthday party, graduation party, any type of event. For corporate parties, they can come and see this place like a big back yard, without that feel of being at work.”

The couple lives on the property, making it easier for them to be offer tours for prospective clients, book events, and get things set up.

“We like to take each event, no matter what it is, into consideration and see exactly what the host wants their party to look like,” Kenny said. “They can come in and see our space, and there may be something specific that they go, ‘Can we do this or that?’ And we’ll do our best to accommodate that. We are extremely involved in each event, and we will be in the future.”

While Ensign Jade is open for business, it’s still a work in progress. The couple is working to expand the barn’s private bridal party areas, and they’d eventually like to utilize the concrete silo next to the barn. While finding a new use for a silo may seem like a tall order, if they can turn a barn into a successful event venue, then they shouldn’t have any problem reaching for the sky. Hard work and creativity have proven to be a successful formula so far.

“It’s taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make it work this way,” Kenny said. “Once you put it on paper how much we’ve done, it was a lot of work.” Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

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NO ENDOWMENT FEES, MONTH TO MONTH RENTALS

 

Don’t spend another winter alone, enjoy peace of mind at

Don't spend another winter alone, enjoy peace of mind at Liberty 'Estates

◊Studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments

◊Studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments

◊Two delicious home-style meals daily

◊Two delicious home-style meals daily

◊Safety features and a secure environment

◊Safety features and a secure environment

◊All utilities paid (except telephone)

◊

◊All utilities paid (except telephone)

◊Weakly housekeeping and linen service

Weekly housekeeping and linen service

◊Wireless Internet & Satellite TV

◊Wireless

Call Ashley to schedule your IN-PERSON tour (815) 233-2400

2080 Navajo Drive, Freeport

Not-For-Profit-Provider I] Finduson Facebook

Simy(y tlie finest in retirement Civing

Ensign Jade Acres is located at 7111 W. Dublin Road in rural Freeport, 4 miles east of state Route 73. Find it on Facebook or Instagram (@ensign.jade. acres), go to ensignjadeacres.com, email ensignjade@gmail.com or call 847-417-9496 for booking inquiries or for more information.

A Guide To Lake Carroll Real Estate

Are you looking to enjoy the Lake Lifest yle?

The following pages will show you the proper ties available to you right now!

25-57 Cottage Hill Ct.

1.6 acre waterfront property with magnificent wide views of Lake Carroll. Contemporary home with 3 finished levels and attached garage. Dock included.

3 BEDROOMS - 3 BATHS 2,564 FIN SQ FT

2-242R Westcrest Ct. NEW BUILD. 4 bedroom, 3 bath ranch home with exposed LL

3 BEDROOMS -3 BATHS 3160 FIN SQ FT. $401,900

1-64 Captains Dr. MAGNIFICENT LAKE VIEW AND BEAUTIFUL FLAT LOT TO THE LAKE! Charming home with 3 finished levels all with BIG views of the lake.

3 BEDROOMS - 2.5 BATHS 2634 FIN SQ FT

23-221 Brandywine New Construction Home Ready For Late Spring 2023! Includes Deeded Slip C04w In The West Marina available for 2023 season.

4 BEDROOMS - 3 BATHS 3160 FIN SQ FT $399,000

19-20 Timber Ridge Dr. NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME WITH DEEDED SLIP INCLUDED. Open floor plan with 5 bedroom, 3 baths, walk out Ranch. Has 3 car garage and fireplace! Still time to design to your taste.

5 BEDROOMS - 3 BATHS

3,500 FIN SQ FT $529,000

16-200R BOXWOOD LOCATED ON A LAKE GREENWAY WITH A PERMITTED DOCK. Dock stays with property. Big house with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 2 bonus rooms for weekend overflow

5 BEDROOMS - 3.5 BATHS 3104 FIN SQ FT $389,700

WATERFRONT WITH MAJESTIC LAKE VIEWS

LAKEVIEW

3-454R

NEW HOME NEAR GOLF COURSE AND CLUBHOUSE. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and FINISHED BASEMENT. BUILD TO SUIT YOU! On a quiet culde-sac.

3 BEDROOMS - 2.5 BATHS 2300 FIN SQ FT.

$1,199,000

25-86 LAKE CARROLL BLVD

3.5 BATH 5 BDRM 4,020 SQFT

WATERFRONT on a 1.67 acre flat lot. This exquisite home has a 6 car garage and is TURNKEY!

$660,000

5-90 CHADBOURNE DR

3 BATH 4 BDRM 2,250 SQFT

TURNKEY WATERFRONT in a quiet cove; floor to ceiling windows and fireplace with oversized garage; 0.35 acres

$379,000

2.5 BATH 4 BDRM 2,688 SQFT

17-148 EDGEWATER DRIVE WATERFRONT home, open concept with sliders opening to large deck with amazing views; 0.62 acres

$240,000

1-85 FARRAGUT LN LAKEVIEW home with DEEDED SLIP in a cul-de-sac. Boarders open greenway; 0.27 acres

3 BATH 4 BDRM 2,520 SQFT

3 BATH 4 BDRM 2,421 SQFT

28-70 LAKE CARROLL BLVD Ranch home with country views on LARGE EQUESTRIAN LOT with 2.56 acres

1-5&6 GRANDVIEW DR. GOLF COURSE home with beautiful views of hole 1; open concept with updates in and out; 0.52 acres

2 BATH 2 BDRM 1,206 SQFT