Leisure & Recreation
JULY 2015
FREE LIVE MUSIC
Get out there and enjoy some tunes page 12
It takes a village
Why McHenry and Johnsburg are places to visit page 52
Fun On The Lake Activities abound at McHenry County’s lakes page 16
A FAIR TO REMEMBER
Check out the McHenry County Fair and make some memories ... page 8
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 3
MEN’s hygiene In addition to products for women, Honestly Inspired also makes home-made soaps, beard oils and more for SUNBATHING men. SAFE
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Is there really such a thing as “safe tanning?” Find out and learn the lowdown on sunscreen as well as what to do if you overdo it in the summer sun.
INSIDE LESIURE & RECREATION
HOME & LIFESTYLE
30 GREAT GARDENING —Tips on how to keep your 8 A fair to remember — It’s time to make some yard, flowers and garden happy through the fall. family memories! Head over to the McHenry County Fair for 4-H animal judging, pageantry, a lip syncing contest, HEALTH & WELLNESS demolition derby, rides, food and more. 32 SAFE SUNBATHING — Summer is in full swing and the beaches are packed with sun worshippers. Is 12 oh, those summer nights — Get out and there a safe way to bronze up? enjoy the many opportunities for free live music in parks 34 VITAL SIGNS — Dr. Daniel Strelcheck explains all across McHenry County. how chiropractic can help create natural, healthy skin. 16 lakeside fun — Summer is here which means warm weather and more time with friends and family. FASHION & BEAUTY Hit one of the many lakes in the county for some fun. 40 HAIR CARE — How to keep those locks luxurious 20 it’s five o’clock somewhere — Blarney Island offers a taste of Key West right here in the Midwest. 24 book nook — Arlene Lynes, owner of Read Between the Lynes bookstore in Woodstock, shares some ideas for summer reading.
FAMILY IN FOCUS 26 #WE’RE NOT AT HOME — How to share your summer vacation pics online without exposing your absence from home. 28 disney or d.c.? Family columnist Michelle Stien explains which vacation destination her children preferred and why.
despite the weather. 42 BEAUTY BASICS — Columnist Lisa Ryan of Love My Results explains makeup for the perfect summer face in just minutes. 44 GEM TALK — Karly Bulinski of Steffan’s Jewelers warns about buying diamonds off the internet.
DINING & ENTERTAINING 48 FOOD WITH A VIEW — Enjoy summer by dining al fresco at restaurants around the county. 50 PUT A FORK IN IT — Dining columnist Dave Faccone predicts the trends in BBQ we’ll see this year.
51 IN RESERVE — Laura Ribando, owner of Wine 101 Simplified, recommends tasty wines for this weather. 52 MEET MCHENRY & JOHNSBURG — Celebrations, antiques and fireworks are just some activities to enjoy in these villages.
BUSINESS & CIVIC 55 SOCIAL LIFE — The McHenry County Magazine 2015 Women of Distinction winners enjoy a luncheon celebration.
OUT & ABOUT 56 FULL OF SURPRISES — Experience the completely re-engineered 2016 Kia Sorento Limited. 60 artist profile — Stacy Pahl shares her digital photograph titled “All Aboard.” 61 calendar of events — Check out a variety of local events, courtesy of our own Planit Northwest website! 62 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION — Learn why Inez Young and April Dougherty, a mother/daughter team, are such a dynamic duo.
NEXT Travel MONTH
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 5
I’ve always considered July the heart of the summer. A full month with no school, no “required”sports activities for the kids and many week-long absences of co-workers.
adventures my family enjoys on social media? And the ultimate of dilemmas ... how do I get that summer-kissed skin without harming my otherwise naturally pale complexion? July will speed past us faster than we’d like. Teachers as well as myself see the Fourth of July as essentially the end of summer because it breezes by so quickly after that.
You can tell that everyone is trying to make the Please take the time this year to explore the many most of this wonderful weather, absorbing the sun fun activities we have laid out for you to make this as well as the family time. the most fun-packed summer you can have. We’ve It therefore seems fitting that our July issue is all earned it, and there is so much out there to do. devoted to Leisure and Recreation in McHenry I know I am County. grateful to live in a We have stuff do to on the numerous lakes we are county so ripe with fortunate enough to have, live music we can listen summer fun! to for free at our various park districts, a county fair that provides everything in terms of homegrown, local entertainment, and more. July isn’t dull here in McHenry County! While there is much fun to be had, there are still many practical matters that must be attended to as well. For example, how do I keep my flowers, vegetables and lawn looking great during these hot weeks? How do I safely share pictures of the
Allison McCaleb Managing Editor / Senior Designer
amccaleb@shawmedia.com 815-526-4485
Published by Shaw Media 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 Phone: 815-459-4040 Fax: 815-477-4960 www.McHenryCountyMagazine.com Publisher Kate Weber 815-526-4400 kweber@shawmedia.com Editor / Designer Allison McCaleb 815-526-4485 amccaleb@shawmedia.com Magazine Coordinator Autumn Siegmeier asiegmeier@shawmedia.com
on the
COVER FUn, fun, fun! Scott and Laura Bowden enjoy boating on the Fox River during the summer. Read about more fun activities to try on our local lakes. Starting on page 16.
COVER PHOTO BY: Heather Nelson
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Correspondents Michelle Stien, Martha Maddi, Stephanie Kohl, Melissa Riske, Wendy Foster, Elizabeth Harmon, Allison Horne, Yvonne Benson, Kelsey O’Connor, Angela Sykora Photographers Nancy Merkling, Melissa Emory, Heather Nelson, Bill Oakes, Janet Kay President / Shaw Media John Rung jrung@shawmedia.com McHenry County Magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send payment information and address to McHenry County Magazine, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.
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“Before I saw Dr. Rivard at Illinois Vein Specialists, it was tough doing my job.”
Dr. Stephen P. Rivard (L.) and Mr. Craig Frey (R.), fronting the famous 18th “Waterwheel” hole at Makray Memorial Golf Club
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Myth 3: The treatment of varicose veins is just a cosmetic fix and unless the leg hurts, there really is no reason other than vanity to seek repair. The myth that varicose veins don’t need to be treated unless they are painful is not only incorrect it is often dangerous to the patient’s health. Varicose veins are a sign of an important vascular insufficiency and compromise. Like arterial hypertension and dental cavities, the insidious nature of chronic venous hypertension is progressively destructive and should be treated before pain and other symptoms occur.
Myth 6: Vein disease is a sign of aging and only occurs in older adults. Increasing age is a slight risk factor for varicose veins because of wear and tear on the vein valves that regulate blood flow. Patients certainly perceive it as more common as they age because the disease has had longer to make its symptoms known and is more advanced and has done more damage.
Dr. Rivard adds: “Craig is a good example of one of the widely-held myths about vein disease— that it primarily is a concern of older adults. This is just not the case. Take a look below at six common myths about vein disease.” SIX MYTHS ABOUT VEIN DISEASE Myth 1: Once varicose or spider veins have been repaired, they will always re-occur. The recurrence of varicose veins after treatment is a myth born from the prior inadequate care. Treatment methods in the past, while done with best intentions, actually caused recurrence of varicose veins. With the onset of Board Certification, methods of treatment have become more organized, safer and more efficient. Now recurrence rates should be below 5%. Myth 2: It is best to wait until a woman has had all her pregnancies to deal with varicose and spider veins. While there is some historical experience underlying this myth, it was also born out of the fact that prior treatments for varicose veins were often inadequate and frequently led to recurrence. New treatments, however, are safe, virtually painless and, more than 98% of the time, lead to permanent resolution of varicose veins at their source. The new paradigm ought to be that obstetric physicians send their patients for venous insufficiency prior n w h e revaluation a l d . c o m /m a g ato z i ntheir e getting pregnant.
Myth 5: So-called “vein stripping” is the best way to treat varicose veins. Outdated techniques such as vein stripping to treat varicose veins are sadly still being used by some even today. This is a two-hour inpatient surgical procedure requiring anesthesia. Even more troubling, vein stripping works less than half the time, is painful, fraught with complications and often makes matters worse. Ultrasound guided laser therapy by a Board Certified Phlebologist is over 98% effective for virtually painlessly and permanently treating varicose veins with little if any side effects in an outpatient setting.
However, the primary cause of vein disease, accounting for about 80% of cases, is hereditary. It is not at all unusual to find varicose veins in young adults and even teenagers. Craig Frey—before and after photos for treatment of varicose veins
Myth 4: Because the treatment of varicose veins is cosmetic, insurance does not cover the expense. While the treatment of spider veins is often considered a vanity or cosmetic issue and is not covered by insurance, the treatment of varicose veins is not a cosmetic issue and is almost always covered by insurance. In our experience, the initial diagnostic evaluation for venous disease is covered by insurance more than 90% of the time as well. The insurance coverage is determined by a qualified phlebologist using ultrasonography testing the size and function/dysfunction of the veins in the legs.
Illinois Vein Specialists opened in 2009 and has a staff of a dozen—physicians, RNs, medical technicians, ultrasound specialists and administrative personnel. Since then they have helped well over a thousand Barrington-area patients. “One of the things I like the best about specializing in vein disease is the opportunity to meet wonderful people like Craig Frey; being able to help them is the reason I get up in the morning.” To find out how Illinois Vein Specialists, A Center of Excellence in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vein Disease™, might be able to help you: call for an appointment at 847-277-9100, stop by our offices at 22285 Pepper Rd, (suite 105), Lake Barrington and look at our “brag book” or visit us on-line at www.Illinoisveinspecialists.com. © 2012 Illinois Vein Specialists. rights reserved. MCHENRY COUNTYAll MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 |
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Make lasting memories at the McHenry County Fair By ELIZABETH HARMON
An annual celebration of McHenry County’s hether it’s long-standing agricultural heritage — as well as a great reason to get the family together for a traditions or new memorable day of summer fun — the fair favorites, the 2015 McHenry County Fair opens Wednesday, August 5, and runs through Sunday, August 9. offers something for This year’s theme, “Homemade, everyone. Homegrown,” recognizes the contributions “Every year, one of our big challenges as of the county’s farmers, 4-H members and an association is to take something that’s families, and the many residents who come always been part of our lives and create an together to make the fair a success. From atmosphere where people can come and the Marengo-based Midway operators, to learn,” says Kelly Sadowski, a McHenry the young women throughout the county County Fair Association member and 4-H competing in the queen pageant, to the volunteer. pie-makers, photographers, gardeners, woodworkers and others who display their talents in the fair’s various competitions, each has a role to play in the creation of a successful event.
Historically, county fairs were a chance for farmers to discover new techniques and machinery, and exhibit livestock. Animal exhibits and judging are still a key part of fair
“I’ve worked for the fair association for a year, but the fair has been a part of my life since I was 8,” says Liz Woolridge, McHenry County Fair Association office manager.
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File photos week, and begin daily at 8:00 a.m. “It’s early in the morning, but it’s fun and interesting to watch,” says Sadowski. Poultry, rabbits, beef and dairy cattle, goats, swine and sheep are judged on how well they meet the standards for their breeds. The breeders who raised them are judged on their animal knowledge and presentation skills. Judging and exhibits take place in the barns designated for each animal, as well as in the Hansen Pavilion. Livestock events wrap up Saturday with a 4-H livestock auction. There also will be 4-H and county-wide horse shows on Saturday and Sunday, with horsemanship, speed and barrel racing events. Admission to all events is free.
More free family entertainment can be found throughout the day and evening on the fair’s new Main Stage. Featured performers include magician/hypnotist Lance Griffith, and Blend, a male a capella and doo-wop group from southern Illinois. “I’ve seen them perform and they’re amazing,” says Woolridge. The Main Stage also hosts contests on Thursday and Friday. Thursday night is the Mother Daughter Look-Alike Contest while Friday ushers in a new event — the Lip Sync Battle. Visit the McHenry County Fair’s facebook page to register for both in advance. Fair-goers of all ages can enjoy live music in the Entertainment Tent, starting at 9 p.m. On Friday night, Rockford’s Clutch Cargo performs classic and party rock, and on Saturday, Chicago-area country band Suburban Cowboys takes the stage. Admission is free. For those 21 and over, alcohol is available for purchase with a wristband.
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LEISURE & RECREATION
Free fun also can be found in the Hansen Pavilion. Watch a demonstration by the McHenry County Sheriff’s K9 Unit, cheer on local talent in the fair’s annual competition, enjoy dance demonstrations
and more. Throughout fair week, a Log Hoggers wood sculpture artist will create original works of wood art on site which will be auctioned off Sunday, with proceeds benefitting next year’s fair. What trip to the fair is complete without a visit to the Midway? Operated by DRS Skinner’s Amusements of Marengo, the Midway offers rides and games to please everyone. Enjoy unlimited rides with the purchase of a wristband Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 9
Wristbands are $20 at the carnival ticket booth. A pre-sales deal pack can be purchased for $20 at the Fair Association office on the Fairgrounds in Woodstock during office hours between July 1 and July 31. The pack includes a one day admission ticket (valued at $6 to $8) and one wristband for unlimited rides during designated hours on that day. The Midway opens at 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; at 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closes at 10 p.m. daily. Cap off a great day at the fair with a Grandstand Show. On Wednesday, young 10 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
women ages 16 to 21 from throughout the county will compete for the title of Miss McHenry County, a $2,000 scholarship and the honor of representing McHenry County at a state-wide county queen competition. Thursday brings some new entertainment — the Broken Horn Rodeo. Events include tiedown roping, team roping, bareback riding, timed events and a stick horse race. “We wanted to offer a different kind of familyfriendly entertainment that people wouldn’t see on an everyday basis,” says Sadowski. Enjoy homegrown Motocross racing, with the Friday Nights Under the Lights MX LEISURE & RECREATION
Racing series, sponsored by Woodstock KTM, and featuring riders from McHenry, Lake and Kane Counties, as well as southern Wisconsin. Tractor pulls start early Saturday morning and resume in the evening. On Sunday there’s demolition derby action, kicking off in the early afternoon, and closing out the fair Sunday evening. Information about fair admission, grandstand ticket prices, start times for grandstand events, a fairgrounds map and more is available at McHenryCountyFair.com.
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Fair Week at a Glance Wednesday, August 5th
8:00 a.m. — 4-H animal shows, livestock judging 1:00 p.m. — Unlimited ride wristbands good until 5 p.m. 5:00 p.m. — McHenry County Sheriff K9 demonstration 7:00 p.m. — Miss McHenry County Pageant THURSDAY, August 6th 8:00 a.m. — 4-H animal shows, livestock judging 1:00 p.m. — Unlimited ride wristbands good until 5 p.m. 3:00 p.m. — Magic Show 4:30 p.m. — Magic Show 5:45 p.m. — Mother Daughter LookAlike Contest 6:00 p.m. — Broken Horn Rodeo
Friday, August 7th 8:00 a.m. — 4-H animal shows, livestock judging 10:30 a.m. — Blend 11:30 a.m. — Magic Show 12:00 p.m. — 4-H Horse Fun Show 1:00 p.m. — Carnival rides open 2:00 p.m. — Blend 3:00 p.m. — Magic Show 3:45 p.m. — Lip Sync Battle 5:00 p.m. — Hypnotist Show 6:00 p.m. — KTM Motocross Show 7:00 p.m. — Talent Contest 9:00 p.m. — Clutch Cargo Saturday, August 8th 8:00 a.m. — Antique Tractor Pulling 9:00 a.m. — Horse Show 9:00 a.m. — Rabbit Show 10:30 a.m. — Blend 11:30 a.m. — Magic Show 12:00 p.m. — Carnival rides open
12:00 p.m. — 4-H Auction 3:00 p.m. — Magic Show 4:00 p.m. — Blend 5:00 p.m. — Tractor and Truck Pulls 6:00 p.m. — Blend 7:00 p.m. — Hypnotist Show 9:00 p.m. — Suburban Cowboys Sunday, August 9th 8:00 a.m. — Horse Show 9:00 a.m. — Horse Junior Judging 10:30 a.m. — Blend 11:30 a.m. — Magic Show 12:00 p.m. — Carnival rides open 12:00 p.m. — Blend 1:30 p.m. — Demolition Derby 2:00 p.m. — Magic Show 3:00 p.m. — Wood Sculpture Auction 4:00 p.m. — Blend 5:00 p.m. — Magic Show 6:00 p.m. — Demolition Derby
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LEISURE & RECREATION
MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 11
Oh, Those Summer Nights By Allison Horne
June, followed by the Senn Alan Band, Liberty’s Teeth, Pirates Over 40 and he days and nights are getting warmer, and nothing much more. Last year, the scenic concerts on the says summer in McHenry river hosted around 300 people in the County like spending an park, not including the countless boats evening with some music in the park. that pulled up along the river to listen. From Algonquin’s Summer Concert
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Get out and enjoy the many opportunities for free live music in parks all across McHenry County.
Series to Woodstock’s Concerts in the Square, there are plenty of free concerts this summer that are perfect for families hanging out.
“The fact that it’s consistent, free, and it’s summertime, when everyone wants to be outside, is why we’ve been very successful,” Gock says.
In addition to some great summer tunes, there also are food trucks that swing by to provide some grub for concert-goers. This year, there will be Asian fusion, Mexican, BBQ and gourmet “We try to offer a variety of music so grilled cheese featured that there’s something for everyone,” Algonquin recreation coordinator Katie various weeks. “The Summer Concert Gock says. Series is a great way for From jazz and blues to country, pop everybody to be able rock and classic rock, families of all to come out and enjoy ages will enjoy what the Summer the event together,” Concert Series has to offer. Gock says. “It’s free, Tony Ocean will kick off the first and if you can’t make week of the concerts at the end of it one week, you can Algonquin Summer Concert Series Riverfront Park has been home to the Algonquin Summer Concert Series since the early 90s, and each year, residents flock there for some of the best summer fun in the area.
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just come the next. Everyone enjoys good music.”
The Summer Concert Series is every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. from June 25 through August 13 at Riverfront Park, 201 N. Harrison St., Algonquin. Woodstock Concerts in the Square With 130 seasons under its belt, the Woodstock City Band is getting ready to kick off its next season of entertainment during the Woodstock Concerts in the Square. “Our downtown park in the square is a great place to be on a summer evening,” managing director of the City Opera House John Scharres says. “It’s hometown America at its finest.” Every week features a different theme. This year will include plenty of big band music, as well as tunes from the 50s and 60s, all performed by the City Band. “It’s a great hometown tradition,” Scharres says. “We didn’t make it to 131 years without being popular.”
the “music of the 40s” during the summer back in 1975.
Photo provided
Main Beach in Crystal Lake is the home to One of the unique perks of the concerts is the weekly summer concerts with tunes ranging from free conductor guest raffle the audience can enter. One lucky guest gets to conduct the City rock and “trop” (tropical) rock to local groups Band for a song. such as Crystal Lake The July 1st concert will feature pyrotechnics Community Band and that will be displayed alongside Stars and Voices in Harmony. Stripes Forever, and free ice cream will be “It’s like a mini Ravinia,” available. The July 15th concert will run in conjunction with the Summer in the Park City Crystal Lake Park District marketing Festival. coordinator Jacqui The Concerts in the Square are every Wednesday Weber says. “Boats come over from across the at 7:30 p.m. from June 10 through July 29 at the lake, and people really do it up with everything Woodstock Square. The extended concert series from fast food to gourmet meals.” run through August and begin at 7 p.m. One special event the park district is launching Crystal Lake Concerts this year is theme nights, which will take place in the Park on July 14 (country/rock and roll) and July 21 (trop rock). Participants are invited to decorate The Crystal Lake Concerts in the Park have come a long way from the early days of playing their picnic tables, bring food that fits the theme, and dress accordingly. All entries will be judged by the park district staff and Fox 103.9 radio station. The winners will receive a group gift basket. “It’ll be interesting to see what comes from it,” Weber says. “This is the first year we’re doing the themes, and some people have seen the schedule and can’t wait to plan.” Weber says that most families make a day of the concerts, with beach access and picnic facilities available throughout the day. “The fact that you’re sitting there in a beautiful park with a great sunset over the lake really makes it special,” Weber says. “It’s so peaceful.”
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Concerts in the Park begin at 7 p.m. every Tuesday night through August 11 at Main Beach in Crystal Lake. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved to Park Place, 406 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake. MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 13
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 15
6 Boating on the lake is always a fun summer activitiy. Photo by Heather Nelson
FUN
At Local Park Districts By STEPHANIE KOHL
Summer is here, which means warm weather and more time with friends and family.
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ith area park districts offering such a wide variety of programming, special events and facilities, residents do not have to go far to find entertainment. When the heat and humidity hits, nothing beats a visit to the beach. The Crystal Lake Park District features Main Beach at 300 Lake Shore Drive, and West Beach, 2330 Lake Ave. Kim Buscemi, superintendent of recreation for the Crystal Lake Park District, says their beaches welcome thousands of visitors each season. In addition to swimming, Main Beach also offers a large playground, picnic spaces and boat rentals, including paddleboats, rowboats, kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards.
she says, adding the activities are offered Veteran Acres Park sits on 140 wooded during swim breaks and include crafts and acres and offers a playground, walking family Bingo. paths, a splash pad, nature center and more. Entrances are located on Route 17 The park district’s Concerts in the Park and Walkup Road. also are held at Main Beach at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays during the summer.
Lippold Park, located on Route 176 just west of Route 14, is another hot spot for family fun in Crystal Lake. It offers a skate park, batting cages, outdoor fitness area and even a dog park. The Lippold Park Family Golf Center also features a driving range, golf lessons and miniature golf.
“We offer so many things,” Buscemi says. “There’s something to do all summer long for everybody.” The Cary Park District also offers residents a variety of recreational activities. One of the hottest places to cool off during the summer in Cary is the community pool at the Cary Park District
6 Cary community pool. Photo provided
“We also have daily fun activities on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,” 16 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
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We offer so many things. There’s something to do all summer long for everybody.
are offered weekly through the start of the school year.
Photo by Heather Nelson
Cindy Witt, superintendent of recreation of McHenry Parks and Recreation, says Community Center, 255 Briargate since there are parks Road. The community pool features in pretty much diving boards, swimming lanes, a every neighborhood toddler pool with slide, lounge chairs, within the city, “funbrellas” and a concession area with residents can picnic tables. travel through the community by bike The park district also offers a few free and enjoy parks events at the pool throughout the summer. Luau Day, according to Katie within walking and riding distance. Hughes, director of communication and marketing for the Cary Park “I think there’s District, has been a very popular event. something for This year’s Luau Day is slated for 11:30 everybody,” Witt a.m. until 6 p.m. on July 10. The says. day features shaved ice, luau-themed Among McHenry’s contests and a live band. Return to the popular summer pool at 5 p.m. on August 7, to enjoy offerings are a movie on an 18-foot jumbo-tron Peterson Park screen while floating around the pool. Beach, 4300 The park district will rely on residents Peterson Park to vote through July 12 to decide Road. In addition which movie will be shown. Voting is to swimming, held at the Community Center and Peterson Park pool. Beach also offers Lions Park, 1200 Silver Lake Road, rentals, including is another summer hot spot in canoes, rowboats, 5 Most park districts Cary. This park is where all the park paddleboats, kayaks offer summer camps for district’s special events are held, and and barracuda bikes. kids. Photo provided features ball fields, a sports-themed Merkel Aquatic playground, skate park, Center, 201 S. until 3 p.m. with both before and after preschool and band Green St., features a pool with diving hours offered. shell. board, as well as kiddie pool time. Fiesta Days is another big part of “Splashtastic” pool events are held “All the kids are out McHenry Parks and Recreation’s throughout the summer, including of school and we offer offerings. Parks and Recreation also Red, White and Blue Day on July 4, a lot of activities for hosts a River Run, Big Wheels Race families and kids to do Root Beer Float Party on July 22 and and an Open Track Meet. something all summer,” Noodle Night on August 12. “Fiesta Days tends to be like a Hughes says. homecoming for many people,” Witt Summer camps also are offered — Kim Buscemi, superintendent of recreation for the Crystal Lake Park District
Ideal for working parents are the Cary Park District summer camps, for 3-year-olds through eighth-graders. A variety of camps
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through August 7, at both Knox Park and Peterson Park. Camps offer various games, activities, arts and crafts, sports activities and swimming, as well as one field trip. Camps are open from 9 a.m. LEISURE & RECREATION
says. “It’s great to see families come through at these events.”
There is an abundance of fun to be had in McHenry County this summer. Get out there and find yours! MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 17
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 19
Blarney Island Offers a Taste of Key West in the Midwest Families and partygoers alike enjoy a little piece of island paradise on Grass Lake By Kelsey O’Connor
B
larney Island is only a short boat ride offshore, but it feels like “a mile away from reality” for visitors to Grass Lake. The island, a fixture off the coast of Antioch for more than a century, features live music, specialty drinks, festivals and more all in a beach-like atmosphere. “We’ve been called the
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Key West of the Midwest,” says owner and operator Rob Hardman. “We’ve got palm trees out on the island and it’s decorated similar to places you’ll see down in the Keys.” Hardman bought Blarney Island in 2003 and quickly began overhauling the space. Recent additions include a totally remodeled kitchen and a new indoor bar. The indoor area allows patrons a refuge when the weather takes a turn. “There’s a lot more under cover where you can be protected from the elements and still enjoy a great day of music and frivolity without worrying as much about the weather,” says Hardman. Hardman’s renovations also included driving steel pylons down into the bedrock of the lake to create a sturdier, more permanent foundation. Previously, the structure had been supported by pier posts and telephone poles as the land below it eroded away. LEISURE & RECREATION
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Photos by Bill Oakley
Photo provided
The new foundation was created using the same process to build many iconic Chicago buildings. But at Blarney Island “it’s all on top of a wooden deck, maintaining that wooden shanty look, with the modern structural soundness of a sky scraper,” says Hardman.
Voted the greatest boating bar in the world by “Extreme Boats Magazine,” the island offers parking for about 300 private boats. There also is a shuttle service that runs to the island from the Port of Blarney. Visitors can grab a seat on one of the two 40-passenger ferrys for an $8 round trip.
Once patrons get their sea legs, they can enjoy live music every Friday through Sunday. “We are sort of infamous for the fact that we have some of the best live entertainment in the Midwest,” says Hardman. “We get about 200 requests each year from bands who want to play at the island because of its unique nature.” This includes both local artists and national tours. The island has hosted shows by Def Leppard, Dierks Bentley, Sister Hazel, Gin Blossoms and more. Along with musical acts, the island also holds a variety of festivals throughout the year. Their most popular event is Blarney Gras, a weekend-long celebration that Hardman describes as island-style Mardi Gras. Other festivals pay homage to the Floridian vibe of the bar. Fantasy Fest is an end-of-the-season bash held in August that’s modeled after a popular festival of the same name in Key West. Thrill-seekers come on Thursday nights to witness “Thunder on the Chain.” These famous drag boat races started in the 60s and feature two drag boats racing each other down an 1/8 mile stretch of
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LEISURE & RECREATION
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lake. “They’re faster than any roller coaster in the world so it’s pretty incredible to see,” says Hardman. Blarney Island has been around in different forms since 1901. Vacationers traveled to the lake from across the country to see the famous lotus beds. At the time, these rare flowers only grew wild in two places: the Nile River in Egypt and Grass Lake. Decades later, legend has it that the island was used as a whiskey and gin joint when Al Capone controlled the Chain O’Lakes during Prohibition. Today there is still no shortage of alcoholic beverages on the island. One of the bar’s signature drinks is the “Blarney Stone,” a green frozen cocktail made with vodka and Midori. Bar-goers also can enjoy food and snacks from the revamped menu. It features typical bar fare with a little beach flair, with options ranging from a burger and fries to fish tacos. The Port of Blarney, a year-round restaurant, banquet and catering facility, is a dining option for land lovers who can stay on shore and enjoy a full gourmet menu.
Photo provided
Though the bar is a hot spot for partygoers at night, the island also offers entertainment for a younger crowd. Sundays are a popular day for families and the DJ will often hold hula-hoop contests and other kid-friendly events. “What (visitors) love the most about Blarney Island is that it’s like spring break for the day for people of all ages,” says Hardman.
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LEISURE & RECREATION
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LEISURE & RECREATION
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At Your Leisure Who doesn’t love a good book to read over the summer? Not too many of the people I know. And it always helps to have some recommendations on what to read, so ask your friends, family or coworkers what they have enjoyed recently, or even what’s an all-time favorite. In case you still need some recommendations, I happen to have a few for you.
FICTION
If you are in the mood for fiction, a complete getaway — often called beach/lake read in my book — start with Elin Hilderbrand. While she has not been widely known until recently, that is definitely changing. We have watched her audience grow over the past few years and this summer will be no exception as she brings us “The Rumor.” Set on Nantucket — the ultimate beach location — it’s sure to be another summer page-turner that we have learned to expect from Hilderbrand.
CLASSIC
What about a classic? Summer is the perfect time to re-read one of your favorites, or even something you never read. Is it time to pick up “To Kill A Mockingbird?” The much-awaited second novel by
Harper Lee, “Go Set A Watchman,” will release in July. It’s being heavily guarded from advance reviews, but it’s going to be “the” book to read this summer. There’s no better time to revisit our favorites who reside within this novel. Though maybe you’d like to visit with Jane Austen, John Steinbeck or Ernest Hemingway as well.
EDUCATIONAL
Is summer a time when you want to learn something new? How to prepare a new cuisine perhaps? Pick up a cookbook of something you’ve never prepared but love eating when you go out. Then invite some friends over for a summer dining experience and wow them!
Have you always dreamed of writing or wondered about dabbling in it? There are great options out there to help. Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” are two of our favorites. Maybe meditation is calling you. Jon KabatZinn’s “Mindfulness for Beginners” is an excellent resource. Summer is here and the possibilities are endless when it comes to reading. We’d love to see you at the shop and help you find the perfect book to add to your summer list.
Book Nook with Arlene Lynes
• Arlene Lynes is the owner of Read Between the Lynes, an independent bookstore on the historic Woodstock Square. When not at work, she can be found at home cooking, in the garden, or reading with her St. Bernards at her side.
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 25
How to share your summer vacation pics online without exposing your absence from home By ANGELA SYKORA
Y
ou think you’re prepared to leave home for summer vacation. You’ve put a hold on the mail and newspaper, set the timers on the lights, even arranged for the neighbors to park in your driveway.
The homestead is safe and sound until you return, right? Maybe not if you’re carelessly sharing “having a great time, wish you were here” photos on social media without considering who might see them. That selfie on a tropical beach 1,000 miles away might make your friends envious, but it could also make you vulnerable to theft and burglary. “When you’re advertising you’re on vacation, you’re away from your residence, you are at risk of sharing that with people you may not know, and it may be opening yourself up to burglary or being the victim of a theft,” says Dep. Aimee Knop of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department. Criminals targeting victims who advertise their absence on social media has not reached epidemic proportions, but it is a growing 26 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
concern for law enforcement. “We have not seen a significant amount of cases linked to Facebook posts, but it’s something to think about,” Knop says. It’s the norm to use social media apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share life experiences with family and friends, but it can become a dangerous decision for the out-of-town poster who over-shares and fails to establish strong security settings that limit access to personal information. “Make sure your security settings are in place and that you are friends with people you truly are friends with. If you’re using Facebook or
Commit to a time each day during which you completely unplug from your mobile devices and — Dr. Timothy Re, social media.psychologist at Personal Growth Associates
FAMILY IN FOCUS
other social media for networking for your kid’s soccer or things like that, make sure, if you don’t know them well, those people are listed as acquaintances (not close friends),” Knop says. Another thing to consider when posting vacation photos, says Cris Bimbi, a State Farm insurance agent in McHenry, is that a “friend” could share your photo on their page, and people you don’t know could see it. “If a friend ‘likes’ your post and comments ‘Isn’t this cool?’ now all their friends get to see it,” Bimbi says. This year, Allstate insurance, headquartered in Northbrook with agents throughout McHenry County, launched a campaign called “Aware Share” after seeing an increase in burglars using social media to target victims. “As our world and technology change, so do people’s vulnerabilities,” says Sanjay Gupta, executive vice president of marketing. “Allstate saw an important opportunity to educate consumers about safe sharing practices so they can enjoy the benefits of social media but also better protect themselves and their property.” At Allstate.com/AwareShare, consumers can n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
find safe sharing tips, links to privacy tutorials on social media sites and access to tools like Allstate’s Digital Locker, an app that catalogs belongings and their value in case of loss.
• Consider emailing or texting family and friends photos instead of posting on social media.
Vacation Sharing Tips
Just Unplug
• Review the privacy settings of the social media networks you use regularly, as updates happen often. • Check who can see your posts. Make sure you’re only sharing with people on your “Friends” list and not posting anything as “Public.” If you really want to keep your status updates private until you’re ready to share (like once you’re home from vacation), set them to “Only Me.” • Clean up your “Friends” list. Consider creating a “Close Friends” list so you’re not sharing with everyone from coworkers to casual acquaintances. Did you know you can even create a “Secret” Facebook group that prevents anyone you don’t invite from viewing or sharing your posts? Click on “Groups” in your navigation menu. • Control your Facebook tag settings. Even if your profile is private, friends can still tag you in posts or photos, and people who are not on your friend list can see it. • Turn off location-based apps that pinpoint your precise whereabouts.
“My wife and I normally post things when we get back from vacation,” Bimbi says. The world will still be here when you get back from vacation, so consider unplugging from social media during this time. Reconnect with your family, and yourself, suggests Jim Garrett, a licensed clinical professional counselor in Barrington.
“I really believe high stimulation creates almost an addictive process where people need more and more. It can only be understood when the object is taken away and you see the trial you go through,” Re says. It sounds almost too simple to be helpful, Garrett says, but one thing we should all do is commit to a time each day during which we completely unplug from our mobile devices and social media, whether it’s for quiet meditation, to take a walk or eat dinner with our family.
“When we stay so connected to so many people through social media and are exposed to such a constant flow of information, we find ourselves becoming disconnected from the people in our immediate environment, presumably the people who are most important to us,” Garrett says. “Kids remember, spouses remember when you’re constantly responding to email or answering the phone, and we need every opportunity to keep our relationships as strong as possible.” Dr. Timothy Re, a psychologist at Personal Growth Associates in Crystal Lake, recommends regularly unplugging from mobile devices and social media to avoid developing an unhealthy dependency that can affect your overall well being.
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FAMILY IN FOCUS
MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 27
Which vacation destination appeals more to family-columnist’s children?
Photo courtesy of Morgan Richardson y husband and I are in the process of planning our family vacation and we decided to let the kids weigh in on where we go. We pared the list down to Disneyland, Disney World and Washington, D.C. I’ll bet you’ll never guess what they picked. Washington, D.C.! To be honest, I don’t even know how it ended up on the short list to begin with. But I can only imagine it was the result of something they saw on the History Channel which, despite their penchant for SpongeBob, they are known to watch from time to time. My husband used to live in D.C., and was pretty geeked out that he could share his extensive knowledge of our nation’s capitol with our children. I, on the other hand, was kind of swaying toward Disney World with a jaunt to the beach worked in somehow. Regardless, I was out-numbered. I tend to be a bit more of a “fun in the sun” kind of vacationer. If I feel the need to balance out the whole cultural experience versus sitting on my butt thing, I read a book by the pool so my mind doesn’t completely turn to mush.
I am a little concerned the kids will get bored and think that all of these museums will be like the “Night At The Museum” movies where the monuments come to life. But I do need to give them more credit than that. After all, they are pretty smart cookies.
I tend to be a bit more of a “fun in the sun” kind of vacationer. If I feel the need to balance out the whole cultural experience versus sitting on my butt thing, I read a book by the pool so my mind doesn’t completely turn to mush. And that is precisely why I need to embrace their thirst for knowledge and get psyched about feeding their hunger for history. Quite frankly, I’m downright proud of them. How many kids, ages 6 and 8, would rather see the president over Goofy? (Insert obvious joke here.)
These kids truly amaze me with their desire to learn, even my knucklehead son. As I have Yet, I cannot discredit my children’s desire mentioned before, he constantly has me Google to absorb knowledge, and agreed to trade questions to get answers about everything from Cinderella’s castle for the president’s house. what kinds of venomous snakes are the deadliest We will trade seeing wax figures of our nation’s leaders at the Hall of Presidents in Magic Kingdom to what time it is in China. My daughter would rather read “Little Women” than “Pinkalicious” for actual monuments erected in their honor. Rather than spend a mint on souvenirs, we’ll visit any day of the week. She even brought home a book about Eleanor Roosevelt one day … on the actual U.S. Mint that prints that cash. Forget purpose … just for fun … not for a project or book Space Mountain, we’ll go to the Smithsonian report … seriously. Space Museum. 28 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
FAMILY IN FOCUS
So, they’re a little nerdy, a bit cerebral and inquisitive. Maybe my son would rather play learning games on the computer than play baseball. Maybe my daughter wants to start her own art gallery or bookshop when she grows up. Trust me, they still have their moments. They can stare blankly at a television screen with the best of them. They like to talk incessantly about poop, pee and farts. They like to go to the park, ride their bikes and go to Chuck E. Cheese and blow money on silly games just so they can trade in tickets for a Wacky Wall Walker. They complain about doing homework and can barely remember to put their folders in their backpack each morning for school leading me to believe Mensa won’t be calling on them any time soon. In the end, we are raising kids who are pretty darn smart and who don’t mind a little culture and history mixed in with their summer break. If that’s the worst thing I can accuse them of, then I’m more than happy to toss in my Mickey Mouse ears and oblige. Maybe I’ll even learn a thing or two.
Write This Down with Michelle Stien
• Michelle Stien is a stay-at-home mom of two children, ages 6 and 8. Her mother always told her to “write this down,” so she is sharing her experiences with McHenry County moms to help them deal with the craziness of being “Mom.”
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 29
Tips on how to keep your yard, flower beds and garden happy through the end of summer By Wendy Foster
W
hile things may appear greener on the other side of the fence, lawn and garden envy need not be a permanent affliction. Area nurseries and landscapers are dedicated to helping gardening novices, aficionados and everyone in between, to achieve the yard of their dreams. While Barn Nursery in Cary still serves loyal customers from 15 to 20 years ago, they also attract new clientele. “It’s really a mix. Some of our customers really know their stuff, and others have never planted before in their lives,” says Julie Joyce, marketing manager of Barn Nursery and Landscape Center. “They visit us before their first foray into gardening. We enjoy the new, first-time gardeners as well as those who are more experienced.” “Environmental concerns are driving a lot of trends,” says Joyce. “In particular, people are concerned with butterflies and bees. That 30 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
drives a lot of perennial plant purchases. It’s fun to come up with plants that attract bees and butterflies.” People increasingly prefer perennials to annuals because they bloom every year and save more time, according to Heather Moister, garden center manager at Barn Nursery.
If you fertilize and water, your grass will be healthy and choke out most weeds. — Jim Toma
sello, owner of Tomasello’s Landscaping
Customers also are leaning more heavily toward plants with foliage cover. “Because
HOME & LIFESTYLE
blooms last only three to six weeks, people love plants that have a lot of foliage color. Then you have the bloom plus the foliage color,” says Moister. “Penstemon dark towers are a great example.” “Vegetable gardening also is really huge,” Joyce says. “People are interested in growing their own food or knowing where it comes from and how it’s been treated. Now that’s also expanding into fruit trees and berries.”
TIPS FOR SUMMER Novices should start out with easy, hardy plants. “Perennials, including allium summer beauty are a great choice,” says Moister. “They’re very showy, very hardy and drought tolerant. Rabbits and deer don’t like it. It’s almost bullet-proof to grow.” The number one rule for watering plants according to Moister is to water in the morning, and to do so at the root. “Try not to get water on the foliage. That increases the likelihood of the spread of fungal disease,” she says. “Water at the base of the plant and
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one-third of the height at a time,” she says. “(Lawns this height) look especially nice along walkways and near mailboxes.” When a plant is done blooming, removing the spent flower, or deadheading it, will encourage it to bloom again according to Moister. This is especially true for most perennials. “The more you harvest, the more you can produce,” said Moister. “Harvest your vegetables. If you have more than you can use, give it to neighbors or food pantries. If you just leave it, the plant will produce less.” The end of August is a great time to start seeds for a fall crop. For instance, Moister says, if you plant seeds for broccoli in August, you’ll have a fall harvest in time for Thanksgiving. This also is true for cole crops including Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and more. “You tend to get a great production if you plant in late summer,” Moister says. in the morning so it evaporates off the leaf quickly.” “By July and August, it’s going to be hot outside,” says Jim Tomasello, owner of Tomasello’s Landscaping in Cary. “It’s important to water your lawns. Keep them wet. This is best to do in the early morning or late evening so it doesn’t dry up. If you want your lawn to be green, keep it moist.
Late August also is the best time to plant grass seed. “A lot of people don’t know that. Late summer is the best time to plant grass seed either for a new lawn or top dressing a thin or spotty lawn,” says Moister.
Popular Perennials
According to the University of Illinois Extension, these are hardy plants for McHenry County: Balloon Flower Bearded Iris Black Eyed Susan Bleeding Heart Bushy Aster Columbine Coral Bells Daylily False Spirea Garden Phlox Globe Thistle Goldenrod Hosta Lady’s Mantle Oriental Poppy Peony Sage Salvia Shasta Daisy Siberian Iris Wormwood
“Water and fertilizer are the two key things to having a successful yard and a green yard,” Tomasello says. “If you fertilize and water, your grass will be healthy and choke out most weeds. We encourage fertilizing, fertilizing, and fertilizing. Fertilizing is the key to getting the lawn growing healthier to create good root growth.” The ideal height of lawns is approximately three inches according to Joyce. Higher than that will flop over and look messy. “Never cut off more than
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HOME & LIFESTYLE
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Safe Sunbathing? By Martha Maddi
The lowdown on sunscreen brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Summer is in full swing and the beaches are packed with sun worshippers. It’s hard to believe that, until the 20th Century, having a tan held a negative connotation. It meant you were a poor laborer who worked outdoors. Pale skin was actually a status symbol. But times have changed and now a healthy glow is all the rage, despite the overwhelming research which shows too much sun can cause premature aging, sunburn, sun poisoning and — worst of all — skin cancer.
Dr. Khanna encourages his patients to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 50 or higher. Sunscreens with a higher SPF offer more protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation which is linked to the vast majority of skin cancers, as well as eye damage.
One Shot Glass
No tan is healthy “In terms of skin cancer, there is no way to sunbathe safely,” says Vikram Khanna, M.D., a dermatologist in Algonquin. According to him, the sun is even more dangerous today than it used to be. “Due to changes in the atmospheric ozone layer during the last several decades, there is more ultraviolet radiation penetrating through to the Earth’s surface and damaging our skin,” he says. This, combined with our culture’s appreciation of tanned skin, has caused the rates of skin cancer to skyrocket. One in five people currently develop skin cancer in the U.S., Dr. Khanna says.
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Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. “If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade,” Dr. Khanna says. Use extra caution near water, snow and sand since they reflect the damaging rays of the sun.
The equivalent amount of sunscreen doctors advise wearing to protect the skin.
It’s important to note that even highnumber SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs. “Reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days and after swimming or sweating,” Dr. Khanna says. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen. Most people only apply 25% to 50% of the recommended amount. “Follow the guideline of ‘one ounce, enough to fill a shot glass,’” says Dr. Khanna. “This is the amount that dermatologists consider necessary to cover the exposed areas of the body.”
Beyond sunscreen
According to Dr. Khanna, sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you. Therefore, he recommends that his patients: Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants and a wide-
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Avoid tanning beds. They can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. “If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product but continue to use sunscreen with it,” Dr. Khanna says.
When you overdo it in the sun According to Dr. Khanna, the best way to ease the pain of a sunburn is to:
• Take cool baths and apply ice packs to the affected areas. • Apply moisturizer to help ease the discomfort caused by dryness. “As soon as you get out of the bathtub, gently pat yourself dry but leave a little water on your skin,” Dr. Khanna says. “Then apply a moisturizer to trap the water in your skin.” • Use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to help ease discomfort. • Take aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce swelling, redness and pain. See your dermatologist if you have large blisters or severe pain. “They will advise you and prescribe medication to help ‘calm the fire’ in your skin,” says Dr. Khanna.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
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Naturally Clearer Skin Skin is the largest organ of the human body. It protects its structures, regulates body temperature and eliminates toxins by way of perspiration. When skin is healthy, we reap its benefits without much applause. However, when pimples, blackheads and blemishes show up, we appear unwell and scramble to correct it. Acne can be unsightly, uncomfortable and a mystery to treat. While most consider acne a problem plagued by only teenagers, it can be triggered at any age, causing emotional stress and negative impact on one’s self esteem. Some triggers for acne include hormonal imbalances, puberty, premenstrual acne, oral contraceptives, Candida, allergies, stress, nutritional deficiencies and drugs — including over-the-counter, prescription and others.
Myths Versus FacTS
Myth: Chocolate and coffee aggravate acne because they contain caffeine. Fact: There’s no reason to throw chocolate and coffee “under the bus.” Caffeine is not the culprit. Stay away from sugary foods and refined carbs
because your insulin levels may spike, which leads to increased sebum (oil) production. Essentially any food with a high glycemic index will increase blood cortisol levels and worsen acne.
Myth: Moisturizers cause acne. Fact: Dehydrated skin produces more pore-clogging oil than hydrated skin. So if you apply a lightweight moisturizer every day, your skin won’t need to take hydration into its own (oily) hands.
Myth: Acne is caused by not keeping your skin clean. Fact: Acne is caused by an interruption of the skin’s natural processes. Acne or skin blemishes can range from a thinly scattered area of pimples and blackheads to an area covered with large cysts. Blemishes occur in the skin’s hair follicles that are connected to the oil-producing sebaceous glands. The onset of acne means the body isn’t performing two jobs necessary for healthy skin, namely the hair follicles aren’t getting rid of dead cells fast enough and the sebaceous glands are working overtime. When dead cells stick to a hair follicle full of sebum, it provides a breeding ground for the growth of bacteria which produces blemishes. Over-washing your face can actually exacerbate the problem.
Caring for your Skin
No matter what’s causing your acne, there are steps you can take to help improve and maintain your skin. • Avoid foods such as sugar, soft drinks, artificial sweeteners and processed foods. • Eat more foods rich in zinc such as shellfish and sunflower seeds. A diet low in zinc may trigger skin flare-ups. • Drink 2-3 liters of water daily. • Limit dairy products. Today’s dairy contains hormones and steroids that can wreak havoc with hormones, causing or increasing breakouts. • Regular exercise boosts endorphin levels, bringing blood to the underlying layers of the skin which flushes out impurities through perspiration.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
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• Use a mild soap that contains sulphur. Wash with your fingertips, not a washcloth. • Between washing, oiliness can be minimized by wiping skin with a mild astringent, such as witch hazel. Apply a few drops to a cotton ball and gently wipe skin.
Sound advice may save you hundreds!
• Steaming the face will open the pores and sooth irritated skin. Try tossing in chamomile tea to sooth the discomfort of cyst-type blemishes. Steam the face five to 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water. • Avoid wearing heavy, oily foundation makeup, which can clog pores and worsen acne. • To avoid spreading acne and acne scarring don’t pick or rub pimples or blackheads.
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• Consider these supplements at the recommended dosage: Beta carotene: 50,000-100,000 IU/day Vitamin C: 1,000-2,000 mg/day Zinc: 45 mg/day Brewers yeast: 1 tbsp. 2x/day Vitamin B6: 250 mg/day Lecithin: 1 capsule before meals Echinacea and goldenseal or chamomile tea mixture
How does Chiropractic help Acne? Chiropractic can help treat acne by improving the necessary nerve function of the organs that affect the skin. The thoracic spine, specifically T-9 through T-11 vertebrae, correspond with central nerves that control the function of the kidneys, ureters, adrenals and other hormones. Correcting any form of nerve interference in those segments will enable the full function of those nerves and the organs they affect. Chiropractors remove this nerve interference by adjusting the spine and freeing up the affected nerves so they can perform the correct communication function between the brain and the body. If you or your loved one suffer from acne, ask your chiropractor if he or she has experience and training to treat patients with this condition.
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with Dr. Daniel Strelcheck Jr. • Dr. Daniel V. Strelcheck Jr. is the chief of staff at Strelcheck Chiropractic Clinic in Crystal Lake. Feel Great Again! Go to StrelcheckChiro.com.
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To learn more about the “big idea”, visit our website.
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815.459.3860 MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 35
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2015 McHenry County Fair Homemade-Homegrown August 5 through August 9
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 37
SPEND to SAVE
Chiropractic care versus traditional healthcare
With Anthony J. Ebel, DC, CACCP
The headline probably sounds weird to you, right? How can spending money on chiropractic care actually save you money? Even though it seems contradictory, it’s an important concept to which every family should pay attention. I felt compelled to write this column after reading an article from a popular news site that highlighted the alarming fact that Americans spend upwards of $100,000 on prescription drugs every year. The statistics of America’s healthcare show two very startling trends. First: The money we spend on health care and health insurance has skyrocketed. We now spend an average of nearly $10,000 out-of-pocket per person on health care expenses. This is nearly one out of every five dollars we earn. Second: Despite the money we spend on health care expenses, our overall health as a nation has plummeted. Even though we’re first when it comes to spending money on care, we rank 37th in overall health status, 39th for infant 38 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
mortality, and 36th overall for life expectancy. Not exactly what you’d call “getting our money’s worth.” So what gives? How can we have the most expensive health care system in the world producing such dismal results? I’d like to share a different health care path with you — a “way out” of sorts — that won’t leave you with a $100,000 medical bill and mediocre results.
The facts A 2007 study done in Illinois found that people who used a Doctor of Chiropractic as their Primary Care Provider (PCP) had these results: • 60.2 percent less in-hospital admissions • 59 percent less hospital days • 62 percent less outpatient surgeries and procedures • 85 percent less pharmaceutical costs *Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, May 2007
Does this sound too good to be true? I care for hundreds of families as their PCP. Because these HEALTH & WELLNESS
families are under regular chiropractic care and have an understanding of how easy healthy living can be, they rarely have to use pharmaceutical drugs and undergo surgeries. Because our world is more stressful and toxic than ever, we are sicker than ever, especially our kids. Being forced to deal with extreme stressors early in life (excessive use of birth interventions, toxins in our environment and food, etc.) means that kids and adults are suffering on a daily basis, putting them back in the hospital and under financial strain repeatedly.
A different way Chiropractic isn’t anything new and honestly, it’s nothing fancy. Chiropractors simply understand that as different stressors from physical, chemical, and emotional stress build up in the nervous system, it gets worn down, tense, and stressed. This stress and tension is found within the spine, our “conduit” or “window” into our nervous system. Chiropractors find these patterns of stress and interference that cause the body to malfunction, and make safe, specific adjustments to clear the tension and restore normal tone and function to the nervous system. Healthy nervous n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
system equals healthy brain and body. It’s important to note that as a Pediatric and Family Chiropractor, we are health experts, not “sickness” and “disease” experts. We encourage families to think of us as their real “health care doctor”— the one they see regularly to get well and stay well. We still highly encourage them to have a “sick care doctor” who is very familiar with their child for those cases needing emergency intervention. We find that the more patients regularly visit us — their health care doctor — the less they need to visit their sick care doctor. The less they need to visit their sick care doctor, the less money they have to spend in an expensive, high-risk, and often inadequate systems, circling back around to the financial point of this article. Though most of our patients seek us out for continued “wellness” care, we encourage them to come to us first when there are signs or symptoms of anything from an ear infection to an allergy flare up. We’d rather find their health challenge when it’s a minor issue that resolves easily rather than wait until it’s much worse. We are proactive in our approach, not reactive.
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America’s health care system takes the exact opposite approach. Because it’s such a reactive system, most of the patients we see in our office don’t find us until multiple rounds of medicine and medication have failed. By that time, most kids and adults we see need a fairly significant amount of work to get their nervous system and body back to health. They may need to come in multiple times a week for a period of two to three months. After that period of Restoration Care, most are so happy with the results they stick around and never leave, becoming lifelong Wellness Patients who come in routinely to keep their nervous system healthy and at full power. And the best part is that it doesn’t cost them $100,000!
Wellness within reach
with Dr. Anthony Ebel
Dr. Ebel is a Certified Pediatric Chiropractor with Premier Wellness Chiropractic in Crystal Lake, and nationally known expert on autism. n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 39
By Yvonne Benson
B
ecause the weather in Illinois always seems to be crazy, you might give
HAIR CARE How to keep those locks luxurious despite the weather
little thought to indoor climate control. One
day the air is on, the next it’s the heat. Dry heat and then air conditioning. Unfortunately, we often treat our hair and skin as constants through these climate changes when we should be adjusting our hair and skin care routines accordingly. “Modifying your skin care regimen in the summer months may be necessary based on your skin type (oily, combination, dry) and your work and living environment,” says Cheryl Santucci, director of esthetics and retail at Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas. “We have hot, humid weather here in the Midwest but many of us work in very dry, cold, air conditioned environments.”
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FASHION & BEAUTY
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SKIN CARE
“It’s best to see a professional in between seasons for a facial treatment so that he or she can administer a facial that includes exfoliation either by machine technology or exfoliating products,” Santucci says. “Your skin care professional may change your cleanser or add a deep cleanse to your routine and moisturizers may be replaced by gels and serums.” There is a difference when it comes to skin pigmentation also, according to Santucci. “Generally, lighter skin tends to be dryer and darker skin has more oil. However, all skin types can get dehydrated with the swing between hot/humid and dry/cold environments.” An additional concern regarding skin care is the prevention of skin cancer. Santucci suggests using a broad spectrum sun protection product over skin care every day of the year, regardless if the sun is out or not.
MD Solar Sciences (products) which carries the Skin Cancer Foundation’s seal of approval for the best protection,” Santucci says.
HAIR CARE The focus for summer hair care is to “protect and replenish,” says Paige Grzegorczyk, stylist at the Crystal Lake location of Mario Tricoci. “Use hair care products with UVA protectants and UV filters. It is good to know that hair needs sunscreen just like the skin,” she says. “A daily hair regimen should include (a) smoothing shampoo and smoothing conditioner followed by (a) thermal styler applied on damp, towel-dried hair. Before blow-drying, add the UV protectant as well as a heat protectant. Our Mario Tricoci shaping gel can also be added in combination with the thermal styler for extra hold.”
SUMMER STYLES
Now that your hair is healthy and protected, “This same strategy is the best way to keep what are some great ways to syle it for the your skin from aging prematurely. We choose weather?
“2016 will be all about a nonchalant polished look — hair that looks windblown but done. Polished in a casual way,” says John Gialluisi, creative director at Mario Tricoci. “It’s not the formal blowout we used to see but more of an ‘undone done’ look. In between curly and straight with beautiful light waves.” Those casual looks that say “I just woke up like this” can be achieved with a particular haircut. “Cuts are becoming more freeform which allows for more individualistic styles for each person — cutting to the individual and their texture. The long bob is still going to be strong like Taylor Swift’s hair. But from a cutting standpoint, it’s all about freeform for the strongest look,” Gialluisi says. Since current hair style trends are allowing a natural-type look in the upcoming months, that will help hair that is normally stylestressed a rest after the dry winter months. Check out your stylist for the perfect cut and see your esthetician for skin care recommendations.
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 41
The Perfect
Summer Face
M
id-July brings us to the half-way point of summer when vacations and weekend getaways are in full swing. Because we’re so busy, there is definitely no extra time to spend in front of the mirror trying to choose and apply makeup.
Create a great look in minutes with the tips below for makeup in a hurry: g Whether your skin is oily or dry, if you will be in a car or outside for any length of time, apply a good, broad-spectrum SPF before foundation or any makeup application. This protects your skin against UV rays, which are stronger in the summer months. SPF30-SPF50 is recommended. g Whatever your foundation type, try it with a bit less coverage. If using a liquid, dampen your fingers or foundation brush before applying. If using a mineral powder, try applying with a finishing powder brush instead of a Kabuki brush. Either method will provide a slightly lighter coverage. g When the weather is exceptionally warm, foundation can be a problem (dripping, melting, and fading). If you don’t need much coverage, try a foundation tint. If you do need the coverage, try mixing a small amount (about half a pea size) of 42 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
oil-free moisturizer to your full-cover foundation. This will help keep the foundation lightweight without taking away too much coverage. Whichever you choose will take less time to apply because the lighter-weight foundation blends quickly onto the skin.
do not gravitate toward the orangey/gold bronzing powders unless your skin has darkened quite a bit from regular or sunless tanning. If your skin doesn’t get much darker in the summer months, stay with a “winter” bronzer which has a more neutral shade and will blend well with non-tan skins.
g Choose a medium peach or pink soft matte blush to apply to cheeks and eyes. This is a simple No special skills are needed — you will look way to give “life” to the entire face, and application fabulous in minutes! is quick and easy. For cheeks, focus on applying blush to the apple of the cheeks. For eyes, use a larger eye shadow blending brush and lightly blend Lisa Ryan is an industry expert with more than 20 years of across the lid and crease of the eyes, focusing experience in the cosmetics field as a licensed esthetician, most of the color in the outer corner of the eyes.
Beauty Basics
g Add two coats of mascara. Make sure to apply heavier where the lashes and eyelids meet. This will outline the eyes similar to eyeliner. g Choose an everyday lip color — not BROWN — in a matte shade one shade brighter than your usual favorite color. Apply and then blot well. This will leave a softer version of the color which will stain the lips and alleviate having to apply it every five minutes. If you are not a “matte” fan, apply a clear lip shine/gloss over the matte lipstick after blotting. The color will still stay even when your glossy shine goes away. g Finally, if you have the time, apply a light dusting of natural bronzer to give your skin a healthy summer glow. When choosing a bronzer, FASHION & BEAUTY
makeup artist, beauty educator and product researcher and developer. A former international makeup artist in the prestige cosmetics market, her career also includes positions with industry giants Estee Lauder, Christian Dior and Laura Mercier. Lisa’s work has been featured in Lucky, Mademoiselle and Skin Inc., in addition to international publications of Bazaar, Vogue and Elle magazine. Now she is sharing this information and her products and services with her clients at her current business, Love My Results Beauty in Crystal Lake while she continues to research and consult with the leading esthetic and cosmetic companies across the nation.
n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
Need help paying for college? Let’s talk. Steve Middaugh Financial Advisor
8505 Redtail Drive, Suite K Lakewood, IL 60014 815-356-5401
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McHenry County Magazine
H OME resource guide Find contacts for top home professionals in interior design, kitchen design, construction, and many other home-related fields. Whether you are a new or established home owner, you will find places and products of interest in this monthly guide!
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n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
Interior Design INTERIOR INSPIRATION Algonquin, 847-854-2966, www.interiorinspiration.com For a home or workplace that is beautiful, functional and inspired, call Randi Goodman, IFDA, “designer extraordinaire.” Now is a great time to spruce up your space. Randi makes the best use of furnishings and accessories you already have. She can suggest additional pieces, or start from scratch. The choice is yours! Custom or ready made, she can do it all! Call today for a personal consultation.
Kitchen Design KITCHENS BY JULIE, INC., 27-A Janus Rd., Cary, 847-516-2226, www.kitchensbyjulie.com Located in Downtown Cary, Kitchens by Julie is a family owned and operated organization that has extensive experience in all aspects of remodeling and construction. “Every successful project is a unique reflection of personal tastes, functions, lifestyle, budget and dreams,” says principal designer, Julie Loehner, CKD who operates Kitchens by Julie with her husband and project manager, Mark Loehner. Our goal is to create a wonderful experience designing and building your dream from conception to completion.
To have your business included in this guide, contact your representative at 815-459-4040. MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 43
Why You Should Never Buy Your Diamonds Off The Internet This is a true story. A gentleman decided to buy a diamond online instead of at a reputable brick and mortar jewelry store. Not once was he told that this diamond was clarity enhanced in any way. It was never disclosed on any of the web pages he looked at, never talked about during the electronic checkout process and never documented on the “certification” that came with it. What he was told, however, was that it was worth about three times the amount he paid. He brought it to a jeweler to be reset into a different mounting. As the jeweler was getting ready to work on it she noticed that the diamond looked a little “off.” She immediately showed it to me and another employee and we both agreed it was severely fracture-filled.
After calling the customer, we learned that he was never informed about the treatment of his diamond. We also discovered it was bought online from overseas. There are several problems with this scenario: 1. He was never informed. 2. The durability of this diamond has decreased. 3. It is now a risk to do any work to this diamond, even putting it in the ultrasonic to clean it. Why should you care about this story? Because this type of dishonesty happens more often than it should with internet companies. When you spend your hard-earned money on a rocky piece of this Earth’s history — a.k.a. a diamond — you want to be darn sure you know what you’re paying for! The only way to do that is to actually see and feel the diamond in person before you buy it … not just looking at a photograph of it. If you would like to see the internal features of this particular diamond, visit SteffansJewelers.com. I was able to capture the unnatural pink flashes and laser drill hole with my iPhone and microscope and it is fascinating to look at. If you think you may have a diamond that has been treated bring it in and we can take a look at it for you.
Gem Talk
with Karly Bulinski
• Karly Bulinski is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and part of the fourth generation to work at Steffan’s Jewelers, a fine jewelry store that has been family-owned and operated in McHenry since 1946. Visit them for all your jewelry needs at 325 N. Front St. in McHenry.
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FASHION & BEAUTY
n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 45
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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 47
Food With A View Enjoy summer by dining al fresco at restaurants around the county
48 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
DINING & ENTERTAINING
n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
By Yvonne Benson
A
warm breeze caresses your skin and the fading sunlight twinkles in your eyes as you dine outdoors in the summer. Everything about dining al fresco is less restrained and somehow more beautiful than the climatecontrolled indoors. “Our dockside dining is a cozy oasis directly on the beautiful Fox River,” says Charles Kaskadden, general manager of Port Edward in Algonquin. “This is what we absolutely love about our outdoor dining. We love the atmosphere, gorgeous panoramic views, and most of all the people.” The Fox River views continue further north as well in McHenry. Dominick Armon, executive chef at Bimbo’s Restaurant in McHenry, describes the restaurant’s outdoor area as “(a) beautiful view of the Fox River and also quaint.” He loves the “…quietness and laid back atmosphere,” and says the restaurant provides light torches to give a backyard feeling as well as candles for romance.
splurge a bit and order Alaskan king crab legs. If it’s just a normal lunch or dinner, I tend to order shrimp DeJonghe, Hawaiian mahi mahi, or a bone-in rib eye steak.” New to outdoor dining, Kathryn Loprino of Public House in Woodstock is looking forward to the new option for her customers. “This is our first opportunity to offer outside seating and dining and we are open to offering live music.
6 Views of the Fox River abound at the comfortable dockside dining at Port Edward Restaurant in Algonquin. Photos by Melissa Emory
“Personally I love to eat outdoors as much as possible — I enjoy the scenery and ambiance of the historic Square,” Loprino says. Public House strives to “[create] a warm and inviting dining space.” McHenry County has some splendid options for outdoor dining this summer. The folks along the Fox River at Port Edward in Algonquin and Bimbo’s Restaurant in McHenry along with the Public House in Woodstock overlooking the Square have carefully designed every detail to make sure that your experience is a dreamy escape.
Nothing complements the ambiance of outdoor dining better than good food. Some favorites at Bimbo’s according to Armon are “the bruschetta to start and then a nice broiled salmon dinner or a Berkshire pork chop vesuvio.” “Personally when I dine dockside (at Port Edward), I like to dine on Saturday. I find it to be the perfect way to relax. I always start my visit with a Mai Tai, something to feel a bit more tropical and refreshing,” says Kaskadden. “For an appetizer, I order TNT Shrimp, with extra sauce (I like a little more ‘kick’). For an entrée I’m always torn, because I like so many different menu items it’s hard to narrow it down. If I’m celebrating I may
n w h e r a l d . c o m /m a g a z i n e
DINING & ENTERTAINING
MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 49
NEW IN BBQ
Every year about this time, as the BBQ season comes upon us, new trends start emerging and becoming popular.
a particular regional favorite from the pro who created it and then take it back to their state. This is good news for us BBQ addicts because I love all styles of BBQ. More and more, whiskey seems to be coming into the picture.
Chefs are mixing and experimenting with whiskey and particularly bourbon to create new and exciting combinations of BBQ. Bourbon has seen a 32 percent increase Last December the National Restaurant over the last four years. Pretty impressive if Association polled 1,300 chefs — including you know that brown goods consumption me — for their “What’s Hot Culinary (scotch, whiskey, rye, etc.) has been Forecast” and BBQ topped the list of perennial favorites. Here are a few predictions decreasing for years. Thank you Jack Daniels! from that survey and a few of my own about Another new trend is flavoring brown goods what you will see a lot of around the country with BBQ themes. Some are infusing their this BBQ season. bourbons with bacon, smoked ham or First off, BBQ is bigger than it has ever been. brisket and then straining it to create a Bacon Bourbon Cocktail. Sounds good to me. It is red hot in the hospitality business and is huge in the backyard weekend warrior You will find more and more BBQ at segment as well. It used to be that a guy stadiums, too. In addition to a pulled pork or would love showing you his John Deere beef brisket sandwich growing in popularity tractor or riding mower, now it’s the backyard at professional sporting events, items like pit he’s bought and set up like a campground smoked pork, beef and turkey are being used that gets all the attention. more and more as toppings for hot dogs, brats and nachos. I was at a Packers game I was at a friend’s house recently and he last season and the vendors smoked 2,000 had built a small shelter next to his pit with pounds of pork ... for every home game! power for a fridge to keep his meat and his beer cold. We’ll see lots more of that. The That’s how much I smoke in a week — sophistication of home smokers is also going believe me that’s a lot of pork. through the roof. Technology that was only Lastly, I think you will see greater variety in available in the trades 10 years ago is now what parts of the cattle and hog are used. Not available for the backyard at every super store. just items like beef ribs or pork belly, but the Regional barriers are coming down, too. unusual cuts such as whole hog head, cheek meat or shanks. Daniel Vaughn, BBQ editor Texas BBQ is now available in more than at “Texas Monthly,” told me he is seeing a just Texas, just like other regions such big resurgence of organ meat and “hot guts” as Kansas City, Memphis and the (fresh pork sausage). I think this return to Carolinas. I was at a conference some of the cuts you haven’t seen in years or several months ago and many generations is all part of the growth cycle and of the attendees were there specifically to learn how to make increased popularity of BBQ.
Put A Fork In It
with David Faccone David Faccone is the owner/ chef of Crystal Lake Rib House, Certified Kansas City BBQ Society Judge and Table Captain, and brings 30 years of experience in the restaurant business to McHenry County.
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DINING & ENTERTAINING
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Lighten Up!
With tasty summer wines
T
he first thing wine lovers consider on a hot summer day is, “what wine can be sipped while still quenching my thirst?”
The key to this challenge is finding a dry or off-dry wine with a nice mineraltiy on the finish. I would describe minerality in two components: Think dry sea salt or a slate character, in terms of the flavor. Then ask yourself, “Is my mouth watering?” It’s the crispness or a zip on the back of the tongue that assists in quenching your thirst and gives that mouth-watering sensation also known as acidity. This would be considered a wine with minerality. How do you know what to look for regarding minerality? Understand that just because a wine has this component, doesn’t mean that it’s dull and boring. Additionally, we crave an element of floral or fruity character that also are nicely balanced without loads of alcohol. Here are a few of my picks that are sure to quench your thirst, pair nicely with food and please your taste buds. The beauty is that these wines also can be sipped alone — without food — or as an aperitif before dinner. Some may call them “Patio Pounders.” • The first grape varietal is Albariño from Spain or Alvariñho from Portugal, sometimes known as Viñho Verde meaning “green wine.” Viñho Verde has a bit of effervescence ... not as much as a sparkling wine but noticeable. Albariño is known for
its minerality backbone and contains notes of peach and apricot on the nose and the palette. This wine pairs beautifully with shellfish or a simple goat cheese salad. With tasty summer wines
• On the topic of Spain, I’d like to mention another notable grape varietal that does not get a whole lot of recognition but also is a great summer pleaser. It’s called Verdejo from Rueda, Spain. The flavor profile is similar to a honeyed melon with a hint of herb. Verdejo originated in North Africa and was brought to Spain around the 11th century. Both Albariño and Verdejo are affordable (under $15) and great summer wines. Verdejo has a notable deep yellow color, such that one may think it’s a fuller bodied wine. Don’t be fooled by its appearance.
further than Provence, France. These wines are iconic, dry and delicious. You will pay a bit more for a wine from this area but I challenge you to try one. It’s well worth the splurge for a special occasion such as a summer anniversary. • How about a sparkling wine? Think Prosecco. This dry sparkler from northern Italy is great for special occasions or for every day festivities because of its versatile, semidry character and its affordable price. Most retailers carry this wine for under $12. Enjoy!
• Moving on to rosé — another great summer wine. You can find great value in Spanish or California rosés (under $20) that are tasty and foodfriendly. They are perfect for a summer picnic or with burgers and potato salad. • If you are looking for a special rosé, look no
In Reserve
with Laura Ribando
• Laura Ribando is the owner of Wine 101 Simplified. She is a state-licensed, independent wine consultant and is WSET Certified. Contact her at 224-357-0994 or LauraLovesWine@ gmail.com. Wine101.biz.
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DINING & ENTERTAINING
MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015 | 51
Meet McHenr y & Johnsburg Celebrations, antiques and fireworks are just some of the activities to enjoy in these two villages this summer By Stephanie Kohl
S
ummer is here, which means more time for leisure and recreation.
Did you know there are plenty of places for local fun right in your hometown? McHenry has become well-known for its annual Fiesta Days celebration, slated for July 10 through July 19 in Petersen Park, 4300 Petersen Park Road. Kay Rial Bates, president of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, says the fest attracts between 30,000 and 40,000 people annually. Part of the event’s attraction is its ability to bring in national acts, she says.
“There’s a lot of excitement when you bring in someone (people) don’t get to see regularly,” Bates says. This year’s headliners include Stephen Pearcy, the voice of RATT; Ace Frehley, formerly of KISS; and Sam Llanas, formerly of the BoDeans. Other popular events during Fiesta Days include the community parade, kids’ ice cream social, carnival and Big Wheel race. “What we really have is we have something for everyone,” Bates says. McHenry also offers a Riverwalk area and downtown district, featuring plenty of shops and restaurants.
“The goal of the Riverwalk is to bring renewed life into the downtown area,” Bates says. “The Riverwalk itself is absolutely gorgeous.” Both the Riverwalk and downtown area will feature more events through the end of the year. On July 18, businesses in the downtown area will participate in Sidewalk Sales. In October, restaurants will participate in a Taste of Downtown McHenry. McHenry also is known for its vintage shops, so much so that a bus tour comes through for vintage shopping. “We have vintage shops,” Bates says. “It’s not just in the downtown, but throughout McHenry. (People) can find things they’re not going to find anywhere else.” With its location along the Fox River and Pistakee Lake, Johnsburg also offers lots of fun activities. John Huemann, trustee and chair of the economic development committee, says Johnsburg is particularly well-known for its Fourth of July fireworks display on Pistakee Lake, which are put on by local businessman Tom Fuchs, owner of Oak Park Lounge, with fundraising help from area organizations.
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DINING & ENTERTAINING
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“It’s kind of a regional fireworks display because it’s done on the Chain of Lakes,” Huemann says. Boats fill the water to watch the display and many residents on the water host parties. With plenty of restaurants, bars and businesses along the Chain of Lakes, boaters often stop in Johnsburg while out sailing for the day. Dutch Creek Bay also is particularly popular for the water skiing community. Johnsburg’s downtown is currently a work in progress, with several public hearings to come on making changes to the downtown zoning district. “The more people we have to contribute to the success of it, the more successful it will be,” Huemann says. Johnsburg also is well-known for its Saufen und Spiel — “drink and games” — slated in September. The community-sponsored event celebrates the village’s German heritage. The Saufen und Spiel Parade begins at 12:30 pm on September 13 at the Johnsburg Village Hall. The Johnsburg Community Club Fest grounds will be filled with local clubs and organizations serving up food, treats and drinks. There is fun for the whole family, rides and games.
Photos provided Facing page at top: The McHenry Riverwalk and downtown area features plenty of shops and restaurants. Facing page at bottom: Fiesta Days in Mchenry features a parade every year. Above: Saufen und Spiel is a community festival held annually in Johnsburg.
Crystal Lake Farmers Market Depot Park Saturdays 8 AM - 1 PM
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2015 Women Of Distinction Award Luncheon McHenry County Magazine and the Northwest Herald hosted the annual Women of Distinction Awards luncheon, honoring 14 women who are role models and leaders in their fields and throughout McHenry County. Congratulations to these distinguished women!
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BUSINESS & CIVIC
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Full Of Surprises
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Experience the completely re-engineered 2016 Kia Sorento Limited. If you’re looking for a tech-friendly, versatile crossover with great curb appeal ‌ the 2016 Kia Sorento Limited is for you. Completely re-engineered from its predecessor, the 2016 Sorento has increased dimensions, allowing for third-row seating; an under-cargo-floor storage compartment so you can organize items and keep them out of sight; and a 50/50 split-fold design that provides a variety of configurations for cargo. Its stylish exterior design sets it apart from a traditional family car, however the Sorento can seat up to seven comfortably with third-row rear air-conditioning, second-row sunshades and a panoramic sunroof with an easy-to-use power sunshade to let in fresh air. 4Continued on next page
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Standard features of the 2016 Sorento Limited include 19-inch chrome-finish wheels, unique SX trim and accent pieces, low-profile roof rails with chrome finishing, a navigation radio with an 8-inch display and rear backup camera, Infinity 10-speaker surround sound audio and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Satellite radio and a USB/iPod interface, Bluetooth and a tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio controls round out the roomy inside of this versatile SUV. Whether it’s lugging hockey equipment from practice to home or heading out for a night in the city, the Kia Sorento can do it all. 58 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
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artist profile STACY PAHL Crystal Lake “All Aboard” Digital photography
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Stacy Pahl was born, raised and resides in Crystal Lake. Her current medium is digital photography. She has studied photography through courses at McHenry County College as well as at Nancy Merkling’s Simply Learn Workshops in Harvard. She now studies in a more hands-on environment in an intern program with Nancy Merkling. Stacy’s photography allows her to feed her passion for creating and her vision for molding the ordinary into the unordinary. She searches for the authenticity and raw nature of her subject matter, whether it’s people or places to tell her unique stories.
Stacy continues to learn by challenging herself with new ideas in night photography, motion, macro photography, people, as well as having an increasing interest in infrared photography and other mediums. Stacy continues to take workshops and assignments while searching for ways to incorporate photography in her everyday life. Stacy compares expanding in her art to growing as individuals. There are areas that are shaded and not fully developed and areas that are bright and ready to shine. The idea is to just keep growing!
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to favorite songs including “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata.” Tickets are $10 for regular admission. For tickets and performance times, visit WoodstockOperahouse.com.
MAY events in McHenry County
STACY PAHL
To submit an entry to Artist Showcase, email artwork, title of piece, name and village of residence of artist, a two- to three-sentence description of the piece, short bio and artist photo to McHenryCountyMagazine@shawmedia.com, subject head “Local Artist Submission.”
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July 9 - July 12: Lake in the Hills Rockin’ Ribfest, Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road, Lake in the Hills This four-day family-oriented event offers nationally renowned professional BBQers, and live entertainment. Hours are Thursday and Friday 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m, Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5 per person age 13 and over. All proceeds support LITH Rotary charities. For more information, visit LITHRibfest.com. July 10 -19: Fiesta Days, Petersen Park, 4300 Petersen Park Road, McHenry A local favorite, this festival features live music, family entertainment, carnival rides, 5K and 10K fun runs, a parade and more. Admission varies by event. For the complete schedule, visit McHenryFiestaDays.com. July 10 - August 2: “Beehive: The 60s Musical,” Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake This wild, toe-tapping, head-shaking musical tribute to the women who made the music of the 60s and 70s runs chronologically, from beehive hairdos and long skirts to free-flowing hair and hippie fashions. The music shifts from early girl groups to the solo work of Janis Joplin, Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. Tickets start at $35.50. For dates and showtimes, visit RaueCenter.org. July 15 -19, Summer in the Park, Emricson Park, 1313 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock The second year of this four-day festival includes live music, entertainment, games, food, family movie, pool fun and more. Most activities are free. For complete details, visit WoodstockFestivals.org. July 17: Movie in the Park - “Big Hero 6,” 7 p.m., Diecke Park, 11419 S Route 47, Huntley The Huntley Park District presents this popular Disney film. Activities start at 7 p.m. and the movie will start around 9 p.m. Bring chairs and blankets. Refreshments for sale. Visit HuntleyParks.org for more information. July 17, 18 and 19, Disney’s “The Lion King Jr.,” Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock The Woodstock Children’s Summer Theatre presents this adaptation of the beloved Disney film. Embark on Simba’s journey and sing along OUT & ABOUT
July 18: Acres of Hope Farm Trail Run, 6:45 a.m. sign in, Stade’s Farm and Market, 3709 Miller Road, McHenry This event offers the choice of a 5K ($35) or 10K ($40) route and a one-mile fun run for kids ($10). After the race, enjoy a pancake breakfast. Race held rain or shine. To register, visit RaceOnTheFarm.org. July 19: Summer Sunday at Colonel Palmer Hours, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Colonel Palmer House, 660 E. Terra Cotta Road, Crystal Lake This “Farming in the Fabulous 1950s” event will feature 50s farming equipment, cars of the era, wagon rides, a hula hoop contest for kids, music of the era and more. Free admission. For more information, visit CrystalLakeParks.org. July 19: Living History Open House, Noon to 4 p.m., Powers-Walker House Historic Landmark, Glacial Park, 6313 Harts Road, Ringwood Visit this Greek Revival 1854 restored house, and recently recognized historic landmark, to learn more about the families who once called it home. This open house features the Miller family who inhabited the area during the World War I era. Visit McCDistrict.org for more details. July 24: 4th Friday at the Starline, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., The Starline Gallery, 306 W. Front St., Harvard Features a juried mixed art exhibit, photo contest, featured solo artist exhibit, open artist studios, people’s choice voting and live music. Admission is $5 per person; cash bar available. Visit NancyMerkling.com for more information. July 25: Faith and Family Day, corner of East Washington and South Taylor streets, Marengo Hosted by local businesses and churches, this community block party features family activities, games and live music. This year’s featured performer is Danny Golkey at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Marengo Main Street at 815568-8440. July 29: Ralph Covert Concert, 3:30 p.m., Algonquin Public Library, 2600 Harnish Drive, Algonquin Ralph Covert is a highly acclaimed musician enjoyed by both parents and children. Music will include songs from Covert’s latest album, “Ralph’s World Rocks and Reads.” Free admission. For more information, visit AALPD.org.
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of WOMEN distinction
Dynamic Duo A By MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE
hundreds of young girls to the land year-round for camping and outdoor activities.
s mothers and daughters go, Inez Young and April Dougherty are a dynamic pair. Each woman is making her own tremendous impact when it comes to serving the community and lending a hand to friends and neighbors.
In the 70s, she and Tom opened a jewelry shop, naming it for the year Dougherty would turn 65 and they could retire — Studio 2015 Jewelry. While she has cut back on work and Tom will let his sons, Ches and Brett, continue their leadership at the store, they still are making future plans. To celebrate the milestone, they took an extended vacation with a multi-week road trip out west to travel quiet roads and visit friends.
Both support the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation. At the annual Barndance on July 18 in Woodstock’s Emricson Park, they will arrive early to help set up tables, lend a hand and make the rounds chatting with attendees and enjoying the fundraiser. “There’s a saying, ‘The more you do, the more you can do.’ This dynamic duo is the epitome of these words,” writes Denise Graff Ponstein, vice president of the Gavers Foundation who also nominated the pair for the Women of Distinction award. Dougherty, now a board member, started volunteering with the Gavers Foundation 15 years ago, drawn to the organization’s mission to provide local support for cancer patients. It was also a way for Dougherty and her family to return the love and support they found when April was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer 20 years ago. She says doctors gave her a two percent chance of survival. “I was not supposed to survive,” Dougherty says. “I had two kids in high school and leaving them was not an option for me.” She underwent an aggressive chemotherapy treatment and, today, counts her blessings to be able to help others through the Gavers Foundation and to be there for her family, including her three grandchildren. In July she will celebrate 50 years since her first date with her husband, Tom. The two were high school sweethearts and started dating when she was 15, he was 16. They married and raised their children on a 300acre Girl Scout camp in McHenry, maintaining the grounds, caring for the animals and welcoming
“We almost feel like we are 25 again,” she says. Ches’ wife, Stacey Dougherty, calls her mother-in-law one of the nicest, selfless and upbeat people she has ever known. “We’re always looking for little angel wings on (her) back because she’s such a little angel,” Stacey says. Inez Young may be the matriarch and an octogenarian, but she too is an active part of her community. She grew up in Berwyn, attending Morton High School where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Clarence. Young says her family had a summer vacation home in the area near Wauconda and Island Lake when she was growing up. She, her husband and their two daughters moved to the McHenry area 58 years ago to help care for her parents. Not long after moving to the area they welcomed a third daughter to their family. Young says she loved raising her family in the open space of McHenry and worked for several years at McHenry High School and later Johnsburg High School. Young’s husband eventually developed Alzheimer’s disease. In the challenges of caring for him, Young turned to Family Alliance Inc., for assistance with his care and for the support group for spouses of Alzheimer patients. From that group, Young made long-time friends and today, more than 20 years later, they continue to meet for support and for social purposes too.
Photo by From Me 2 You Photography
INEZ young & April dougherty McHenry, Harvard
“We’ve become very dear friends,” Young says. Her husband died in November 1998. Young remembers worrying she wouldn’t be allowed to attend the support group anymore after her spouse’s death. Instead, she found she was welcomed and needed. She was invited to participate in a second Family Alliance support group, and when the facilitator had to leave the group, Young was invited to lead it. “I never had any training. I hadn’t planned on becoming the leader, but these people had become my friends,” Young says. When she’s not busy with her support groups she enjoys an active social calendar thanks to local senior groups, making time for lunches with friends and seeing theater productions. Individually, Young and Dougherty are incredible women helping others and serving as models of kindness and generosity. Together they are a close family, who enjoy the time they have together as well as being able to share their time helping others, especially with the Gavers Foundation. “It’s truly phenomenal to be a part of it,” Dougherty says.
2015 Sponsors
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325 N. Front St. McHenry, IL 60050 M-W & F 10-6, Thurs. 10-7, Sat. 9-3 815-385-6070 | www.steffansjewelers.com 64 | JULY 2015 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE
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