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Morris YMCA

Popular summer camp returns for the 2026

Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Centennial Anniversary is occurring in 2026, and the Morris Hospital YMCA is joining the celebration. In April, the facility will be hosting a “birthday party” honoring the 100th anniversary. Jamie Heitman, Morris Hospital YMCA executive director said, the Morris location even got the party started a little early hosting a one-year celebration for its facility in December.

Today, Heitman said, “People are enjoying all aspects of the Morris Hospital YMCA. From its open gym to its expanding number of fitness classes to swim lessons. People are discovering there is something for everyone at the Morris Hospital YMCA.” Located at 2200 Dupont Avenue, the 60,000 square foot facility features an eight-lane lap pool, a stateof-the-art health and wellness center, a gymnasium and indoor walking track, group exercise studios, a cycling room, a healthy eating kitchen, youth play spaces, and meeting rooms. Last fall, Heitman said, the Morris Hospital YMCA began hosting the JETS Swim Team, a year-round competitive swim program.

season Commit Your Health

Gearing up for its popular summer camp program, Morris Hospital YMCA camp director Jordan Overton said this year the Morris Hospital YMCA is offering two additional weeks of summer camp bring the total to twelve. “This year, we are excited to bring in new field trips and new activities which are based on the theme of each week,” she added. One week of camp will be devoted to the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Overton added that it will be a great opportunity to bring out those “old school games.” Other camp themes include nature, sports, everyday heroes, and stars and stripes. Special visitors heading out to camp include Illinois Storm Chasers and the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau. Each day features arts and crafts, reading time, and STEM activities.

The summer camp dates begin May 26 and run through August 14 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for children from kindergarten to 8th grade. A preschool summer camp for children between the ages of three and six years old begins on June 1 through July 31. It meets Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until noon. Families sign up for each week individually. Financial assistance is available for families earning below a threshold amount based on income and size of family.

From group fitness classes and swim and youth enrichment programs, there’s member of your family. Make the Y connection, and a fresh

WHERE THE FUN NEVER ENDS Summer Day Camp

At the Y, we provide safe, affordable, and fun summer day camps for youth and teens in grades K-8. Kids have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.

AGES:

Grades K-8

CAMP LOCATION:

Morris Hospital YMCA

2200 W. Dupont Avenue, Morris, IL 60450

HOURS:

Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME

DHS funds are accepted. Financial assistance is also available.

EARLY BIRD

SUMMER DAY CAMP SALE

REGISTRATION FEE

Scan below to learn more about Summer Day Camp:

GET YOUR GAME ON

EARLY

BIRD SALE | March 14-30

Save $5 when you register for a summer sports, specialty, or preschool camp during our Early Bird Sale.

Use promo code: CAMP5OFF when registering online. Valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Some restrictions may apply.

Trust someone who doesn’t just know insurance, but someone who knows and understands your coverage needs. As your hometown agency, we give you personal assistance and offer choices from several excellent insurance companies to make sure you can obtain the quality coverage you deserve.

Roth Jorstad Insurance: Serving the Community for Generations

Roth Jorstad Insurance, your hometown independent insurance agency, has been located at 322 Liberty Street in Morris for many years. Even before moving to their long-time Liberty Street location, the Jorstad family had already established a strong presence in the insurance business.

The Jorstad agency began in 1934, and the family is now in its fourth generation of serving local communities. Over the decades, Roth Jorstad Insurance has built a reputation for providing dependable service and trusted guidance to customers throughout the area.

Roth Jorstad is dedicated to providing professional service while helping clients find the best coverage at the most reasonable price possible. As an independent agency, they work with several insurance companies in order to match each client with the coverage that best fits their needs.

The agency offers a wide range of insurance services, including crop and farm insurance. Steve Jorstad and Jordan Jorstad are highly knowledgeable in many areas of agricultural coverage, helping farmers protect their operations and livelihoods.

The downtown Morris office is staffed by Deb Baker, manager, along with Cindy McCormick, Sandy Wiekert, and Rebekah Barla. The Morris team is ready to assist customers with many types of insurance, including home, auto, small business, rentals, life insurance, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and more.

Roth Jorstad Insurance continues its long tradition of community service by helping local families and businesses protect what matters most.

The Roth Jorstad agency is located at 322 Liberty Street in Morris and can be reached at 815-942-4900.

Feeney Liquor – Your One-Stop Shop Since 1932

For 92 years, Feeney Liquor has proudly served downtown Morris and the surrounding communities. Family-owned and operated since 1932, we’re your one-stop shop for fine spirits, craft beer, wine, specialty meats, and gourmet cheeses. From a wide variety of beer and wine — including a large selection of craft brews — to an impressive lineup of Bourbon and Whiskey, we truly have something for everyone. Coming soon: our private barrel of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, specially selected for Feeney Liquor! We’re also proud to offer our popular private-label pre-made Bloody Marys in a can — a customer favorite that “flies off the shelves.” Look closely and you’ll spot Rip (our store dog), along with Lambeau and Jordy, featured right on the can! Beyond the bar, we carry Ream’s premium, non-

processed meats — the real deal — including specialty bratwurst, sausage, beef, snack stix, and seasonal favorites like cranberry cheddar and jalapeño summer sausage. Our smoked sausage is one of our best sellers! Pair it perfectly with Avanti specialty cheeses, always available at great prices for family gatherings or your next party.

Feeney Liquor is proud to maintain a 5-star rating and to have been voted “Best Liquor Store” in Grundy County for several years.

“We want everyone to genuinely enjoy their experience here. Our family loves serving this community,” says owner Mike Feeney. Visit us at 209 W. Washington St. in downtown Morris, and follow Feeney Liquor on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @Feeneypackageliquor.

With new operating rooms, new robotic surgery technology, and additional highly skilled surgeons, Morris Hospital brings advanced surgical care close to home.

From Robotic Technology to State-of-the-Art Facilities, Morris Hospital Makes Significant Surgical Advancements

There’s no question: Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers has made tremendous strides advancing its surgical services over the past few years. From newly constructed operating and endoscopy rooms, to leading-edge robotic surgery equipment and highly skilled surgeons, Morris Hospital’s investment in surgical services is helping more community members stay close to home for their surgical care.

State-of-the-Art Surgical Facilities

In the spring of 2024, Morris Hospital announced the completion of a two-phase, $13.2 million renovation of its perioperative services on the hospital main campus, resulting in state-of-the-art facilities for patients having surgery, endoscopy, and minor procedures.

The renovations include three new operating rooms built for today’s modern technology, new sterile processing facilities where surgical instruments are cleaned, sterilized, and transported to the operating rooms, two new endoscopy rooms for GI and bronchoscopy procedures, a dedicated room for minor procedures, five additional same day surgery rooms where patients begin and end their same day surgery experience, and a number of patient and family focused amenities including a new, dedicated surgical waiting room for family members accompanying patients on the day of surgery.

“We are very proud to be able to provide our community with the best surgical facilities available anywhere,” says Tom Dohm, President & CEO of Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers.

Highly Skilled Surgeons

2025 was a particularly active year for recruiting

physicians in surgical related specialties, with the addition of general surgeons Dr. Bo Wang and Dr. Brian Winkleman. In addition, Dr. Joseph Kokoszka, a long-time general surgeon on the Morris Hospital Medical Staff, transitioned to practicing exclusively at Morris Hospital. As a result of these additions, today there are four full-time general surgeons on the Morris Hospital medical staff who treat a wide range of conditions including appendicitis, hernias, gallstones, bowel obstructions, colon and rectal conditions, gastric ulcers, pancreatis, breast conditions, and skin and soft tissue growths and tumors.

Gastroenterology services have also expanded with the recent addition of Dr. Afreen Hyder, increasing the number of gastroenterologists on the Morris Hospital Medical Staff from one to two. Gastroenterologists specialize in diagnosing, treatment, and managing conditions affecting the digestive system including acid reflux, GERD, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, gastrointestinal cancers, and more.

In addition to general surgery and gastroenterology, surgical related physician specialties at Morris Hospital include foot & ankle surgery, gynecology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology (ENT), plastic surgery, and spine surgery.

Robotic-Assisted Technology

During community tours in early 2023, Morris Hospital emphasized that its new operating rooms were built “robot ready.” Just seven months later, in the fall of 2023, Morris Hospital added Mako robotic-assisted surgery for orthopedic surgery. That was followed with the purchase of the

da Vinci 5® (DV5) surgical system in December 2025 for use in other surgical specialties. Morris Hospital emphases that robotic assisted surgery is still performed by the surgeon, not the robot.

An innovative treatment solution intended to relieve painful arthritis of the knee or hip, the Mako system can be used during total hip, total knee, and partial knee replacement surgeries and is associated with less pain, less need for pain medications, reduced hospital length of stay, and improved knee flexion and soft tissue protection.

While the Mako system is designed exclusively for orthopedic surgery, the da Vinci 5 is being used at Morris Hospital in general surgery and gynecology surgery. The most advanced da Vinci system available today, the DV5 is associated with improved patient outcomes including shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries, and reduced risk of complications.

Dohm said it was necessary for Morris Hospital to invest in the two robotic surgical systems as roboticassisted surgery has become a standard technique for many types of surgeries in recent years.

“We are thrilled to bring advanced, robotic surgery technology to the communities we serve,” said Dohm. “Along with supporting our commitment to providing high-quality, excellent care for patients, investing in robotic surgery technology is yet another example of our commitment to providing high-quality, excellent care to meet the evolving needs of patients and physicians.”

For more information about the growing surgical services at Morris Hospital, visit www.morrishospital. org/surgery.

FINDING A PHYSICIAN CLOSE TO HOME

Whether it has been a few years since your last physical exam, or whether you have been putting off getting checked for a symptom that has you concerned, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers is here to help.

With over 180 physicians and advanced practice professionals on the Morris Hospital Medical Staff in 35 specialties, resources are available close to home to help you stay on top of your health.

The best way to get started is by going to morrishospital.org/doctors and using the Find a Provider directory to start your search. You can search by specialty or city and then learn more about each provider’s education and training� Specialties on the Morris Hospital Medical Staff include:

Addiction Medicine

Allergy � Immunology

Anesthesiology

Cardiology

Colon � Rectal Surgery

Dermatology

Ear, Nose & Throat

Emergency Medicine

Endocrinology

Family Medicine

Foot & Ankle Surgery

Gastroenterology

General Surgery

Hematology

Hospitalist

Immediate Care

Infectious Disease

Internal Medicine

Nephrology

Neurology

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Occupational Medicine

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Optometry

Orthopedic Surgery

Otolaryngology ��

Pain Management

Pathology

Pediatrics

Plastic Surgery

Podiatry

Pulmonary Medicine

Radiation Oncology

Radiology

Rheumatology

Spine Surgery

Vascular Surgery

Wound Care

How to choose a great vein specialist

When it comes to treating vein conditions such as varicose veins, spider veins, or chronic venous insufficiency, choosing the right specialist can make a significant difference in both the outcome and your overall patient experience.

Selecting a qualified, board-certified vein specialist like those at Eterna MedSpa and Laser Vein Center ensures that you receive accurate diagnoses, safe procedures, and effective treatment options tailored to your individual needs using the most modern technology.

Board certification indicates that a physician has undergone rigorous training and has met high standards in their specialty. Vein specialists certified in vascular surgery, interventional radiology, or phlebology have the expertise necessary to assess complex vein issues and recommend evidence-based solutions. These specialists also stay current with advancements in minimally invasive echniques, which typically lead to quicker recovery times and better results.

Be sure to check for positive reviews and patient testimonials in the area of the vein surgery you are having, says Kathe Malinowki of Eterna MedSpa and Laser Vein Center.

The experienced vein specialists at Eterna MedSpa and Laser Veni Center not only understand the medical aspects of vein disease but also have the skill to deliver aesthetically pleasing outcomes. This is particularly important for patients seeking cosmetic improvements along with symptom relief.

Qualified Eterna MedSpa and Laser Vein Center specialists will take the time to explain your condition, answer your questions, and ensure you are comfortable with your treatment plan. Look for transparency; a good clinic will share success and complication rates.

It is crucial for patients to research credentials and seek out specialists who focus primarily on vein health—like the doctors at Eterna MedSpa and Laser Vein Center.

Choosing the right vein specialist is a vital first step toward better vascular health. You will have confidence, safety, and peace of mind—knowing you’re in the hands of someone who is thoroughly trained to handle both the medical and cosmetic aspects of vein care.

Silver Cross Named One of Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals for 2026

8th Consecutive Year earns the Hospital an All-Time Champion Title

Silver Cross Hospital has been named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list for 2026, marking the eighth consecutive year the hospital has appeared in the annual rankings. In fact, Silver Cross has earned a spot on the prestigious list every year since it was first introduced, earning the added title of “All-Time Champion” by Newsweek.

Silver Cross also received recognition in two areas frequently cited by patients and healthcare stakeholders as most important: infection prevention and patient experience. These areas are among several metrics Newsweek reports as part of its annual assessment.

The World’s Best Hospitals list is developed in partnership with Statista and incorporates multiple data sources, including:

• Hospital quality performance indicators

• Recommendations from medical experts such as physicians, hospital managers, and healthcare professionals

• Patient experience survey results

• Data from Statista’s Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Implementation Survey

These components are intended to provide a broad view of hospital performance across clinical outcomes, operational processes, and

patient-reported factors.

Michael Mutterer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Cross Hospital, noted the collective effort behind the hospital’s continued placement on the list.

“Being named one of the World’s Best Hospitals for the eighth year in a row is a remarkable accomplishment, but what makes it even more meaningful is knowing how we earned it,” he said, “by our entire Silver Cross Family – employees, medical staff members and volunteers – working TOGETHER, supporting each other, and putting our patients at the center of every decision we make. You have my pledge Silver Cross will continue to raise the bar on excellence for the communities we serve.”

The World’s Best Hospitals 2026 ranking includes hospitals from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. The countries were selected based on multiple comparability factors, such as standard of

living/life expectancy, population size, number of hospitals and data availability.

The awards list can be viewed at World’s Best Hospitals 2026 - Newsweek Rankings.