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McHenry County News FRE

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11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115 • (815) 654-4850 • www.McHenrycountynewspaper.com Display Advertising & Classifieds: 815-654-4850 • Circulation: 815-654-4854 • E-mail:McHenrynews@rvpublishing.com

Volume 6 Issue 3

January 14, 2016

To Advertise In This Space Call 815-654-4850

Rick Aspen: Actor, Tribute Artist … and a Good Man

By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent

Ahoy, mateys!” When Captain Jack swaggers in, people smile. Children bounce up and down in excitement and so do some of the adults. Up come the cameras, phones and I-pads and the clicking of photos being taken begins. However, if you take a peek behind the character, you will find a resident of Marengo, just having a wonderful, joyful time. Even as a child, Rick Aspen made small movies and enjoyed acting. At Halloween costume contests, he would win prizes as Kid Terminator, Mike Meyers, Superman and more. Susan Aspen, Rick’s mother, would do his makeup. “What she does with makeup is phenomenal,” Rick says. Several years ago, Susan suggested that Rick dress as Captain Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean”. “I can’t do Jack Sparrow,” Rick replied. “Just try it,” Susan responded. And it worked. “The response was so great.” People kept asking Rick to do the character and it grew from there. “Every year it becomes more exciting,” Rick tell me. “I always incorporate my act to the event, bringing out the inner child in anyone.” “He’s really good with people,” Susan Aspen says. “Handicapped people, children, everyone.” Then she tells me what Rick does when he is not in character as Captain Jack. “In his job as a lead security officer during the second shift at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, he is always assisting everyone in need.”“It’s not just patients,” Rick chimes in. “We help advocates, patients, staff and families – everyone who needs a hand.” Susan continues, telling me how, one night, Rick came across a man who had just had a heart attack. He lifted the man from the floor into a wheelchair and got him to where he could get treatment. “He’s a good man,” says Susan.

photo by Anne Eickstadt

Alderman James Regelin and Captain Jack pose at Marengo’s Stone Soup Kitchen community social lunch.

“I’m just a person who is honored to have a great family,” responds Rick. Rick would very much like to make Captain Jack his full time work. As a tribute artist, “I can do any event, work with charities, promote anything and bring out people’s inner child.” “He never breaks character,” Susan adds. As Captain Jack, in 2015, Rick participates in Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He even appears on WGN Channel 9’s

coverage of the parade. He performs with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra at the Hemmens Theatre for ‘The Magical Music of Disney’ shows. He can be seen at Huntley’s Fall Fest in September. Rick goes to London, England to do promotions for Tiburon Rum during Rumfest 2015. He spends Halloween taking on “Nightmare on Chicago Street’ in Elgin with his friend Harry Potter. Captain Jack and Harry are also both at Chicago’s Comic Con in August. September 17 is the date of WGN’s Back to School Fun Fair and Captain

Jack is there with a record-breaking attendance of 7500 persons. Relay for Life, Run for Shelter, Taste of Des Plaines, Stone Soup Kitchen in Marengo – Captain Jack is there. Parades, pig roasts, fundraisers and events of all kinds – Captain Jack will always be the life of the party. If you would like to know where Captain Jack will be next, or would like to have him perform, visit the Fans of Captain Jack – Rick Aspen page on Facebook. You can also discover him on his website at www. rickaspen.webs.com.

Viva Le Differance: A touch of Europe in downtown Crystal Lake By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent

CRYSTAL LAKE — In January, it is easy to become snowbound and to not want to travel any farther than absolutely necessary. We end up doing the same things in the same places and it can get repetitive and boring. This is the time we often start gathering travel brochures and dream about warm places with exotic food. It is not necessary to fly off to Paris to pique our interest in something different. Located in the heart of Crystal Lake is a cozy place with unique food, fine wines and a devoted clientele. “A touch of Europe in

downtown Crystal Lake.” “This place is a hidden gem.” Brandt M. of Crystal Lake says. “They have great food and desserts. Friday night fish fry is so good and fresh.” Le Petit Marche began life as Dawn’s Bread, a one woman bakery that appeared at local farmers’ markets and fairs with fresh bread and baked goods. As word spread, her faithful customers would rise early to beat the crowds. Recognizing the demand and the need for a gourmet food shop, Dawn opened her shop in March, 2005, in downtown Crystal Lake. She offers baked goods and the finest selection of wines in the historic downtown area. Le Petit Marche quickly

became a favorite gathering place for lovers of fine food. Patrons of the arts also adore it. Located right across the street from the Raue Center, it is perfectly placed for dinner before a performance. Over the years, the shop has continued to change and thrive. It offers catering services, open microphone performances, specialty wine tastings, guest artists, demonstrations and other fun events. It also has more than forty specialty cheeses from around the world. “I love this little restaurant/ coffee shop!” says Rebecca H. “Great coffee, great atmosphere and real food made right there with ingredients

you can read! I much prefer going there with my kids for a treat (where the ingredients are flour, eggs, butter…) than a mainstream, processed/packaged restaurant.” Bethany A. reports, “The Friday night grilled haddock with veggies is awesome! The pastries and bread are always fantastic. I recently tried breakfast and had some strange bread thing with sautéed veggies and eggs and bacon. It was SO delicious and different. I recommend everyone to go. They have wine and beer. It’s a super cozy little place.” “I had a large dinner here for a bachelorette party and the dinner was great,” says Elizabeth D. “It was reasonably

priced and delicious. Also, the wines they have here are phenomenal and usually under $20 a bottle. The flatbread pizzas are good, too. I’ll definitely come back here to eat and just to buy wine. I’m so glad this local business is here in Crystal Lake.” Le Petit Marche hosts a Wine & Cheese Club as well as special events. One such event will be the French Wine Dinner scheduled for January 23. To learn more about this unique bistro restaurant located at 19 North Williams Street, Crystal Lake, Illinois, visit them online at Le Petit Marche/ Dawn’s Bread on Facebook or check out their website at www.petitmarche.biz.


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