McHenry County News FRE
E
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 16
WOODSTOCK CAR WASH N O W O P E N
• 3 Heated Bays • Brand New Vacuums • Automatic Wash Now Open • 7’ High and Large Enough for Dually Pickup Trucks
218 Fair Street, Woodstock, IL (Behind McDonalds)
239731
April 14, 2016
Musical Opportunities
By Anne Eickstadt Correspondent
“I
f the purpose of an education is to systematically develop the mind and capabilities of every child, it is clear that music has a unique and necessary role to play,” says Donald A. Hodges, University of North Carolina. Music has long been known as a way to improve a child’s learning ability. “I would teach children music, physics and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning,” Plato said centuries ago. “Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.” Which cause me to wonder why music has been removed from many school’s curriculum. Parents and children who are interested in adding music to the learning process must now find their own independent source of music learning. One of these places is the Player’s Bench in Crystal Lake’s historic Old Town. Located at 87 N. Williams Street, The Player’s Bench opened in 1973. It was founded by two dentists who couldn’t find a place for their own children to learn to play musical instruments. It didn’t really take long for them to realize that they were better at the practice of dentistry than they were at running a music business and they sold the store to Joe Ornelas, a music teacher and professional musician, in 1976. Ornelas expanded and remodeled, gradually adding more
photo by Anne Eickstadt
Music can improve a child’s grades and The Player’s Bench offers a wide variety of musical learning opportunities.
teaching studios, a sound room, a guitar repair shop and a rental department. In 2014, Ornelas retired and the shop came under the new management of music teacher Jason Erlenborn and his wife, Molly Clough, experienced in retail on Williams Street and lifelong Crystal Lake resident. Today, the Player’s Bench has over a dozen experienced teachers who are also professional musicians. They come from a
wide array of backgrounds and teach many different styles of music. They can instruct beginners, intermediate and advanced music students. They offer lessons in brass, woodwind, percussion and stringed instruments, including keyboards. You can learn music theory, songwriting and improvisation in jazz, pop, rock, funk, bluegrass, country and blues. Lessons are offered Monday through Saturday.
“Music programs can literally remodel children’s brains in a way that improves sound processing which could lead to better learning and language skills,” says Nina Kraus of Northwestern University. The Player’s Bench boasts instrument repair specialists with decades of experience and the Rental Department can offer both sound and lighting equipment as well as rental instru-
ments. The store is open 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Friday and from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm on Saturday. Whatever your needs for music lessons to musical performances, The Player’s Bench has a lot to offer. You can find them online at www.playersbenchmusic.com or on Facebook at Players Bench – Music Store.
Generations of Baking Experience By Anne Eickstadt Correspondent
W
oodstock has many restaurants and fast food establishments. However, when I am on the go in Woodstock’s Historic Square, one of my favorite places to stop is at Swiss Maid Bakery. Not only are their sandwiches fresh and flavorful but I can pick my dessert as well. They serve a choice of cookie with each sandwich but I can never seem to leave without adding a doughnut or other pastry to my bag. It’s no wonder that the desserts are so good when you consider the fact that the ownphoto by Anne Eickstadt ers are the fifth generation They always have freshly made cookies on hand to grab and go or to bring to an event. of bakers in the family. Two families of bakers, the Plan- families settled in Chicago chased the bakery from the Shirley and Tony. In 1955, zers and the Strickers, moved and opened bakeries on North Strickers. The two families the happy couple took over from Europe to the United Avenue. were united in 1950 with the the bakery from the Planzers. In 1967, the bakery moved In 1943, the Planzers pur- marriage of their children, States in the late 1920s. Both
to its current location and became known as the Swiss Maid Bakery. Shirley and Tony’s three sons, Kurt, Paul and Eric acquired the bakery from their parents in 1987. Kurt left the bakery in 1999 and Eric passed away in 2005, leaving Paul in charge. Paul’s son Jeremy joined the bakery in 2005, continuing the family tradition. He attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute to hone his skills. After visiting the bakery, Amy Beth Seidell says, “Yummy treats! Cakes are so good and moist, can’t go wrong with Swiss Maid Bakery!” “Great customer service. Really appreciate how accommodating the staff was,” Katie Timber says. Cristen Herbold Carlson tells us, “Bought an excellent
See BAKING, Page 2