Images Kankakee County, IL: 2009-10

2009-10 | IMAGESKANKAKEE.COM ®

KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY, ILLINOIS

What’s s e Online

DRIVE-BY ARTWORK Painted quilt blocks adorn barns to honor local heritage

WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY Architectural restoration opens doors for business success

Video tour of KCC’s sustainability center

Noshing Comes Naturally Area consumers go straight to the source for farm-fresh food

SPONSORED BY THE KANKAKEE REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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imageskankakee.com THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

®

What’s On Online nl K AN K AK E E R IVE R VALLE Y, I LLI N O I S

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Go inside the Sustainability Center at Kankakee Community College to learn about the school’s eco-awareness efforts.

Watch this and other quick videos in the Interactive section.

RELOCATION

10 CO NTE NT S F E AT U R E S

Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

FACTS & STATS

6 NOSHING COMES NATURALLY Area consumers go straight to the source for farm-fresh foods.

10 KEEN ON GREEN Kankakee area farms, cities and schools embrace sustainability.

Go online to learn even more about: • Schools

D E PA R TM E NT S

• Health care • Utilities

4 Almanac: a colorful sampling

• Parks

of Kankakee River Valley’s culture

• Taxes

12 Business Feature: Windows of Opportunity

Images Kankakee River Valley is published annually

by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce 1137 East 5000 N. Road • Bourbonnais, IL 60914 Phone: (815) 933-7721 • Fax: (815) 933-7675 www.kankakee.org VISIT IMAGES KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY ONLINE AT IMAGESKANKAKEE.COM ©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member

14 Biz Briefs 16 Chamber Report 18 Local Flavor 19 Portfolio: people, places and events that define the Kankakee River Valley

23 Sports & Recreation 24 Health & Wellness 25 Education 26 Arts & Culture: Drive-By Artwork

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Member Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce EDITOR JESSY YANCEY ON THE COVER LETTUCE AT GENESIS GROWERS PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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Almanac

Wright On What is the only city in the world with two Frank Lloyd Wright houses located next door to each other?

The answer: Kankakee.

In 1900‚ the famed architect designed both the B. Harley Bradley House and the Warren Hickox House‚ and they remain today as scenic points of interest along South Harrison Avenue in the Riverview Historic District.

Each house exemplifies Wright’s Prairie style‚ which he initially began developing when he was employed with a Chicago-based architectural firm in the early 1890s.

Today, the houses are private residences.

The Greening of Walmart From top to bottom, two Walmarts in Bradley and Kankakee were built with an eye on the environment.

Both stores feature 25 percent recycled floors and skylights that lower electricity usage based on how much sunlight shines through. Additionally, energyefficient lighting in the stores’ frozen-food sections dims and turns off when no shoppers are around.

A Wind-Wind Situation Chicago may be the Windy City, but Kankakee’s windy attributes have attracted attention, too.

Cincinnati-based Vision Energy is proposing the erection of 88 turbines across Otto and Pilot townships in Kankakee County as part of the larger K4 Wind Farm. The entire wind farm will consist of 309 turbines spanning four counties, including Kankakee.

Overall, it will generate enough electricity to power 150,000 homes, as well as millions of dollars in tax revenue for local school districts and governments.

Construction is slated to begin in fall 2009 and will take about two years to complete.

Hot Dog! Cookouts across the country feature picnic fare produced in Kankakee County.

Founded in Chicago in 1852, Plochman’s Mustard has called Manteno home since 1997. The distinctive yellow squeeze-barrel condiment comes in a variety of flavors, including horseradish and honey Dijon.

Known the world over for its bratwurst, Johnsonville’s only plant outside Wisconsin is located in Momence. Besides brats, they also make Italian sausage, smoked sausage, beef franks, bologna and breakfast sausage.

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K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Historical Havens Kankakee County provides many places to peek into the past.

An antique buggy, a one-room schoolhouse and military memorabilia are just some of the exhibits at the Manteno Historical Society Museum, located in the historic Skinner Home. Similarly, one of the oldest houses in Bourbonnais, the George R. Letourneau home, was converted into a museum featuring period artifacts from the mid-1800s.

The Kankakee County Museum displays temporary and permanent collections from the earliest settlers through World War II, while the Momence History Museum focuses on the late 19th century. Other hot spots for history buffs include the Essex Historical Society Museum, the Herscher Area Historical Society Museum, the Momence Railroad Depot Museum and the Kankakee Railroad Museum.

Kankakee At A Glance POPULATION (2007 ESTIMATE) Bourbonnais: 17,942 Kankakee: 26,608 Kankakee County: 110,705 LOCATION Kankakee County is 60 miles south of Chicago.

BEGINNINGS The Illinois Legislature established

Fast Facts

Kankakee County in 1853, although settlers arrived in the area nearly two decades earlier in 1834.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce 1137 East 5000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 Phone: (815) 933-7721, Fax: (815) 933-7675 www.kankakee.org

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9O\YOYSS

Manteno Grant Park

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50

Essex

57

Momence

Bourbonnais Bradley 17

Herscher

Limestone

KANKAKEE

Kankakee

Aroma Park Hopkins Park St. Anne Sammons Point

What’s Online e Visit imageskankakee.com to take a virtual tour of the Kankakee River Valley, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Q Dairy Queen originated from a small store in Kankakee owned by local businessman Sherwood “Sherb” Noble.

Q Two new towns, Limestone and Sammons Point, were incorporated in Kankakee County in 2006.

Q An annual Rhubarb Festival is held each May on the grounds of the Kankakee County Museum.

Q More than 80 percent of Kankakee County’s real estate is farmland.

Q A John Deere tractor is perched atop a silo just east of Momence.

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Noshing Comes

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K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Naturally AREA CONSUMERS GO STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE FOR FARM-FRESH FOODS

STORY BY CAROL COWAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

O

n the outskirts of Chicagoland, there’s no reason to spend too much time – or money – at the supermarket. Agriculture is a thriving industry throughout the Kankakee River Valley, which produces literally tons of local food available at farmers markets, through Community Supported Agriculture ventures and at Kankakee County farms, you-pick operations and agritourism destinations.

A prime example is Dickman’s, a poultry farm owned by Dennis and JoAnn Dickman. The couple got their start when, dissatisfied with the flavor of store-bought chicken, they purchased their first batch of 55 chicks back in 1999, planning to stock their own refrigerator with healthier, better-tasting eggs and meat for their family. But the folks who stopped at their Herscher farm to buy Dickman’s sweet corn started asking if they could also buy the grass-fed chickens they saw pecking about in the farmyard.

“We sold 500 the first year, then 2,000. Now, we’re up to 5,000, because that’s the most we can raise without hired help. I had no idea it would escalate like this,” JoAnn Dickman says.

The couple grows their own feed corn on ground that has been chemical free for 10 years. They mix their own feed every week, and their chickens are processed in a small, Amish, federally inspected processing facility. Customers can buy chickens

Where To Buy Get a taste of local flavor at these Kankakee County farm operations: Dickman’s www.dickmans.net (815) 426-2154 Genesis Growers www.genesisgrowers.com (815) 953-1512 Mary’s Berries (815) 472-6015 Stone House Herbs www.stonehouse herbs.com (815) 935-1618 Van Drunen Farms www.vandrunen farms.com (815) 472-3100 Vana’s Pumpkin Land (815) 939-2000

Young habanero pepper plants grow in a greenhouse at Genesis Growers.

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whole or by parts, or they can try Dickman’s signature chicken sausage links and patties, as well as fresh brown eggs.

“We give a lot of tours,” Dickman adds. “If you can see how your food is raised, you’ll want to buy it fresh. We feel we are providing customers with the most nutritious product available, and we set the price as low as possible – and that’s our goal.”

Community Supported Agriculture operations, or CSAs, such as Genesis Growers in St. Anne, allow consumers to buy shares in a farm’s expected crop. By paying in advance, shareholders participate in the risks of farming but also partake of its bounty. Vicki Westerhoff, owner of Genesis Growers, sells up to 350 shares of some 500 varieties of crops that she, her son and one other farmhand grow. When the crops come in, some shareholders trek out to the farm to pick up their goods; otherwise Westerhoff delivers. Most of her customers live in the Chicago suburbs.

Like JoAnn Dickman, Westerhoff believes that connecting food to farming is an important part of the local foods movement. “I’ve developed my own little business model,” Westerhoff says. “It reattaches the relationship between the farmer and the consumer. I love knowing where my product is going and helping people know where their food comes from.”

Other local foods come from pick-your-own farms, such as Mary’s Berries in Momence, and agritourism attractions, such as Stone House Herbs, located on the grounds of the historic Danforth House, and Vana’s Pumpkin Land in Kankakee.

Foods grown in the Kankakee River Valley end up in other parts of the country as well. For instance, wholesale ingredient supplier Van Drunen Farms grows and processes herbs and other products that are sold nationwide under a number of brand names. Established by the Van Drunen family in the 1850s, Van Drunen Farms is the largest supplier of organically grown culinary herbs in the country.

Genesis Growers owner Vicki Westerhoff tends to lettuce, which will be distributed to the members of the operation’s Community Supported Agriculture program. Above right: Day-old chicks at Dennis and JoAnn Dickman’s farm

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Keen on

Green KANKAKEE AREA FARMS, CITIES AND SCHOOLS EMBRACE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS

What’s s e Online

Learn more about the efforts of KCC’s Sustainability Center in a quick video in the Interactive section at imageskankakee.com.

KEVIN YOUNG

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K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

STORY BY MICHAELA JACKSON

Sustainability Network to share resources among the state’s 48 community colleges through campus sustainability centers.

KCC’s Sustainability Center, one of the original four in the network, coordinates and delivers green technology solutions, resources and information throughout the community.

“Our purpose is to be the one-stop shop, or clearinghouse, for sustainability information, assistance and training,” says Rich Schultz, the center’s coordinator.

Stewardship of natural resources is a key reason to promote sustainability, he says, but pragmatic goals such as saving money and working more efficiently are important, too. “We strive for a sustainable triple bottom line: economically, it’s the right thing to do; environmentally, it’s the right thing to do and for quality of life, it’s the right thing to do.”

TODD BENNETT

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n the Kankakee area, the buzzword is sustainability.

Many local entities have taken major steps across the board to promote clean energy practices, and one key demographic at the heart of the efforts is farmers.

“Farmers have sustainability as No. 1 in the forefront of their minds, being that they rely on the natural resources on their farmland for their productivity,” says Chad Miller, manager of the Kankakee County Farm Bureau. “The better the farming community takes care of its natural resources, the more sustainable they will be in the future. If the farmer does not take care of the natural resources on his or her farmland, then he or she will see decreased productivity and a decrease in the value of their farmland, which leads to a less sustainable operation.”

Changes in tilling methods and advances in fertilization and pest control are allowing farmers to do more with less and reduce soil erosion, which creates fewer emissions, benefits the environment and also results in a substantial cost savings.

Pest-resistant crops and targeted chemical sprayers that use soil nutrient and productivity data linked with GPS technology increase the effectiveness and efficiency. Many farmers apply preventive filter strips at the edge of their fields.

“Farmers have really been taking a lot of steps over the last decade or so to protect and improve their natural resources, to make sure they’re sustainable for years to come,” Miller says.

Kankakee County’s agricultural community is certainly doing its part to save the world, but they are by no means alone in their commitment. In 2008, the Kankakee city government received gold level LEED certification for its new administration building, and 87 percent of the materials removed from the facility were recycled. The former city administration building, now the public safety building, also features a sustainable design, with a rain garden and pervious concrete.

Kankakee Community College is also steering sustainability initiatives, with a major concentration on preparing students for green collar jobs. For example, the Electrical Technology Associate in Applied Science degree now includes a specialization track for Renewable Energy Technology. Seminars and continuing education courses are also available as part of the school’s sustainability focus. In April 2009, KCC collaborated with the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County to host an annual Sustainability Expo on Earth Day. The school also created the Illinois Community College

Dean of Sustainability and Planning Dr. Bert Jacobson and Sustainability Center Coordinator Rich Schultz

Fact Check SUSTAINABILITY DEFINITIONS FILTER STRIPS stretches of grass or trees and shrubs as large as 15 yards wide used to prevent chemicals from entering the water supply

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) a third-party environmental certification program for new or renovated structures

PERVIOUS CONCRETE porous concrete that allows water to pass through it into the ground, reducing pollutants in the runoff

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Business

Windows of Opportunity

RESTORATION OF HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE OPENS DOORS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS

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K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

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or nearly 30 years, the management of Restoration Works has been in the refurbishing business, but that’s no time at all compared to the lifespan of the windows they restore.

Owner Gail Wallace calls windows “the soul of a building,” and she founded Restoration Works to ensure the proper handling of historic windows in need of careful repair. “These windows are some of the richest treasure in America. It’s the wood itself that is so special, this original forest wood, and then this incredible craftsmanship,” she says.

Based in Bradley, Restoration Works employs more than two-dozen skilled specialists trained in the intricacies of decades-old window construction. “It didn’t happen overnight. It’s something that you keep working at, learning more and more skills,” Wallace says. “Now, I can honestly say I think we’re the best in the country. We’ve been in other areas of the country and observed work that’s called ‘restoration,’ and it just doesn’t compare to what we do.”

One process that sets Restoration Works apart is its epoxy techniques.

Epoxies are resins used for windows as adhesives, sealers and strengtheners.

“We mix our own blends for appropriate application, we pigment it to blend in with stained finishes and we can sculpt with it,” explains Wallace.

Byron Wallace, head of production, has worked in restoration since 1983.

The technical expert in the firm, he has developed all of the techniques for the company’s restoration process.

Years before Restoration Works was established, several of its current employees worked together in window retrofit systems and only performed the occasional restoration. But that all changed in 1988, when they scored their first big job – restoring the 835 windows of the Rookery in Chicago, a late 19th-century structure often referred to K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

as the jewel of the city’s historic highrise buildings. “That threw us fully into window restoration,” Gail Wallace says.

“It was when we first thought, ‘This could be a valid business.’”

Over the years, many other Chicago landmarks have enjoyed Restoration Works’ touch, as have structures from New Mexico to New York. In 2007, the company restored 756 windows at Yale University. During 2009, Restoration Works is refurbishing doors in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on the University of Chicago campus and several Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures in the Chicago area, including the century-old Robie House Museum, renowned as one of the most important buildings in U.S. architectural history.

The company has restored around

15,000 windows, and more than 60 of the structures are on the National Register of Historic Places. In fact, Restoration Works is listed by the National Park Service as an approved historic window restorer.

Wallace says the company came to the green movement early on by reusing existing windows, restoring them to a high level of energy efficiency and employing environmentally friendly restoration techniques.

“This whole green thing really appeals to me, because that’s how I was raised: waste not, want not,” she says.

“If there’s anything that drives me insane, it’s to see beautiful things of the highest quality thrown away. I sometimes think that’s probably why I’m in this business.”

Gail Wallace owns Restoration Works, an architectural restoration business in Bradley. Left: Danny Miller applies a faux finish to the wood graining patterns of a transom window sash from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House Museum.

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Business

Biz Briefs BUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY’S STRONG AND WELL-BALANCED ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Scorecard BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$1,105,228 Retail sales ($1,000)

$10,495 Retail sales per capita

$111,928 Accommodations and food service sales ($1,000)

7,139 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

KANKAKEE NURSERY CO. Biz: wholesale nursery grower Buzz: Located in Aroma Park, Kankakee Nursery Co. traces its roots back 80 years, and for more than half a century owner Bob Worth has led the company founded by his father.

The wholesaler – which sells flowering shrubs, grasses, trees and container-grown plants – recently grew by 20 acres, bringing its total size to 3,000 acres. www.kankakeenursery.com 14

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AUGUST HILL WINERY Biz: award-winning winery Buzz: Though the winery is based in Peru, Ill., August Hill’s vintners use grapes grown at Hieland Hills Vineyard in St. Anne for its Frontenac Rosé Sparkling Wine, Hieland Red and several others. The wines are sold in high-profile Chicago restaurants, including Socca, Pops for Champagne and Hot Chocolate, as well as locally in Kankakee. www.augusthillwinery.com K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

RGB ARCHITECTURAL GROUP Biz: Kankakee architect Buzz: Founded in 1993, the Kankakee business has designed several local landmarks, including the clock tower at Olivet Nazarene University. RGB incorporated many green elements into another of its projects, the Health Careers Center for Excellence at Kankakee Community College. www.rgbarch.com

AGRELIANT GENETICS Biz: field seeds company Buzz: AgReliant Genetics is owned by two of the largest independent seed companies in the world, KWS and Limagrain. The company researches, breeds and produces seeds in counties across the Midwest, including Kankakee. AgReliant, based in Westfield, Ind., is the fourth largest field seeds company in the nation. www.agreliantgenetics.com

NUCOR STEEL Biz: eco-friendly steel bar mill Buzz: Recently named one of the leading recyclers in the nation, Nucor manufactures steel bars at its plant in Bourbonnais. The carbon steel rounds, flats and angles are made using 100 percent recycled steel scrap. Sectors served by Nucor include the energy, agricultural, automotive and construction industries. www.nucorbar.com

Now Showing in Our Video Gallery Sit back and enjoy a preview of Kankakee River Valley amenities.

Explore its landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.

See its downtown, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.

Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings.

Kankakee is rated L for Livability

imageskankakee.com

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

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Business | Chamber Report

A New Kind of Networking CHAMBER BOOSTS ONLINE PRESENCE TO ENHANCE MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

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further get the word out about the Kankakee River Valley region.”

Hinderliter adds that publishing the annual Images Kankakee River Valley magazine is also an excellent tool, especially since the magazine can also be seen as a digital version online at imageskankakee.com.

“So, we not only have a physical magazine with great writing and photography, but also a virtual magazine with another entire Web site that focuses on our community,” he says. “As a result, we have the chamber’s own Web site, the Images site, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter – there is a lot of information in cyberspace regarding everything that the Kankakee region is all about.”

Hinderliter says he is no expert with computers, but has learned enough to host – and continue to host – webinars that inform chamber members about the continuously burgeoning world of social media.

“The chamber also sends out e-blasts to members whenever an important development occurs that might affect them, plus we e-mail an electronic newsletter every Tuesday filled with interesting and pertinent information that might impact their businesses,” he says. “Our members are more tech savvy these days, so the Kankakee Regional Chamber is just trying to keep up with them all.”

– Kevin Litwin

BRIAN McCORD

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avid Hinderliter wanted to spread the word that a former Pittsburgh Steeler and Super Bowl winner – Ted Petersen – was going to speak at a Kankakee chamber dinner last February.

So Hinderliter, president and CEO of the Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce, advertised the news by usual methods but also through some unusual means. Part of his promotional effort was posting the information on the chamber’s Facebook page, as well as on LinkedIn and Twitter.

“There is a misconception that Facebook and Twitter are used only by teenagers as a fun, online social tool, but these networking sites are being utilized more and more in the business world to communicate information,” Hinderliter says. “Many of our 400 chamber members use Facebook, blogs, videos and Twitter, so the chamber has decided to access more of these electronic social media tools to communicate in today’s world. If we are going to be good communicators and bridge-builders for our members, we need to also be engaged in such technology.”

Hinderliter says the chamber also has a YouTube account so it can post videos on its Web site, www.kankakee.org.

“When I started in the chamber business 16 years ago, people looking for information would have to wait for our office to be open Monday through Friday, then call us to find out about this or that,” he says. “Nowadays, all chamber members, residents and anyone interested in learning about the Kankakee region can access information about us electronically in an instant, at any time of the day. That is why we are joining several social media outlets – to

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Business | Economic Profile

KANKAKEE COMMUNITY RIVER VALLEY BUSINESS CLIMATE From Pro Body its agricultural roots to its strong manufacturing base, the Kankakee River Valley offers economic incentives such as international trade assistance, technology support and workforce development programs.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES TAXES

6.25% County Sales Tax

6.25% Total Sales Tax

TRANSPORTATION Greater Kankakee Valley Airport, (815) 939-1422, www.kvaa.com River Valley METRO Mass Transit District, (815) 937-4BUS (4287) (815) 935-1403 www.rivervalleymetro.com Amtrak, (800) 872-7245 Metra, (312) 322-6777 www.metrarail.com

ECONOMIC RESOURCES Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce 1137 East 5000 N. Road Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815) 933-7721 www.kankakee.org

Village of Bourbonnais (815) 937-3570 www.villageofbourbonnais.com Village of Bradley (815) 932-2125 www.bradleyil.org Village of Herscher (815) 426-2131 www.herscher.net City of Kankakee (815) 933-0480 www.ci.kankakee.il.us Village of Manteno (815) 929-4800 www.manteno.com City of Momence (815) 472-4620 www.momence.net Kankakee County Government (815) 937-3642 www.co.kankakee.il.us

REAL ESTATE

$143,812 Average Home Price

12.4% Home Turnover Percentage

Economic Alliance of Kankakee County Mike Van Mill 200 E. Court St., Suite 507 Kankakee, IL 60901 (815) 935-1177 www.kankakeecountyed.org

$1,239

Small Business Development Center Kankakee Community College Ken Crite 100 College Drive Kankakee, IL 60901 (815) 802-8222 www.kcc.edu/sbdc

imageskankakee.com

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Average Mortgage Payment (2006)

MAJOR EMPLOYERS No. of Employees

Company

Riverside HealthCare

2,100

Shapiro Developmental Center

1,240

Provena St. Mary’s Hospital

800

Cigna Health Care

778

Baker & Taylor

736

CSL Behring LLC

575

Kankakee Community College

551

Olivet Nazarene University

450

Peddinghaus Corp.

400

Sears Logistics Services Inc.

393

Van Drunen Farms

370

Armstrong World Industries Inc.

367

K-Mart Distribution Center

360

Bunge Oils Inc.

320

City of Kankakee

319

Nucor Steel

304

MORE EO ONLINE More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

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Local Flavor

What’s Online e See what else is cooking in Kankakee in a quick video at imageskankakee.com.

Brewed Awakenings AAVA JAVA IN BOURBONNAIS SERVES FRESH COFFEE, ROASTED IN-HOUSE TODD BENNETT

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ne of the biggest perks of living in Kankakee County is starting your day with a fresh cup of joe from Aava Java.

Anita Speckman owns the hometown coffee shop, which is located on East Bethel Drive in Bourbonnais. Speckman, a Kankakee area native, had always dreamed of owning and operating her own coffee establishment. In 2007, that dream became a reality.

Aava Java roasts its own beans, which means coffee purchased there is at least six months fresher than grocery store coffee.

The shop offers a large selection of interesting and unusual blends, including varieties such as Snickerdoodle and Cinnamon Hazelnut Cream. It also features four special fresh blends every day, from a mild morning blend to a dark Ethiopian roast that is available to customers during the late afternoon and evening hours.

The special blends have titles such as Colombian Supremo, which is the highest Colombian grade; Big Daddy Blend,

which is a dark-roasted, bright and intense coffee with a slightly sweet smoky flavor; and the Ethiopian harar, which has a rich aroma with a powerful dry edge.

Additionally, Aava Java also features hot and iced lattes, a variety of teas, fruit smoothies, steamers, hot chocolate, soft drinks and juices. In fact, there are so many selections that new employees are required to undergo a two-week training process prior to becoming baristas.

Aava Java attracts people of all ages, from a group of retirees who frequent the shop every morning to students from nearby Olivet Nazarene University who enjoy the coffee along with free wireless Internet service. The business also serves bagels, pastries, soup and cookies.

The coffee shop is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Learn more about the business at www.aavajava.com.

– Kevin Litwin

Café Mocha at Aava Java

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Portfolio

To Market, To Market We Go FARMERS MARKETS PROVIDE CONVENIENT LOCAL PRODUCE SHOPPING

STAFF PHOTO

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K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

f you’re running low on anything from arugula to zucchini, be sure to visit a farmers market in Kankakee County. Or better yet, visit both of them.

This community is lucky enough to boast not one but two such markets that offer some of the freshest food imaginable during the growing season.

Kankakee Farmers’ Market is open from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday from April through October at the downtown corner of Schuyler Avenue and Merchant Street at the gazebo. The market is unique in that it provides shopping carts for customers, as well as gardening tips from master gardeners.

The 2009 season is the 11th for the Kankakee attraction, with more than 20 farmers peddling their wares on warm-weather Saturdays.

“Eleven years ago, while employed

by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, it was my way to reach out to specialty growers in the county where we raised an abundance of vegetables, flowers and fruit,” says Merrill Marxman, who started the first county farmers market in 1998.

Though he’s no longer involved with the Kankakee market, Marxman now manages five farmers markets in northeastern Illinois, including the one in Manteno. That market is open on Thursdays from 2 to 6 p.m. from mid-June to early October, at the corner of Division and Main Street. Items for sale include not only fresh produce, but also plants, flowers, breads, meats, baked goods, olives, cheeses, concessions and other specialty items.

Around 80 percent to 90 percent of what’s sold at the Manteno market is grown or produced by people residing in Kankakee County.

Marxman says the market “gives farmers an opportunity to sell retail directly to the consumer locally.”

And the Kankakee County residents reap the benefits of all the fresh foods.

Marxman says the markets allow consumers to buy directly from the grower, so they know they are supporting local farmers with their purchases.

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Portfolio Fourth of July on the Kankakee River

River Activities Make a Splash

KEVIN YOUNG

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1201 N. Kinzie Ave. Kankakee, IL 60901

(815) 932-6771

www.cslbehring.com

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he river that gives the Kankakee River Valley its name has also made a name for itself as a regional recreation destination.

The popular waterway draws canoeists and kayakers as well as anglers fishing for warm-water species, and there is not a weekend that goes by that doesn’t find campers descending on its banks from throughout northern Illinois and Indiana. The 4‚000-acre Kankakee River State Park‚ which parallels the river’s path‚ is not only ideal for family picnics and outdoor adventures‚ but it also provides a scenic refuge for badgers‚ white-tailed deer‚ turtles‚ herons and wild turkeys.

Despite all of its frequent public usage‚ the Kankakee River is still one of the cleanest waterways around. Its fresh water offers a perfect fishing setting to catch smallmouth bass as well as catfish‚ walleye‚ crappie and northern pike.

Meanwhile, avid and adventurous canoeists utilize the Kankakee from early spring to the end of fall. The river features a rocky bottom and shallow areas that can be unpredictable to paddlers‚ which makes for a more exciting canoe experience.

On each Labor Day weekend‚ the river plays host to the Kankakee River Regatta‚ a national racing competition sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association. More than 100 powerboats compete in 10 divisions‚ with speeds ranging from 40 to 160 mph.

The river also lights up on Independence Day when Kankakee Community College stages its annual Fourth of July Pops Concert and fireworks display. The event draws as many as 10‚000 spectators to the scenic campus for activities that include an evening concert by the Kankakee River Valley Symphony Orchestra and a spectacular light show at 9 p.m.

Most people who attend the Fourth of July celebration choose to watch the concert and fireworks from the college’s back lawn, which faces the river.

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Looking at the Big Picture B

ette Dionne says she is happiest just after completing a painting that she considers a work of art.

Dionne, who signs all of her works by the name B. Gilbert Dionne, has been selling her fine art for many years, and more than 300 of her pieces now hang in homes and businesses throughout the United States. The Momence resident has been drawing since childhood and finally turned professional in 1988 at age 50.

She says her most inspirational time to paint is the early morning. “My home and studio are located on the bank of the Kankakee River, so I get inspired by the river along with many other Midwest landscapes,� Dionne says. “I develop motifs from the water, the prairie grasses, the farmers’ fields and the four seasons. I might take a drive in the country one day, then paint the next day until I finish six individual pieces. I truly have a passion to paint.�

Dionne and her husband, Gene, also owned a fine dining cafĂŠ in Momence for many years until it recently closed, and she says the cafĂŠ was an ideal place to showcase her artwork. “It seems like people who like upscale food and fine wine also appreciate art, so I sold a lot of my paintings to local residents and tourists who frequented our cafĂŠ,â€? Dionne says. “Now that the cafĂŠ is closed, I schedule gallery openings at my home on various Saturdays.â€? She adds that 50 of her works are posted on her Web site, www.dionnesgallerycafe.com.

Dionne has painted with watercolors and acrylics throughout her life, but her favorite medium is oils. She says oils are more interesting to work with, providing more vibrant colors and everlasting images. “As for my favorite painter, I guess I would be most inspired by Matisse because he painted with such vitality,� she says. “His finished works were full of life, which is something I always strive for in my pieces.�

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September Morn, an oil painting by Momence artist B. Gilbert Dionne

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Portfolio

From Crops to Computers

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“Our Business is Helping YOUR Business.”

200 E. Court St. Ste. 507 Kankakee, IL 60901

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P: (815) 935-1177 F: (815) 935-1181 www.kankakeecountyed.org

hew. The Kwelis are busy people.

Johari Cole-Kweli and her husband, Sharadi, own and operate a 25-acre organic farm in Pembroke Township, and sell their produce to various stores and markets throughout the region. In the meantime, Cole-Kweli is also a microbiologist by trade, while Sharadi is a computer network engineer.

“No, there’s not much time for sleep in our lives,” Cole-Kweli jokes. “We don’t rest much.”

The farm they run is called Iyabo, a Nigerian word that means “the nurturer has returned.” The couple grows fertilizer-free crops such as kale, heirloom tomatoes, beans and a variety of peas, and also raise chickens, turkeys and goats.

They then sell their products to farmers markets in the Chicagoland area, as well as to organic food-buying clubs.

“We hope that we can be an example to people who might be thinking about going into the farming industry themselves,” she says. “It is very rewarding work, plus you eat the healthy products that you grow.”

Meanwhile, Cole-Kweli is also planning to return to college soon to earn her doctorate in microbiology. She also helps her husband with the couple’s computer business, T.E.C.H.S. Group Technologies, which provides network and computer-based sales and services such as web design, desktop publishing, training and consulting.

“We help train people from ages 3 to 93,” she says. “My husband and I might host an hour-long tutorial seminar for high school students, then drive to a hospital to train doctors on a new computer technology for the operating room. Sharadi is a real tech-head, and I help him with seminars whenever possible. We are trying to make the Kankakee River Valley more computer savvy to increase our community’s trained labor pool, and more and more people are getting savvier with technology every day.”

– Stories by Kevin Litwin K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

TODD BENNETT

Sports & Recreation

The synthetic turf field in the SportsPlex at Hidden Cove Family Fun Park in Bourbonnais

Where Kids Get Their Kicks SPORTSPLEX DOUBLES IN SIZE TO BECOME INDOOR RECREATION DESTINATION

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hen the weather is less than inviting, Kankakee area residents have a place to stay active, thanks to a newly expanded indoor sports complex.

Hidden Cove Family Fun Park in Bourbonnais has more than doubled in size into a massive and modern 90,000-squarefoot indoor sporting destination.

Events such as full-field soccer games can now be played there in the cold months of November or December, for example, while entire volleyball tournaments can be staged in January.

And football games can be played comfortably in February.

“I bought Hidden Cove in 2003 with an ultimate goal to turn it into a year-round sports complex that could serve this entire northeast region of Illinois,” says owner Greg Yates.

“Before I owned it, Hidden Cove was only a spring and summer seasonal business with not much happening during the school year and winter. However, that has all changed with this current upgrade. Today, the SportsPlex is a vibrant 12-month facility.”

The old complex featured amenities such an arcade, roller skating floor, miniature golf and a tiny restaurant. Now, Hidden Cove also has four full-size, all-wood basketball courts that can be converted into eight volleyball courts; a rubberized, synthetic turf field ideal for soccer or football games; indoor bumper cars and fully computerized miniature bowling alleys; and a full-service pizza restaurant.

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

“In February 2009, Olivet Nazarene University hosted a winter soccer tournament on our indoor field, and their players gave us rave reviews,” Yates says.

During the school year, the facility is open from 3:30 to 10 p.m. with extended hours on the weekend.

“There is a senior citizen neighborhood being constructed adjacent to Hidden Cove, so I am going to offer those seniors several incentives for them to use my building during morning and early afternoon hours,” Yates says. “For instance, they can walk or exercise in the SportsPlex when the weather is cold.

Then the kids will come in to use the facility after school and during the evenings.”

Located just off Interstate 57 at Exit 315, Hidden Cove sits on 37 open acres – with 12 1/2 of those acres dedicated to family fun. Yates believes the venue will ultimately attract tourists by the tens of thousands each year for tournaments in a variety of sports.

“There are hotels within a short walking distance of the SportsPlex, and there is Northfield Square Mall and several restaurants that make our facility even more attractive for weekend and holiday tournaments,” he says. “Plus it’s a great spot for local and regional kids to enjoy a variety of activities after school each day in a safe, supervised and fun environment.”

– Kevin Litwin I M AG E S K A N K A K E E . C O M

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Health & Wellness

A Healthy Outlook TWO AWARD-WINNING HOSPITALS PROVIDE TOP-QUALITY CARE

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HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety for the fourth consecutive year, a level of consistency achieved by few hospitals in the state, and Thomson Reuters has named it a 100 Top Hospital two years in a row.

“Riverside is very, very committed to patient safety and quality,” says CEO Phil Kambic. The 330-bed hospital performs about 300 open-heart surgeries each year and has been among the top two hospitals in the state for quality outcomes in that procedure for the last two years. Riverside is also known for neurosurgery, often operating as a regional referral center in that field.

The cancer care program at Riverside is constantly improving, and the hospital has added several oncology physicians recently. “It’s keeping a lot of people in our community versus requiring them to leave the area,” Kambic says.

As shown by the Silver Award, St. Mary’s is widely known for the quality of its dialysis, along with its renowned Regional Cancer Center in Bourbonnais.

A progressive Breast Health Center, also in Bourbonnais, offers new methods of detection, diagnosis and treatment, as well as breast health navigator services.

“What separates and differentiates St. Mary’s is compassionate care,” Arno says. “This hospital has been here for 112 years, and the people are what make it continue to live, breathe and thrive.”

The high level of activity at both hospitals necessitates physical growth, and both St. Mary’s and Riverside are currently undergoing renovation or expansion projects.

St. Mary’s recently finished a $2 million renovation of its entire first floor, and plans exist to improve the emergency department and then begin renovating other floors of the hospital.

Riverside’s Miller Rehabilitation facility expanded by 34,720 square feet. The regulatory process is also under way for a new $70 million hospital wing that will include new labor and delivery rooms, new ICUs, and other features.

– Michaela Jackson

PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

oth hospitals in Kankakee County, Provena St. Mary’s Hospital and Riverside Medical Center, have been routinely recognized by industry leaders as excellent community health-care providers in a number of benchmark categories.

St. Mary’s Regional Dialysis Center earned a Silver Award for Best Practices in 2008, and the 186-bed hospital received HealthGrades awards for patient safety and orthopedics, ranking fifth in the state for joint replacement.

As one of only 16 hospitals in Illinois and the first in Kankakee accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, St. Mary’s offers patients unique expertise in treating heart conditions. The hospital is also a designated trauma center.

“We really are known as the best practice in the area,” says CEO Michael Arno. “We have excellent outcomes.”

Likewise, Riverside has been honored consistently by HealthGrades in fields such as heart surgery and neurosurgery.

In 2009, Riverside also received the

From left: Provena St. Mary’s Hospital and Riverside Medical Center

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K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Education

ANTONY BOSHIER

Olivet Nazarene University

Here Are Some Smart Ideas AT OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY, GRADUATE AND CONTINUING STUDIES COURSES MEET MARKET DEMAND

F

rom its beginnings as Miss Mary Nesbitt’s Grammar School in 1907, Olivet Nazarene University has come a long way over the past century.

Today, the Christian liberal arts college in Bourbonnais offers 100 areas of study for its 4,500 enrolled students who hail from 40 states and 20 countries.

The university’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies offers 25 master’s degrees, along with a doctorate in ethical leadership and several nontraditional adult degree-completion programs.

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

“We provide the opportunity for students attending our institution to grow in all facets of their life – academically, socially and spiritually,” says Corey Zink, director of marketing and enrollment for the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies at the university. “Olivet offers numerous educational opportunities to those in our surrounding communities.”

Zink says recently many adults have enrolled in graduate and continuing studies courses at Olivet not only to

further their education but also to potentially switch careers.

“We are seeing growth in our Master of Arts in Teaching program, which is designed for those with a bachelor’s degree in any field to become a certified teacher in only two years,” he says. “As many people have been looking to find a new career, this has certainly become a great option.”

Enrollment has also increased for the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which was specifically designed for working adults when the current program began back in 1991.

“With the current economic situation, there is no doubt that the nursing and education professions are two of the more resilient occupational fields,” Zink says. “Individuals who are earning degrees in these two programs are finding great opportunities available, and Olivet Nazarene provides quality preparation for both careers.”

Other popular graduate and continuing education courses of study that are growing in demand include business, counseling and religion.

Olivet also provides convenient access for its graduate students. “The graduate school curriculum presently has classes being held at approximately 80 different locations every week, allowing us to serve as a link between our main Bourbonnais campus and thousands of adults throughout Chicagoland,” Zink says. “The School of Graduate and Continuing Studies continues to show steady enrollment growth year after year, as we have nearly doubled in size over the past decade.”

The program also spans the globe, with a group of 110 students enrolled in the school’s Masters in Professional Counseling program in Hong Kong.

“We are excited that the influence of Olivet and the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies reaches around the world,” Zink says.

The university has a global network of 30,000 living alumni, and more than 75 percent of the faculty members hold a doctoral degree. The graduate school has more than 350 instructors.

“Olivet continues to be a wonderful center of learning for both adults and traditional undergraduate students,” Zink says.

– Kevin Litwin I M AG E S K A N K A K E E . C O M

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Arts & Culture

Drive-By Artwork BARN QUILTS TOUR HONORS COUNTY’S HISTORY AND CULTURE

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What’s Online e Discover more about the creative climate of the Kankakee River Valley, including arts, events and cultural attractions, in the culture section at imageskankakee.com.

TODD BENNETT

hen the Kankakee Quiltmakers hosted its biennial guild show in September 2008, the quilting enthusiasts who gathered for the event were greeted by some unconventional exhibits of their art – and those exhibits were scattered all over the county. From nine vintage barns and one corn crib hung brightly colored quilt patterns, painted by volunteers on 10-by-10-foot plywood sheets and completed just in time for the guild show.

Today, the Barn Quilts of Kankakee County self-guided tour is a popular tourist attraction, with brochures directing visitors to the drive-by artwork. Ten more quilt patterns will grace other well-preserved farm structures in 2009.

The project was the brainchild of Clayton and Carolyn Pratt, Kankakee County residents who saw a similar tour while on vacation in Iowa and thought the idea was tailormade for their community. The county office of the University of Illinois Extension Service agreed.

“In seven months, we went from an idea to hanging 10 barn quilts,” says Holly Froning, who heads the extension’s family nutrition program. She tackled the project with the help of a few volunteers. “I had the right people who came along to work on this. We had about five people, but it was the right five,” she says. One was Jerry Legan, a retired engineer, who used his mathematical know-how to proportionally sketch out each intricate pattern onto the wood.

Froning explains that the barn-quilt mission is threefold: to further appreciation for the art of quilting, for Illinois’ rich farming tradition and for the need to preserve historic buildings.

To be eligible for the project, farm structures must be at least 50 years old, well maintained and located on a hardsurface road with space available to pull over.

“Because of the number of bus tours, I want it where you can pull off safely to take pictures,” she says, adding, “I wish we had a way of knowing how many people have seen them.

There’s just no way of doing that.”

Each of the 2008 barn quilts was sponsored by a family or organization, which paid the expenses. “All of the quilt patterns mean something to somebody,” Froning says.

For example, the Golden Wedding Ring pattern on Irene Solecki’s corn crib in Kankakee honors her marriage to her late husband, Ken, and was painted by their daughter and her home-schooled art students. The patriotic theme of the quilt pattern on Rodney Schwark’s barn honors the military service of family members and is dedicated to the memory of his parents. The farm in Herscher has been in the Schwark family for four generations.

Family-owned barns elsewhere in Kankakee County feature patterns such as the Illinois Star, Maple Leaf and Flower Basket.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

Barbara and Bob Curry’s barn in Momence, part of the barn quilt driving tour, features a Maple Leaf pattern.

K A N K A K E E R I V E R VA L L E Y

Community Profile

KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY SNAPSHOT Located just 60 miles from Chicago, Kankakee County boasts small-town charm and big-city amenities. The region is separated from urban life by more than 30 miles of open prairie. As residents will tell you, it’s truly the best of both worlds.

Area Career Center and the Governor’s State University Kankakee Education Center.

CLIMATE OVERVIEW Mild summers and cool winters make for a pleasant year-round climate in Kankakee County.

12 F January Low Temperature

31 F January High Temperature

63 F July Low Temperature

86 F

The region is within a 75-minute drive of the University of Illinois, Governor’s State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University, Chicago State University, Illinois Institute of Technology and many other institutions in the Chicago area.

MEDICAL SERVICES OVERVIEW Kankakee County is home to two major medical centers and a variety of general practitioners and specialists,

making it easy for almost everyone to have their healthcare needs met close to home.

LOCAL UTILITIES Aqua America (877) 987-2782 www.aquaamerica.com AT&T (800) 851-1305 www.att.com Comcast (866) 594-1234 www.comcast.com ComEd (800) 334-7661 www.comed.com Nicor Gas (888) 642-6748 www.nicor.com

July High Temperature

EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW

MORE EO ONLINE imageskankakee.com

Kankakee County has 12 school districts, 11 parochial schools, Kankakee Community College, Olivet Nazarene University, the Kankakee

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

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University Park Commuter Link Board River Valley Metro on the east side of Northfield Square Mall and ride to University Park or at the Metro Centre to catch the Metra Train to downtown Chicago. With a stop in Manteno, River Valley Metro is a fast and economic way

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