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If only in a dream…
TriCities Serving the TriCities area Batavia | Geneva | St. Charles
Magazine
December 2020/January 2021
In this issue
If only in a dream........................................................................ 10 Gifts with magic
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TriCities Magazine
Insights...................................8 The gift of time
Real Estate..........................18 The greatest gift
Photo courtesy and © The Morton Arboretum
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Neighbors Publications 630-995-3482 KaneNeighbors.com Neighbors Staff Tim Sullivan, Publisher Linnea Carlson, Creative Director
For advertising opportunities:
Places to go and things to do
Great Gifts..........................21 Reading for young people
Last look.............................. 22 The gift of dance Neighbors is a Service Disabled Veteran owned small business. We are proud to offer special advertising discounts to all Veteran owned businesses. NEIGHBORS™ is published bimonthly. Editorial contributions are welcome. Send your information to: newsroom@neighborsmagazines.com.
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December 2020/January 2021
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Contributors
Scott Lebin Insights, page 8 Scott Lebin is a long time Geneva resident, a board member of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce (20 years) and an avid photographer. Previously, he has written a bi-monthly article for the Neighbors of Geneva Magazine. He is president of Managed Economics for Doctors, Inc. and Lebin Financial Planning in Geneva. He is the past-president of Geneva Lions Club International, served on the financial advisory committee of the Geneva School District, served on the City of Geneva Economic Development Commission and was an elected member of the Board of Education. He is past president of the Illinois Theatre Association. Scott has been married to Bobbi for 52 years and has two children and three grandchildren.
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Deb Gurley Real Estate, page 18 Deb Gurley is the recipient of St. Charles 2015 L.E.A.P. Award, President of Geneva Women in Business–2014, president of St. Charles Women’s Business Council–2015, current board member of Mutual Ground, current board member of the St Charles Chamber of Commerce and previous board member of Zonta. Currently, Deb is a Real Estate Broker for Miscella Real Estate in Geneva. She is also a Certified Interior Redesign Specialist, and Home Stager. Her guiding principle in real estate and in life is…“treat others with the respect, service and integrity they deserve.”
TriCities Magazine
The Art of Business Best time ever!
These days most people have either heard of or attended a “paint & sip” party. There are lots of alternatives, but none can match the Pinot’s Palette experience! Pinot’s Palette first opened for business in May 2009 in Houston, TX. Ten years later, Pinot’s Palette has over 100 locations nationwide, all built on the same foundation of bringing art to the masses in a fun and entertaining way and with extraordinary customer service. Late last year Pinot’s Palette expanded into the St. Charles area at the East Gate Commons shopping mall. The St. Charles studio offers public classes on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons and evenings. The studio also has a private party room that is available to host your best event ever! Your guests won’t need art experience. Pinot’s Palette’s artists will guide them through every step of the painting. The St. Charles studio can assist with room
Special Advertising Supplement decorating, catering partnerships and special touches to make your party memorable. The private party room is perfect for hosting your next wedding or baby shower, bachelorette party, or kids’ birthday party. The St. Charles Pinot’s Palette studio is also available for corporate team building events, at the studio or they can bring the event to you. There are various team building activities to choose from such as a jigsaw puzzle or mystery painting. Check out the St. Charles Pinot’s Palette website for more information. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter and like their Facebook page to stay updated on future class offerings and events. pinotspalette.com/stcharles facebook.com/ PinotsPaletteStCharles
Pinot’s Palette St. Charles | 630.338.0278 | 3823 E. Main St., St. Charles
Support your local restaurants
Order carry out today from your favorite restaurant. Help them keep afloat during these trying times, so when the pandemic has finally passed, and it will, they will be there to greet you and serve you once again. Visit the chambers of commerce to see what delicious choices are available for you right now. Geneva Chamber of Commerce genevachamber.com St. Charles Chamber of Commerce stcharleschamber.com Batavia Chamber of Commerce bataviachamber.org Batavia MainStreet downtownbatavia.com Aurora Downtown auroradowntown.org
December 2020/January 2021
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The Fleeting Gift of Time
M by Scott Lebin
Insights
The best gift we can give is a gift of time
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ilestones in our lives are celebrated on birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries. We also remember special religious and national holidays because our family and community celebrate these days by bringing us all together as a group. These moments unite us with family, friends, neighbors, and those people who are important in our lives. It is also during some of these occasions that we give gifts to honor and support significant life achievements. It has been suggested that a system could be established in the giving of gifts: one gift that is something that is wanted, one gift of something that is needed, one item of clothing, and something to read that can lead to a purposeful life. This avoids the tendency to fill a room with so many gifts that children or adults become overwhelmed with so many “things� that most of them will have minimal impact and might lose the appreciation for whatever is received. Quantity of gifts does not equate to appreciation, satisfaction, or happiness. Many of those items will be forgotten quickly and some will be just a waste of money. In the year 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all dealt
with great change, tremendous adversity, ongoing stress, and emotional heartbreak. We have also called upon our greater strengths to find solutions, to adapt to new realities and to use our creative instincts to survive. Because we travel less and, in many cases, can work from our homes, we have extra time to focus on the people who are important in our lives. During childhood, the memories that mean the most are the special times spent with family and friends. These times include many activities that might not even cost much money. A visit to the beach, sledding down hills, playing in the snow and picnics are examples of moments that create memories that last a lifetime. This year we will be forced because of the pandemic to surround ourselves with immediate family and local neighbors because of the need to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19. This pandemic does offer us unique opportunities. There are purchased gifts that we were given in childhood that no longer are part of our current memories of childhood. However, some gifts are remembered because of the impact the gift had at a special moment. Our first bike or our first American Girl Doll or our first automobile are such items that TriCities Magazine
are imbedded in our long-term memories. The 2020 holiday will provide us the opportunity to make special memories for our families. The gift of time is probably the most valuable gift we can give children, family, and friends. Spending quality time together is an activity that creates a place in our long-term memory. These memories are often recalled throughout our life. It may be that this year we can schedule special zoom calls and make them an important part of this year’s celebration. Each family member could be creative and do something special. Read a poem, write a poem or note of thanks, sing a song or play an instrument, play a game over the internet (charades) or something else creative, perform some magic, or share some photographs and talk about important memories. Just because we cannot be in the same room, does not mean we cannot connect with each other in a special way. We can connect this way with friends and relatives all over the world and make them part of our family holiday event. We do not have to be deprived of having time with our parents, grandparents, school mates, and friends. This pandemic has taught us to be creative and connect in unique ways. This year make a memory December 2020/January 2021
for our children and other family members that will be part of a special life experience. Let us create memories of togetherness with family, community, and friends over the holidays in 2020. Gather your friends and family and read O’Henry’s The Gift of the Magi this holiday season whether at home or over a Zoom call. You will begin to establish a tradition within your own family of reading something in the spirit of the holiday. Gather together and watch a holiday movie: A Miracle of 34th Street, A Christmas Story, It’s A Wonderful Life, or The Polar Express; it’s not about the movie; it’s about time spent together thinking, laughing, and celebrating. If you cannot be together, watch the movie or read a story and then have each person find a character or moment that affected them and talk about it on Zoom or on the phone. This will create a special memory about their life during the pandemic. We can find many fine and unique gifts in our communities to support local businesses and provide a gift of love. The time spent shopping for the perfect gift for those who are important in our lives can be an act of love. There is a joy in giving a gift to people who are important to us or to those who need our help
because they are alone. Supporting the small business owner rather than buying everything online this year will help keep local businesses and the community surviving. Getting carryout food from a local restaurant is a gift to the community and its business district. Time spent with others baking cookies, helping children make a creative gift (a picture or a card) or playing board games are all ways we can spend valuable time together. The time we spend helping someone who needs our help and the time we spend with our families is the most significant of all the gifts we can give. It will be this time that will be relived years from now as your family remembers the traditions created during the 2020 holiday spent together. A time in which your family demonstrated how they dealt with adversity will be told decades from now as we remember this unique holiday. O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi reminds us that the gift itself is not significant but the act of love behind the gift is what makes gift giving so important. It is my hope that you will give and receive just one gift that is filled with love and remains in your memory throughout your life. KaneNeighbors.com 9
dream...
If only in a
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TriCities Magazine
Sometimes the most memorable gift is the one that delivers the magic of a dream
December 2020/January 2021
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Perch with the parrots in the Peruvian rain forest. This holiday season may be a quiet stay-at-home experience for many families. But it doesn’t mean we have to stop dreaming. We had some fun putting together our dream list of extraordinary gift ideas, many with prices that are literally in the stratosphere, gifts that someone, somewhere, will find in their stocking. For the rest of us down to earth folks, enjoy the magic of local shopping. This holiday season think outside the box and choose an experience or gift with the memories of a lifetime. After all, what makes a gift priceless is not the price, it’s the meaning. Have fun reading this fantasy list. Have fun finding meaningful gifts for your friends and family. Have a very merry, blessed holiday season.
Extraordinary adventures The edge of the earth Travel 22 miles into the stratosphere, the edge of space. This balloon journey takes you to near-space in a special pressurized pod. Ascend and descend in gentle, absolute silence. The pod allows a spectacular 360° view. Food and beverages are served—you can even order Michelin-star meals. A total of four people can travel together. Two crew members will assure that everything is perfect. The trip takes 12 hours with two hours at altitude. $625,000 trulyexperiences.com
The rainforest from the canopy See the jungle from a unique perspective when you spend four nights at the Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon. Every room is really your own treehouse. Come down from your aerie to swim with manatees and pink dolphins, meet and visit with native groups, explore the jungle floor and travel in 12 KaneNeighbors.com
a traditional dugout canoe. $2,900 per person (travel to Peru is extra) trulyexperiences.com
It’s a wonder-filled world Tour the seven new wonders of the world: Rome (Colosseum), Amman (Petra), Beijing (Great Wall of China), Cancun (Chichen Itza), Cusco (Machu Picchu), Rio De Janeiro (Christ the Redeemer) in 28 days. Each site includes a private tour for two. Flights are always in business class with luxury-class accommodations at each stop. $37,500 trulyexperiences.com
Epicurean fantasy Dine only at the best—take a tour of six of the world’s finest restaurants in this month long jaunt for two around the world. There is extra time (four days) at each destination for hot air ballooning, local cooking classes, afternoon teas and wine TriCities Magazine
The Great Wall of China is only one of the seven wonders you will explore in this aroundthe-world trip. December 2020/January 2021
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Chat with a meerkat This unique adventure features quality, up-close time with a colony of meerkats, one of Africa’s most endearing creatures. Discover the rugged beauty of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans and take a horse safari across the Kalahari desert. Accommodations are at the legendary Jack’s Camp, founded by explorer Jack Bousfield in the 1960s, but there will be no roughing it. $28,550 (travel to Africa extra) trulyexperiences.com
See the top of the world Spend five days trekking in the world’s most spectacular scenery. Stay with Nepalese hosts in their homes along the way. A thrilling helicopter ride returns you to the Kathmandu Hotel from the Everest Base Camp. $12,000 (does not include travel to Nepal) trulyexperiences.com
Safari to the big cats Until recently, the eastern Serengeti was closed to tourists to allow the recovery of the cheetah population. This safari features daily vehicle trips into the bush to view wildlife. Now home to many members of the big cat family, every day offers new opportunities to see something amazing. The luxurious bush camp offers every comfort of home. $32,320 (travel to Africa extra) trulyexperiences.com
Your biography Spend quality time with the meerkats in Botswana. tastings. First class air fare and accommodations from trip start point are included. Dining experiences include El Celar de Can Roca, Central, Narisawa, Attica, The Test Kitchen and The French Laundry. $100,000 trulyexperiences.com
Take an expedition to the Titanic Spend eight days at sea with a team of experts and help gather scientific data while you learn how to use the most advanced laser, sonar and 4K photographic technology. Join team members in the Titan submersible and spend three hours exploring the wreck and observing the marine life at depth. You will be helicoptered to the ship from St. John, Newfoundland. $315,387; (travel to Newfoundland not included) trulyexperiences.com
Darwin’s dream voyage Experience the Galápagos Islands as few travelers are able. Take a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the Charles Darwin Research Station. Shuttle between the islands for activities such as swimming with penguins and sea turtles on a private boat. Your memories will be perfect thanks to study with a National Geographic Certified photographer. $19,500 (does not include travel to Peru) trulyexperiences.com 14 KaneNeighbors.com
Now that you’ve had the adventure of a lifetime, include it in your own story. Meet with a professional writer who will work with you to write the story of your life. The end result will be a 55–60 page hardcover book with 20 photographs. You will receive four copies and one digital copy. The two to three month process includes four hours of face-to-face interviews. $2,450 (additional pages and photographs available for extra fees) trulyexperiences.com
Closer to home
If world travel isn’t yet on your calendar, you can still have the experience of a lifetime a little closer to home.
Fly away There are a number of great ways to get airborne in the area. Chicago Aerial Tours offers several different experiences including a first official flight lesson. You can sit in the pilot’s seat. Take an airplane tour of Chicago for $147 or a helicopter tour for $247. A first flight lesson starts at $297. Chicago Aerial Tours Midway Airport, Chicago • 773-466-8687 chicagoaerialtours.com
TriCities Magazine
Photo: NOAA Titanic Expedition
Join an expedition to the Titanic with a team of experts that includes a three hour dive in a submersible to the actual wreck.
December 2020/January 2021
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Soar away in a hot air balloon— it’s easier than you think. If engines are too noisy, soar away on a three to four hour hot air balloon experience with Nostalgia Ballooning. Relax and enjoy floating over the landscape and make a Champaign toast when you’ve landed. You can even help inflate the balloon. The experience includes a tour of the airport and a close-up look at some of the unique aircraft in the hanger. $195 to $499 Nostalgia Ballooning Harmony Trail Estates/Sky Soaring Airport 12020 Hwy. US 20, Hampshire • 773-766-6773 nostalgiaballooning.com If you want to fly on your own, Chicagoland Skydiving
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Center has the complete experience. From a one-time tandem jump to jump school and professional certification, they can accommodate almost any experience. There are three designated drop zones, a store, the Flight Deck Bar & Grill, classrooms and a place to camp. If you prefer not to jump out of “a perfectly good airplane,” observation flights are available. A first time tandem jump includes the ten minute flight, 30 seconds of free fall and a five to six minute parachute flight. There are options for video and photos. From $189.99 Chicagoland Skydiving Center 1207 W. Gurler Rd., Rochelle • 815-561-3663 skydivecsc.com
TriCities Magazine
Not ready to leave the plane but still want to fly? iFly indoor skydiving can make your flying dreams come true. The body flying tunnel truly gets you airborne. Costs include flight suit, helmet and expert instruction. You will receive a flight certificate at the end of your flight. Two flights from $69.95 for first time fliers. iFly 752 Freedom Dr., Naperville • 779-456-4359 iflyworld.com
Ladies and Gentlemen—start your engines For those who love speed and cars that deliver it, there are a number of driving experiences available. For the NASCAR enthusiast travel down to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. You can ride along with a professional driver or experience the real deal driving yourself. $149 for three lap ride-along to $3,099 for instruction and 48 minutes of track time NASCAR Racing Experience • 704-455-9443 Chicagoland Speedway 500 Speedway Blvd., Elwood/Joliet nascarracingexperience.com If short track racing is more your speed, go out to Rockford Speedway. Here, too, you can ride along or drive yourself. A 45 minute orientation gets you ready to go. You must be over 18 and have a valid drivers license. Visit the website for specific dates and packages. $119 for three lap ride-along; $599 for 15 lap driving experience. Rusty Wallace Racing Experience Rockford Speedway 9572 Forest Hills Rd., Loves Park • 401-543-3278 racewithrusty.com
As long as there have been automobiles, there have been one-onone races. Today’s sport is highly evolved and cars reach speeds of more than 140mph over the short, 1/4 mile distance. Experience the thrill for yourself with Doug Foley Drag Racing at the Route 66 Raceway. You can ride along in a race-ready Camero or dragster or test your skills yourself. Camero ride-along $99 to $1,999+ for instruction and heats in a dragster. Doug Foley Drag Racing 3200 S. Chicago St., Joliet • 866-DRAGSTER purespeedracing.com For the ultimate racing experience, head down to the Brick Yard and take a spin with Indy Racing Experience at the Indianapolis Speedway. Ride along or drive yourself in a real Indy car on the famous track. Event dates are available for booking after Dec. 10 and begin in May, 2021. From $499. Indy Racing Experience Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4790 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222 317-243-7171, ext 106 • indyracingexperience.com If racing is not your thing, but luxury sports cars are, take a ride in a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Corvette with West Coast Exotics Sports Cars, your choice of car. Drive with an experienced professional instructor for three or five laps. Photos and videos of your experience are also available. From $275 West Coast Exotics Sports Cars Boomers Stadium 1999 Springinsguth Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60193 or Autobahn Country Club 3795 Centerpoint Way, Joliet, IL 60436 888-314-6965 • exoticswestcoast.com
If you have the need for speed, try an Indy Driving Experience.
December 2020/January 2021
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The greatest gift
by Deb Gurley
Real Estate
One of the most rewarding experiences can be owning a home
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H
ome ownership is known as the “American Dream” and it’s called that for a reason. One of the greatest and most rewarding experiences can be owning a home. I, like most, remember my childhood homes and all the numerous memories made within those walls and in those yards. No matter how insignificant those moments may seem at the time, they create memories that last for a lifetime. For instance: neighborhood “hide and seek or kick the can” games, cartwheels progressing across the backyard, rehearsing cheerleading moves over and over, watching daughters come down the staircase in their prom dresses, remodeling experiences room by room, backyard marriage proposals and weddings, first driving lesson in the family car, playing catch with the football, neighborhood block parties or barbecues, bicycles flying down the driveway (look mom, no hands!). Home ownership contributes to life’s satisfaction in many ways and gives us a great gift of comfort, security, warmth, pride, stability, plus a wonderful place to build traditions and host celebrations. This past year I have been honored to help many families bid good-bye to their current homes and settle into a new one. Now more than ever, homes have had to evolve to create offices, classrooms, gyms and outdoor entertainment. Families have grown with the adoption of new pets. Regardless of their layouts new homes provide the opportunity to welcome visitors, share meals, generate laughter, shed tears and watch infants progress into teenagers and grow into adults with their own homes. Moving is more than a new address and as we age we realize that time spent with our loved ones is the greatest gift you’ll remember. So as we go forward into a new year let us learn to take some additional time to explore, slow down and enjoy our home in all seasons of nature and life. Create or continue traditions near and far, as those memorable childhood imprints are drafted one moment at a time. Your well loved home with all its memories and blessings will be passed to a new steward one day, where it will become theirs to care for and to continue the legacy of the “American Dream”.
Debbie
TriCities Magazine
December 2020/January 2021
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Light up the holidays at Mooseheart One of Chicagoland’s largest light displays is on view from Fri., Nov. 27 through Thurs., Dec. 31 at Mooseheart. The 11th annual Holiday Lights follows a 1.8 mile route with more than 80 lighted displays. Suggested donation is $20 per car. Because of the pandemic, Santa will not be visiting this year, but bring letters for him and drop them off at the Tommy Moose Mailbox. The display is open from 5–9pm daily.
Candlelight Carols is virtual The St. Charles Singers, led by founder and music director Jeffrey Hunt, are presenting their annual concert online this year. The 45 minute concert streams on Sun., Dec. 6 at 4pm, 7pm, and 9pm. The viewing link will be posted on the choir’s website, stcharlessingers. com. The 35 singers are presenting carols from the Renaissance to the 20th century, accompanied
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by piano and harp. The concert was recorded at St. Michael Catholic Church in Wheaton, rather than the choir’s home base of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, St. Charles, because St. Michael’s layout accommodated the singers’ social-distancing needs, and its ventilation system met requirements. There is no charge for the performance. Don’t miss this holiday favorite.
Christmas Walk Weekends makes its debut The community and visitors look forward to this favorite Geneva festivals year after year. The celebration is being modified due to the pandemic and to avoid crowds and gatherings. Each weekend will feature something joyful related to the holidays. Please note, due to COVID-19 and state regulations, any of these events may be canceled. If this occurs, you will receive a full refund for any reservations booked. Dec. 4–6 features Traditions, Old & New. A favorite, chestnuts
roasting, begins on Dec. 4. Enjoy the tree and light show on the courthouse lawn all season long. So as not to encourage crowds, a time will not be released when lighting occurs. Dec. 4 is also December’s First Friday in Geneva, where shops are open late. Dec. 12–13 celebrates Carols & Music. Carol with the family while sipping cocoa and coffee in the outside caroling tent. Families, up to five people, can reserve a table for $15. At this point, this event is sold out. Call the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, 630-232-6060 to join a waiting list. Enjoy strolling musicians and carols the whole weekend. Shops and restaurants will be open. Dec. 19–20 brings a Cocoa Crawl to Geneva and our shops and restaurants will be open to grab that last-minute gift. Tickets are available at genevachamber.com. Santa will be moved to a temporary Geneva downtown location this year. Children are able to speak to him from the outside, 10:30am–3:30pm. Registration is required to
TriCities Magazine
see Santa, no exceptions. The cost to sign up will be $10/family and times will fill up quickly. Register now at genevachamber.com. Children can also write a letter to Santa and drop it in one of two mailboxes, located at corner of James and Third streets or at the Geneva Visitor Center, 10 S. Third St. Don’t forget to include a return address so Santa can write back. If you just want to catch a glimpse of Santa, he will ride in the horse-drawn carriage from 10–10:30am every Saturday and Sunday
beginning Dec. 5 through Dec. 20, from James St. to Crescent Pl. and back to James St. The horse-drawn carriage rides begin at 10:30am on Dec. 5 and continue until 1:30pm every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 20. Pick-up is on the corner of James & Third streets. Reservations are not necessary. Following state regulations, shops are open with a capacity cap and restaurants will be available for carry-out and dining outside.
Go: Geneva Chamber of Commerce: 630-232-6060, genevachamber.com Mooseheart: 630-996-2200, moosecharities.org St. Charles Singers: 630-513-5272, stcharlessingers.com
Great gifts for young people from Harvey’s Tales Ages 2 to 5 Construction Site on Christmas Night—by Sherri Duskey Rinker (local author) The trucks are gearing up for Christmas by building a special gift! Twas the Night Before Christmas—by Clement C Moore The classic poem describing Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve, beautifully illustrated Ages 3 to 7 Pick A Pine Tree—by Patricia Toht (local author) A festive read-aloud brimming with all the excitement of Christmastime The Christmas Wish—by Lori Evert A Nordic tale about a brave little girl named Anja who wants to be one of Santa’s elves. I Am Every Good Thing—by Derrick Barnes Illustrations and easy-to-read text pay homage to the strength, character, and worth of a child. Louis—by Tom Lichetenheld (local author) A beloved teddy can bear it no longer and plots his escape from his owner’s suffocating affections Ages 4 to 8 The Bookstore Cat—by Cylin Busby The bookstore cat is a well-loved (and well-read) kitty. The Couch Potato—by Jory John The Couch Potato has everything he needs within reach of his sunken couch cushion. But when the electricity goes out, Couch Potato realizes fresh air and sunshine could be just the things he needs What We'll Build—by Oliver Jeffers A father and his young daughter gather their tools and begin building a future where exploration is key.
Visit Harvey’s Tales at 216 James St., Geneva • 630-232-2991 December 2020/January 2021
Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light—by Apryl Stott Coco sets out to help her new friend, Bear, show other animals he is not mean just because he is big. Ages 8 to 12 Tristan Strong Destroys The World—by Kwame Mbalia Book 2 of the Tristan Strong series. The Silver Arrow—by Lev Grossman Kate’s humdrum life is transformed when her eccentric Uncle Herbert brings her a colossal locomotive train. The Elephant Thief—by Jane Kerr Young pickpocket Danny accidentally buys an elephant at an auction. A miraculous story based on real events. Revver The Speedway Squirrel—by Sherri Duskey Rinker (local author) Revver, the squirrel, dreams of being a race car driver—or at least a member of the pit crew. Spy School Revolution—by Stuart Gibbs Thirteen-year-old Benjamin Ripley is hoping for some peace, but when the CIA conference room next is blown up, suspicion falls on fellow trainee. Ages 14 and up Dear Justyce—by Nic Stone Quan writes letters to Justyce about his troubling experiences in the American juvenile justice system. The Fountains of Silence—by Ruta Sepetys At the Castellana Hilton in 1957 Madrid, eighteen-year-old Daniel learns of the dark side of the city under Generalissimo Franco’s rule. The Ravens—by Kass Morgan A thrilling contemporary fantasy about a prestigious sorority of witches and two girls.
For a complete list, visit KaneNeighbors.com KaneNeighbors.com 21
Photo © Gabmaster.com
Local artists give the gift of dance to Make-A-Wish Foundation
Abigail Simon
Photo © Vamproduction
M
Photo Amy Aiello Photography
Last Look
Kera Fernstrom
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Micaela Sebby
ake-A-Wish Foundation brings joy back to a child suffering with a critical illness. The joy of fulfilling a wish for a suffering child brings as much joy to the giver as it does to the child. Children’s wishes are as far reaching and unique as dreams themselves. Linda Cunningham, Director of the Chicago Ballet Conservatory, and 26 year resident of Batavia, contacted the foundation about giving the gift of dance. It didn’t take long for wish requests to come. Making this wish come true during COVID restrictions for three wish recipients can be very challenging. “We started with a Zoom call, a get-to-know-you call with the dancer, the wish recipient, a sponsor and myself,” explains Linda Cunningham. “That is where the magic begins. The outpouring of love from all was palpable! I had two dancers Micaela Sebby, 18 of Geneva and Kera Fernstrom, 13 of Bartlett and professional dancer Abigail Simom of New York. We have completed all three dances for the recipients and hope to accomplish more if wished.” Each performance is produced and personalized to the child’s specific wishes: “What feeling do you want to experience when you see the finished product? What song do you want, or do you want us to pick it out? What genre of dance do you like? Do you want it costumed, or simple with leotards, makeup etc.” As requested, wish recipient Yahaira will get to see Abigail perform choreography from An American in Paris, in a video compilation captured by West Side Academy of Ballet in Santa Monica, CA. Cunningham expresses, “I hope and pray that this piece will help bring more attention to the children from Make-A-Wish that need our love and support. The team at Make-A-Wish, Justin Aaron is an angel on earth along with the communications manager of 18 years Jessica Miller. They are a pleasure to work with.” TriCities Magazine