M/C BEAUTY A CHILDHOOD FANTASY COMES TO LIFE DEKALB ROTARY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS THE DIRTY BIRD 815 CHICKEN JOINT MAKES BIG PLANS
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INSIDE M/C BEAUTY A childhood fantasy comes to life.................................. 6 DEKALB ROTARY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS...............................................10 GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT Sweet Dream Desserts celebrates 15 years of baking DeKalb County’s favorite cupcakes.............................................................12 THE DIRTY BIRD 815 CHICKEN JOINT MAKES BIG PLANS ...........................16
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A CHILDHOOD FA N TA S Y C O M E S TO LIFE B Y D. M . H E R R A
M
egan Cervenka hasn’t always been a hair stylist. She once had a different job for a whole week.
“I was that kid at every gathering playing with everyone’s hair and thinking I was styling it,” Cervenka said, laughing. “All through high school and beauty school I talked about how I wanted to have my own salon. I majored in
business with the intent of opening a salon after college.” Cervenka’s son was born while she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree. Having a child to support suddenly made the unpredictable nature of owning a business far less attractive. After graduation, she took a nine-to-five job selling advertising by phone. “It was a great company,” Cervenka allowed. “The first couple of days were amazing. But then I had to actually go to my cubicle and sit there and do the same
thing every day. You get your coffee. You sit at your desk. You pull up the list of businesses you’re going to call and you call them. The thought of doing literally the same thing every day was just not for me.” After one week on the job, Cervenka knew she had to follow her heart. She called a friend who had a salon suite with an extra chair – and the rest is history. LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER Cervenka started beauty school when she was still in her teens. Through a co-op
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program between Kishwaukee Education Consortium and Sycamore High School, she graduated from beauty school and high school at the same time. Cervenka worked at salons styling walk-in clients while attending college with an eye toward opening her own business. “I wanted my undergrad regardless of what I ended up doing,” she said. “My mom always said education is power and I believe that. It’s something no one can take from you.” Cervenka rented space from her friend for six months. By then, her client list had grown so large she moved to her own salon suite. Less than a year later, she moved again to a bigger space. In September 2020, she took the plunge and opened M/C Beauty, her own salon in downtown Sycamore. Each time she has moved, Cervenka said, it was because she had outgrown where she was before. “My first salon boss told me you always want to grow out of your business, not into your business,” she said. “Every transition was made knowing I could support the bare minimum needed to make it work – minimum clients, minimum sales, whatever it takes. I have solely financially supported every jump I’ve made, right up through moving to downtown Sycamore, which was the dream since Day One.” A PEOPLE-FIRST MINDSET Salon chairs, bar stools, and therapist’s couches have a strange vibe in common. They all tend to inspire the person sitting on them to open up. “People come to you for their hair but stay with you for you,” Cervenka said. “That’s what I always remember. I have to be a person they want to see every six weeks. My skill is important and I practice it regularly. But my skill can always get better. What’s important is that I am the person they are coming to see. I laugh with my clients. I cry with my clients. Stories are shared. I’m a person they talk to about their issues and what’s going on in their lives.” Because Cervenka had worked on walk-in clients throughout college, when she first rented her own space, she had no regular clients to start from.
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Starting from zero was intimidating, she said, but she had enough experience to be confident that she could do the work. “It was scary, and I considered getting a second job,” she said. “But I knew if I was going to do this, I had to go all-in or it would take even longer to build.” Cervenka was fortunate enough to be living with family, she said, so she knew if she “crashed and burned” she at least wouldn’t be out on the street. She worked hard and promoted herself in the community. Over the course of her first year, she built a solid client base and doubled her revenue. “When I realized clients were really coming back, I felt gratitude,” she said. “Being able to move out of my parents’ house was my big moment. That was the moment when I could say, ‘I have arrived.’”
LAUNCHING M/C BEAUTY In the spring of 2020, millions of Americans attempted to cut and color their own hair as COVID-19 lockdown measures closed salons. While being unable to serve clients might have seemed like a perfect reason to panic, Cervenka viewed the shutdown as a blessing in disguise. She spent the time with family, she said, and had more time with her son than she had ever had before. When the lockdown ended, Cervenka said, she was blown away by the way clients poured in the door. In September, she made her childhood dream a reality and opened her very own salon. Though salon owner is a new role, she still considers herself a stylist first. “Doing hair is my nine-to-five and being a business owner is every other breath between,” she said.
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M I D W E S T O R T H O PA E D I C I N S T I T U T E IS N OW PAR T O F N O R THWE STER N M ED ICIN E Northwestern Medicine is known for providing world-class orthopaedic care, and is the only healthcare system in Illinois with two nationally ranked orthopaedic programs.* In our relentless quest to deliver better medicine, we’re proud to welcome Midwest Orthopaedic Institute to Northwestern Medicine. Together, we will provide even more advanced orthopaedic services, sports medicine, rheumatology and rehabilitation habilitati services vi in DeKalb County. Co ty To make an in-person appointment, schedule a virtual visit or request a second opinion from our team of experts, call 815.758.0000. Lear Le arn n mo more at nm nm.org rg/ortho
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100
DeKalb Rotary celebrates
G
years
ene Deisz has not missed a DeKalb Rotary meeting in 35 years, even though the pandemic meant the
84-year-old had to learn how to use Zoom. Deisz is a proud Rotarian who has served three terms as president. His father, Alf M. Deisz, was a loyal member of the same group. Gene is most proud of the countless number of members he has recruited, as well as his spotless attendance record. “Well, once you start, it’s hard to stop,” he said with a laugh. DeKalb Rotary celebrates its centennial this year, following an unprecedented 2020. The group took a brief break in March as the country was coming to terms
By: Jessi Haish LaRue
with COVID-19, then quickly went back to meeting every Monday, this time on Zoom. For many members, getting back to routine was very important. “It’s not the same as meeting in person,” said Brian Corr, DeKalb Rotary president. “But it’s kept everybody engaged and motivated. We appreciate the opportunity to have a little bit of socializing.” Each week, their meeting features a speaker who presents on a topic of interest, from medical ethics to agriculture to hurricane relief efforts. Members spend most of their time on community service projects. The international organization is widely known for its efforts to eradicate the polio virus. DeKalb Rotary alone has donated more than $100,000 to this effort.
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The local chapter works hard to make changes at home, too. DeKalb Rotary has completed a variety of community service projects in its 100-year history, most recently by participating in Meals on Wheels, contributing to VAC for their new Meals on Wheels kitchen, purchasing a ballistic vest for DeKalb Police Department’s K9 unit, and contributing monthly scholarships to DeKalb students. They also maintain 35 park benches in DeKalb, as well as a picnic shelter, trees and a memorial garden for deceased members at Rotary Park.
Zoom to discuss how they could work together in the coming year, calling it “a year of service.”
the Sycamore Rotary Club in 1944. With Sycamore, they also had a joint sponsorship of Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary in 1991.
Michael Coghlan, a 12-year member of DeKalb Rotary, is looking forward to the groups working together on humanitarian projects.
“It’s all about having fun and doing good things locally, nationally and even internationally,” Deisz said.
“The goal of Rotary is service above self,” Corr said.
In its storied history, DeKalb Rotary has accomplished many of its goals. One of their biggest projects was in 1923, when the group constructed an outdoor swimming pool, located at the current site of Lions Park. At the time the Chicago Tribune called it the “world’s largest outdoor swimming pool,” according to the organization’s website.
The group is pushing full steam ahead into 2021, and are fundraising to restore the DeKalb Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Clock to working order. The well-known clock, located on the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, is turning 100 years old along with DeKalb Rotary this year. The clock will not only tell the time properly for the first time in years, but it will also be illuminated, and modernized so that it can reset if the power goes off. The time will automatically adjust for Daylight Saving Time, and it will be LED-energy efficient, Corr said. “We’ve been wanting to do this, and we want to do it right,” Corr said of the changes. “It’s such a landmark for DeKalb, right there at the corner.” The group also plans to work alongside another service organization, the Kiwanis Club of DeKalb, as they both celebrate their centennial anniversaries this year. Members of both groups recently met together via
“We’re both focused on the same thing,” he said. “This system of service clubs really contributes to the quality of life in DeKalb. They’ve been doing this for 100 years … It’s the silent backbone of the community.”
In 1926, Kirkland resident John McQueen donated land, located north of Kirkland on the Kishwaukee River, to the club, who then used it to create a campground for both Boy and Girl Scouts. An outdoor swimming pool, cottages, mess hall, shelters and more were created and maintained by Rotary. The property was handed over to a Scouts Council in St. Charles who sold the property to the DeKalb County Forest Preserve in 1980, according to the Rotary website. Scouts still use this area today. “Rotary has been really solid and consistent for 100 years,” Coghlan said. Deisz said the group has always tried to have a local influence, and even sponsored
The group welcomes new members. They usually meet in person weekly, but currently meet every Monday night via Zoom. Join them online at DeKalbRotary.org. Corr said anyone is welcome, and the group sees all sorts of people from all walks of life. “We want to have fun in our 100th year and continue to grow and be a viable club,” Corr said. The group was recently recognized when Mayor Jerry Smith proclaimed January 22 as DeKalb Rotary Day in the city. DeKalb Kiwanis was also celebrated by the city this month. Smith said both centennial anniversaries are worth celebrating. “I think it speaks well for the generosity and the continuation of the public service bent here in DeKalb County,” Smith said. “As a proud member of the city of DeKalb and a resident for so long here, I’m so glad we have organizations like that.” Corr is proud of the recognition, especially this year. “Service clubs are struggling right now,” Corr said. People are becoming more and more individual, and the pandemic has made it harder. This is a combination of a group of fun people and a commitment to helping the community and the world in general.”
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Give the people
T N A W Y E H T T A WH
years of baking 15 es at br le ce ts er ss De m ea Sweet Dr es DeKalb County’s favorite cupcak
By D.M. Herra
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W
hen Deanna and Phil Watkins opened Sweet Dream Desserts, they expected to offer a wide variety of pastries.
But the demand for Sweet Dream’s massive cookies and signature cupcakes was so great, the Watkinses never got around to expanding as far as they planned. “We put the cupcakes and cakes out on the first week, then the cookies,” Deanna Watkins said. “We never really got any more desserts done because we sold so many cupcakes. That seemed to be the thing that everybody wanted.” In March, Sweet Dream is celebrating its 15th anniversary in its small shop on DeKalb Avenue. Before opening in 2006, Deanna Watkins worked in a warehouse, though she had baked and decorated cakes as a hobby for 18 years. “This location came up for rent and the landlord basically offered us a deal we couldn’t refuse,” Watkins said. “It was an opportunity to open my own bakery and pursue my dream. So we prayed and prayed and prayed and then decided to take the leap and do it. God said, ‘Jump,’ so we did.” Sweet Dream’s famous filled cupcakes have a long history. Watkins’ mother was also an accomplished hobby baker. When she baked a cake, she turned leftover batter into cupcakes, Watkins said, which she filled with leftover buttercream. As an adult, Watkins began doing the same thing, using her mother’s cherished buttercream recipe and giving cakes away to family and friends. “It’s whipped buttercream,” Watkins explained. “It’s not filled with powdered sugar or Crisco. It’s made with real butter and real sugar and it’s whipped and whipped and whipped until it’s smooth like ice cream.” Getting the shop ready to open took longer than the Watkinses anticipated. A week before opening, Deanna Watkins knew she needed something she could whip up fast to fill the two display cases. In 2006, America was in the grip of a nationwide cupcake craze. The tiny treats soared in popularity after the characters of “Sex
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and the City” were seen eating them at New York’s Magnolia Bakery in 2001. In 2005, the first “cupcakes only” bakery opened in Los Angeles. It was a perfect storm. The cupcakes first created in the kitchen of Watkins’ mother were destined for their moment in the spotlight. Sweet Dream opened just before Easter with three flavors of cupcakes in the case – chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate ganache. “We put those in for the opening and we just never got anything else done,” Watkins recalled. “We were giving people their first cupcake free; they would take their free cupcake, go out and eat it in the car, and then come back in to buy more.” Growing up in a family of bakers, Watkins had never gone to bakeries on a regular basis. She said she had no idea how many people would come in the door. “We were frosting them as people were coming in,” she said. “It was about four or five years before we started getting pies done.” Though cupcakes remain Sweet Dream’s signature item, the demand has died down as the craze has waned. Today, Watkins said, decorated shortbread cookies are all the rage. Luckily, Sweet Dream has those as well. By 2007, Watkins’ husband, Phil Watkins, had come on board as a chef and the bakery was offering full-service catering. The expansive catering menu includes breakfast and brunch options, box lunches, cold buffets, plated entrees, even carving station options. “With COVID we didn’t do a lot of catering because people couldn’t gather,” Deanna Watkins said. “We have been offering nightly dinners. I post a menu each day on Facebook, and people can call in by 10 a.m. to order a dinner they can pick up between 5 and 6 pm.” Today, Sweet Dream’s case is filled with cakes, cupcakes, scones, cake pops, cookies, cheesecakes, and pies. Watkins has more desserts up her sleeve, but they’re not ready to be unveiled. “Before I even opened this place, I was testing brownie recipes. I’ve tested hundreds and hundreds of brownie recipes in search
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of the best one. I also test hundreds and hundreds of cookie recipes,” she said. “We do cheesecake, too, and I tested hundreds of cheesecake recipes before coming back to my original one. I’m obsessive like that. I try and I test until I find the best one to serve my customers.” After 15 years in a close community like Sycamore, Watkins said it’s a pleasure to
s, nt ve and e al ls, s! rtu ia ce Vi ater our m res
watch customers grow and change. At this point, she said, children whose birthday cakes she used to make every year are coming in to order wedding cakes and cupcakes for baby showers. “Getting to know people is the fun part,” she said. “Our whole goal in life is to make people happy and be a part of their families.”
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By: Jessi Haish LaRue
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bby and Josh Smith make running a restaurant and having a family look very easy. The husband and wife duo of Sycamore have two young children and another on the way. In 2020, during the midst of a pandemic, Josh Smith used his welding skills to transform a race car trailer into a food truck. Just five months later, they opened a storefront under the same name: The Dirty Bird 815 Chicken Joint, located at 630 Plaza Drive, Suite 5, in Sycamore. “He’s the mastermind,” Abby Smith said. “He’s always wanted to own a restaurant, so I said ‘OK, let’s figure this out.” Josh loves to cook, so he runs the kitchen, while Abby, who has a background in online sales and social media, runs their accounting as well as website and media accounts. “We’re always together,” she said. “Some days it’s easier than others, but we always make it work. We definitely take more pride in it, too, because it’s ours together.” The food truck opened May 30, which was a good way to test the market and make sure people enjoyed their food, Abby Smith said. They parked in lots in DeKalb and Sycamore, and served at events at locations such as Blumen Gardens in Sycamore. They were successful, and by October opened their storefront in Sycamore.
The weather had played a big factor in the food truck’s success, so a store front seemed more predictable. They knew right away they wanted chicken to be the main menu item.
business owners, which makes them feel closer to their community. They’ve also offered 25% off orders to frontline workers during the pandemic, and Abby Smith said people are thankful to be recognized.
“It’s easy to make and it always tastes good,” Josh Smith said.
“We’re a part of this community, and it’s so much more than just owning something,” Abby Smith said.
The transition from food truck to storefront had its challenges and learning opportunities, Abby Smith said. Tasks like the permit process took longer due to COVID-19. “We both went full-time into this,” Abby Smith said. “It was scary during COVID and being unsure of what would happen, but we decided if we wanted to do it right, we had to put all our attention into this.” Because of their regular customers, and the fact that during the pandemic people have grown accustomed to the “pickup and carryout” option, it was a fairly easy transition once they were in their building, she said. Now they have seven employees and are open six days a week. Although they were new, The Dirty Bird 815 was voted best chicken and one of the best food trucks in DeKalb County in the 2020 Daily Chronicle Readers’ Choice Awards. They also work to give back to the community that they call home. They’ve met and worked with many other local
Abby Smith uses their Facebook account as a way to share menu items, post photos, and ask for customer feedback. But she says some of the most popular posts are just about their growing family, which surprised her. “I think people like to know that there are real people behind this business,” she said. Abby Smith said some people have called the owners and restaurant ‘edgy,’ but she’s not so sure they live up to that, she says, as her two young kids play in the restaurant. “Yes, we ride motorcycles and have tattoos, but we have a family, too,” Abby Smith said. “We draw different crowds.” Their logo, created by tattoo artist Beth Speer, features two flashy, colorful chickens showing off their biceps. Abby Smith has it tattooed on her arm. Their most popular item is the “Mama Bird Basket,” which features 5 chicken strips, fries, roll, coleslaw and their special
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Bird Sauce for $10.49. They also have party packs of fried chicken, a Dirty Bird Sandwich and a family meal deal of 20 chicken strips. They also offer a variety of fried sides like mushrooms, onion rings, pickles, cauliflower, and cheese curds. Desserts include fried Oreos, Twinkies and cookies. Chelsea Smith of Sycamore, no relation to the owners, is an employee who has worked for them since they started the food truck. She works as a cashier and assists with food prep and other things around the restaurant. “It’s a fun environment to work in,” Chelsea Smith said. “It’s also fun to work in different places when you’re out in the food truck.” While they considered bringing back the chicken food truck once the weather warms up again, they realized they didn’t want to compete against their own storefront. The solution? A new food truck called “The Filthy Hog 815,” which will be based around pork items, such as their pork tenderloin sandwich, the only pork item currently served at The Dirty Bird 815. The logo features a couple of hogs, on a hog — a motorcycle.
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They hope to have fixed locations later this year where they can park their food truck specifically for lunch hours. In the meantime, they will feature pork items as specials over at The Dirty Bird, to get a feel for what customers would enjoy. Customers are already requesting pulled pork and brisket in comments on their Facebook page, where they will be posting updates and the truck’s spring schedule. It’s just another challenge the Smiths look forward to taking on. “Hopefully we just continue to grow,” Josh Smith said. For information about The Dirty Bird 815 and The Dirty Bird Chicken Joint, visit their Facebook page and Instagram.
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