KCC_ KC Magazine March 2024

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."

Luke 24:2-3

at Christ Community Church

Good Friday | March 29

Easter Services | March 30 & 31

Times & Locations: ccclife.org/easter

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• Boneless Rib Eye Roast

• Smoked Easter Polish Kielbasa

• Fresh Homemade Polish

• Boneless Rolled Pork Loin Roast

• Bone-In Whole Hams 10-14 lb

• Colossal Cooked Shrimp

• Italian Beef in Gravy

Keeping up with the maintenance and health of your household can be one of the most challenging tasks in your life.

From constant chores to running the kids from one activity to the next, if you’re anything like me, to-do lists fall straight to the wayside. In this issue of Kane County Magazine, I am excited to shed a little light on the not-so-shiny facets of everyday life at home.

Maybe you’d like to finally get a grasp on the garage? Check out our feature dedicated to advice on decluttering and organizing the oft forgotten space on page 14. Are you looking to spruce up the décor and freshen your home’s color scheme? Shannon Peppeard lays out important “dos and don’ts” on page 18. Perhaps you are seeking relief in the face of an enormous workload? Don’t fret, we’ve got some ideas waiting for you on page 10. All that tidying may tucker you out and I suggest popping into a local historical gastropub for some well-deserved sustenance (pg. 22).

Editorʼs NOTE on the COVER

This household and homes issue is a welcome addition as the seasons change and springtime brings new beginnings – and new greenery to the yard. Since it's a cicada emergence year, I found Wasco’s article on the audible insect to be fascinating and an essential read for healthy yards and gardens. There are so many interesting stories to enjoy this month, and I hope you take the time to appreciate all the wonderful services and attractions Kane County has to offer. As always, thank you for reading!

Kelley White, Editor

Next month: Find out how to make a trendy statement with our spring fashion issue in April.

PUBLISHER

Kane County Chronicle & Northwest Herald

Laura Shaw

630-709-4497

lshaw@shawmedia.com

EDITOR

Kelley White

shawmagazineeditor@gmail.com

DESIGNER

Julie Barichello

815-431-4072

jbarichello@shawmedia.com

LOCAL SALES MANAGER

Kane County Chronicle & Niche Publishing

Jaclyn Cornell

630-845-5234

jcornell@shawmedia.com

CORRESPONDENTS

Jamie Baker, Jonathan Bilyk, Kevin Druley, Patricia MacMillan and Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

This magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send your request with payment information to Shaw Media, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.

Published by Shaw Media 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Photographer Margaret Rajic captures the talent of Peppeard Design, a St. Charles-based interior design studio.

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What ʼ s INSIDE

HOUHSEHOLD & HOME

7 BEST DAY HOUSECLEANING

Katherine Banks leads a local gem in the cleaning industry

8 HOGAN DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Build, design and remodel with a company who cares

10 LEAVE IT THE PROFESSIONALS

Make balancing your household a breeze

14 SIMPLIFY YOUR GARAGE

Organize, declutter and create storage in a snap

18 DESIGN DOS AND DON’TS

Make home DIYs effective and simple

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

22 WHISKEY BEND

History and food make this gastropub an attraction

24 GRAB A BOOKMARK

Check out these reading recommendations for March

26 ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Artist Joseph Giunta wants people to connect with the emotion of his work

28 COMMUNITY & CREATIVITY

The St. Charles Art Council brings local artists together

LIFESTYLE & FAMILY

30 CALENDAR

Don’t miss these wonderful events in the month of March

31 BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

Elements Massage names seven reasons to indulge in self-care

32 GARAGE MEMORIES

Suburban Superdad ponders the past

34 HOP HIKE SWIM SNIFF

Don’t miss St. Charles’ egg hunt fun

36 THEY’RE BACK

What the cicada emergence means for your garden

BUSINESS & CIVIC

38 PLANNING YOUR LEGACY

Financial advisers can help establish an estate plan and long-lasting impact

HOUSECLEANING Best Day

By Jamie Baker • Photos courtesy of Best Day Housecleaning

There is nothing quite like the sparkle of a clean living space to curb anxiety and help erase a bit of burden. Katherine Banks, owner and operator of Best Day Housecleaning in Geneva, has a host of services and expertise ready to help homeowners throughout Kane County.

“The reason I named my company Best Day Housecleaning is because when my house cleaner comes, it is the best day of my week, and I that is what I want our business to deliver,” says Banks. “It gives you back time on your weekends, it gives you time with your family; you can come home from work and just feel so relieved, like you know you've been treated to something really special.”

Ideally, Banks looks for busy working families with children and full schedules to serve. “Those clients just don't have the time to keep up with housecleaning or would rather do other things on their time off,” she adds.

Best Day Housecleaning is also heavily involved with Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit dedicated to helping those in need of cleaning services. “Cleaning for a Reason was started by a woman named Debbie Sardone in Texas and she had a cleaning company of her own,” says Banks. “One day someone called her and said they needed their house cleaned. She gave them a quote and the woman said, ‘I'm sorry, I'm going through cancer

treatment, I can't afford that, so I'll just have to figure out something else.’ Debbie hung up with her and realized that was such a missed opportunity and she felt she should have just cleaned that person’s house because they were obviously struggling and needed help. She created [Cleaning for a Reason] that's now nationwide.”

Anyone who is undergoing cancer treatment or knows someone who is undergoing cancer treatment can nominate themselves or someone else for cleaning services. "Best Day is committed to offering 12 complimentary house cleaning services to our neighbors undergoing cancer treatment each year. And as they grow they will be able to provide this service to more and more individuals. Each patient receives (2) 3-hour cleaning services."

Around the house, Best Day Housecleaning utilizes wholesome products and sustainable practices. “When I started this business, I wanted to make sure that we were creating as little waste as possible,” says Banks. “We use two lines of products. The first brand is called EnvirOx, and it is actually made in Illinois. It is a hydrogen peroxidebased cleanser, it has no scent, and it is safe for every kind of surface except anything that's porous. It's also a sanitizer – it’s just a really great all-purpose product that we use on everything from bathrooms to kitchens to floors.”

They also use Better Life, which can also be found at

several big box stores. “It is a small company, and they don't use any artificial fragrance, which we like as well because that can be a real irritant and allergen to a lot of people,” says Banks. “We use microfibers 99 percent of the time. And we only use paper towels in areas like toilets where we don't want to be reusing anything. We just really try not to throw much away at the end of the day.”

Coming up this spring and summer, Best Day Housecleaning will be offering several different specials for folks to try out. “It will either be $50 off a deep clean, or 20 percent off gift cards,” says Banks. “You could probably use those 20 percent off gift cards for Mother's Day and $50 off a deep cleaning in April.”

When you’re ready to have your "best day" and enjoy a tidy home, make sure to check out the three levels of service Banks provides. “There's an initial cleaning, which is a top to bottom Deluxe, deep clean,” says Banks. “For that, we hand wipe down pretty much everything in the entire home and deep clean the kitchen and bathrooms. The goal of that is to then maintain it either bi-weekly or monthly with what we call our maintenance cleanings. We also do move in and move out cleanings.”

This spring, breathe in the fresh air of a clean home. Something so simple can have the biggest impact on your daily outlook, cutting your to-do list in half.

LUXURY DESIGN-BUILD REMODELING

By Jamie Baker • Photos courtesy of Hogan Design & Construction

Hogan Design & Construction Owner Brian Hogan has spent the last two decades establishing a business with a stellar reputation and numerous services to choose from.

“Hogan Design & Construction has spent the last 24 years transforming homes in Northern Illinois. We do luxury design-build remodeling and home building," he says. "Since the beginning of our business, we’ve built 20 custom homes, 12 of which were constructed in just the last three years.”

It all began with a remodel. “In 1997 I bought a house to flip, and I started doing more flips and after about the third one, I realized it was super difficult to get contractors to consistently show up for me, so I started a small construction company to control that a little more,” says Hogan. “When we started the company, we were kind of like a handyman service but at one point, someone called us to remodel a

basement and we really liked that because it was relatively simple. Over the next six or seven years, we were doing about 70 basements a year.”

In 2007, Hogan Design & Construction opened their services up to home remodeling, designing and home construction. “We started doing bathrooms, kitchens, additions, commercial remodels, a little bit of commercial construction and regular construction,” says Hogan. “From that point on, it’s all been about improving that process and becoming better with our system.”

Depending on the project, Hogan Design & Construction is capable of providing the designer, the architect and the project management, enabling more control and knowledge throughout the process instead of sourcing services out.

Kitchen remodels and home additions have been the main demand for the company in the Kane County area. “We grew a lot between 2017 and 2022, and

the last couple of years we’ve been focusing on getting really good with where we are and getting the right people in place,” says Hogan. “We like to do high-design projects and we keep getting more of that. We have a lot of designer and real estate broker relationships that get us in front of people who are like-minded in the way they want to do higher design projects or builds. We just want to keep getting better.”

Creating lifelong customers is one of the main tenants in Hogan Design & Construction’s mission and dedication to quality work. “Quality is number one, but the experience is what keeps people coming back,” he says. “Quality is expected across the board. We try to make the process as painless as possible.”

Presently, Hogan Design & Construction averages about 60 home remodeling projects a year, totaling 1,440 amazing home remodels in Northern Illinois since opening their doors 24 years ago.

PROFESSIONALS LEAVE IT

ONALS TO THE

Pick up bread for school lunches, ponder what the family should do for a summer vacation and don’t forget to grab some cookies for the book club meeting tonight.

Some days the to-do list can seem overwhelming. In lieu of a magic wand or fairy godmother, there are some incredible professionals that can help check off some of those items and leave more time for family fun.

With a simple text message, chores like picking up groceries, dry cleaning or dropping off a forgotten school lunch are a snap thanks to the local business Errand Up. Five years ago, Elburn resident Dan Pitts launched the service business designed to help busy adults. It started with him and today he has several assistants tackling errands across Kane County and beyond.

“We want to provide anything a family would need,” Pitts explained. “I’m trying to capture the needs of families in a very helpful way.”

Need to pick up a purchase from a store and you work until after it closes? Errand Up will pick it up. Want to drop off a meal to a sick friend? Errand Up’s team can do it, too, Pitts said. Errand Up charges on an hourly basis with an additional service fee.

With clever video ads that incorporate his adorable daughter, Pitts’ business has gained momentum, and he’s working to take the business to the next level with membership discounts and partnerships with local businesses around the community.

As a working mom, Megan Merrithey, owner of The Tiny Kitchen in St. Charles, said she has used Errand Up to handle items on her to-do list, leaving more time for her to bake, decorate and teach. In December 2022, Merrithey followed her passion and decided to bring her home-based baking business to a storefront bake shop in downtown St. Charles where loyal customers stop to

Errands, baking & travel planning are a breeze when professionals take charge

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske Photos courtesy of Dan Pitts and Kristina Hughes

enjoy her popular cakes by the slice and other baked treats.

“Each month we offer eight different cake flavors,” Merrithey said, explaining there are the usuals like chocolate and vanilla, and then there are some less traditional flavors like bananas foster and ginger spice rum.

For those too busy to bake, Merrithey is happy to fill orders on cakes, cupcakes and cookies, too. For those who want to impress their friends and family, she hosts decorating classes around town, including at the local breweries. The former classroom teacher and educator is at home leading a class whether her students are scouts or moms on a night out.

“I love putting on my teacher hat,” Merrithey said.

OUTSOURCE

TRIP PLANNING

Vacations are meant to provide rest and relaxation, but all too often there’s a great deal of stress for the person in charge of planning. Skip the stress and let a travel professional like Nikki Spitzer of Travel A Latté create a vacation.

“We make it easier for our clients to make sure they are enjoying their trip,” Spitzer explained.

After years of working in the travel industry, Spitzer decided to launch her own business in 2019. She works with couples planning honeymoons, families planning vacations and even multi-family reunion/vacations that involve coordinating multiple families.

One of her specialties is family travel

and, whether it’s planning a vacation with teens or toddlers, Spitzer and her colleague Kristina Hughes enjoy putting together the pieces for a family to have the vacation of their dreams.

“We want to plan the trip you’ll remember and you’ll enjoy,” Spitzer said.

Just like her business name, Spitzer often grabs a latte with her clients at local coffee spots and said it’s important to understand her clients and what they want in a vacation. From tropical beaches to cobblestone streets in European cities, Travel A Latté’s team will build an itinerary with flights, hotels and add-ons, like a cooking class in Rome or tours of ancient ruins.

Using a travel professional can be a great asset to crafting a custom trip as well as finding deals with hotels and

ella is just one of many ways to save.

stepping in with hassles when a flight is cancelled. Spitzer explained that she uses an easy app that holds documents, maps and schedules which allows easy communication if there’s a question along the way.

“Having everything on the app means that everyone in the family that has a phone can have the schedule. Our clients really love it and it’s nice and easy to use,” Spitzer said.

She knows all too well how a cancelled flight can cause missed tours and reservation changes. Whether clients are heading to Europe, a beach on the coast or an amusement park, Spitzer said the best advice she offers clients is to take the extra travel insurance.

“I know it’s hard when you see extra expenses but it’s very, very important,” Spitzer said.

BEFORE u q AFTER

SIMPLIFY Your Garage

By Jonathan Bilyk • Photos provided by As Neat As A Button

As Jim Melchert sees it, there is no space in just about any home more overlooked than the garage.

"It's the most improperly used space in a house," Melchert said.

For more than 15 years, Melchert, owner of Garage Store in East Dundee, has worked with households of all sizes in his home area of Kane County and elsewhere in northern Illinois and beyond, to bring order to the chaos that can, at times, literally spill out when the garage door is raised.

"It's kind of funny, when you think about it," said Melchert. "For most of us, our garage is the main entrance to our home. We put so much effort into making our homes beautiful, and then how do we bring people in? Through our garage."

For many, however, the task of taming their garage space, and returning it to a state of efficiency and welcome, may seem overwhelming, said Melchert.

Cherie Hiland, a professional home organizer, who owns Sycamore-based As Neat As A Button, agreed.

Like Melchert, Hiland has worked with homeowners in the Fox Valley, and elsewhere in Chicago's western suburbs for years, helping them to organize their living spaces. And a significant chunk of that work has centered on garage spaces, which she agreed are too frequently ignored, even in otherwise tidy homes.

"Organizing a garage is much like organizing any other space," Hiland said. "It's usually just larger and usually a little grimier."

Melchert and Hiland said the task begins with a thought exercise for homeowners: deciding what their goals are for the space.

For many homeowners, that may be simply fitting their vehicles into the garage - which both HIland and Melchert agreed should be at the top of the list for most homeowners in this part of the world, particularly in winter. Garage-kept vehicles can last longer, and homeowners can enjoy less exposure to rain, snow, wind and other harsh weather elements when starting their day, or returning home, perhaps with bags of groceries or other items, they said.

But aside from the utility of vehicle storage, the organization pros said homeowners may want to use their garages as recreational spaces for man caves or auxiliary entertaining space, or customize the garage to their hobbies and interests, such as auto repair, gardening, bicycling, boating, or even just for better storage or play space for the kids.

"That's the most important conversation," said Melchert. "What are their needs and wants for their garage?"

Once the vision is cast, for many homeowners, decluttering is the next step in the process.

Very often, they said, garages serve as the storage space of last resort.

"So often, items are put in garages because we don't know where else to put them," Hiland said. "More times than I can count, I've had a client look at a box and have no idea what's in it. Or they say it's been there since they moved in and haven't touched it."

Melchert recounted similar stories.

He said he often brings temporary storage units to his garage job sites, offering an auxiliary space for clients to store and sort through their items, while he and his team move on with the garage improvement process.

"Most clients leave half of their stuff for me to throw out," Melchert said. "It's a lot of wasted space."

For some homeowners the task of cleaning and decluttering can end with sweeping the garage floor or giving it a good power wash. But Melchert recommended homeowners take it a step further, covering the floor with a commercial-grade polymer coating, such as those used in warehouses, which can hold up against extreme environments and years of abuse. Melchert's coatings include decorative flakes to make it more attractive for a residential garage.

"Even if you clean it, an uncoated garage floor will always be dirty," Melchert said. Properly coated floors, however, can be hosed off, swept off, and just kept that much cleaner and more welcoming, Melchert said.

Homeowners wishing to stick the landing on a successful garage organization project should be certain to put thought and a bit of money into how everything will fit back together.

Both recommended homeowners consider installing

wall cabinet systems and overhead storage racks, which they said can be particularly useful for storing seasonal items, like camping gear, winter recreational equipment, such as skis and sleds, or holiday decorations.

Hiland said homeowners may consider heavy-duty shelving systems or wall hanging systems, such as slat walls or pegboard systems.

The possibilities are endless with customizing your space for exactly the kind of storage you need.

"The possibilities are endless with customizing your space for exactly the kind of storage you need," Hiland said. "You can hang anything from garden tools to bikes from these or add baskets, shelves or even cabinets to them."

Such systems can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

But for those with more limited budgets, Hiland said homeowners can look for second-hand items on Facebook Marketplace or "just use what they have."

But no matter the storage system, both Hiland and Melchert strongly suggest homeowners invest in heavy-duty plastic crates for any items stored in a garage.

And never use cardboard boxes, Hiland said.

"Garages tend to be dirtier, susceptible to extreme changes in temperature, and easier for bugs and critters to hide out in," Hiland said. "Don’t keep items in your garage that are likely to get ruined by any of those factors."

For any garage organization project, they recommended homeowners block out at least a weekend day.

"People get anxious about this, because they think it's going to take a week or more," Melchert said. "But it can be done a lot quicker than you think." Hiland agreed: "Set a goal to complete the task by your desired timeframe and don’t give up," she said.

No matter the goal or size of the task, Hiland and Melchert said any garage can be transformed into a functional and desirable space - and into which they can be happy to welcome guests.

And if they don't believe they have the time or ability, the pros said they are happy to take on the job and bring homeowners' visions to life.

DESIGN DOS AND DON’TS

Darker, more saturated paint colors are in. Look for colors with two shades.

Make a big impact to a room by adding pillows to a sofa.

Find one pillow with a pattern and another with interesting texture.

Decorative objects on tables add visual interest to a room.

EASY WAYS TO MAKE HOME DIYS EFFECTIVE AND SIMPLE

By Patricia MacMillan Photos courtesy of Peppeard Design

When it comes to design, it’s all about the eye.

Some like Shannon Peppeard of Peppeard Design have been blessed with it. The owner of the St. Charles-based full-service interior design firm has been in business since 2006, expanding her offerings over the years with home goods store The Pep Line as well as custom styling by way of the Pep Van.

But those without a discerning eye shouldn’t feel fated to live life in uninspired spaces as the design maven shares her top DIY tips for homeowners seeking to update a room with style.

“One of the easiest ways to make a big impact is to add pillows to your sofa,” she said.

Those with an unsure hand in the color department can always stick with a neutral palette, Peppeard assured, but should strive to showcase variety in other ways.

“Find one pillow with a pattern while the other has an interesting texture,” Peppeard said.

Pillows or decorative objects such as those that appear on a coffee or console table bring about greater visual interest when grouped in odd

numbers, like three or five, she added.

Paint is another surefire way to enliven a tired space, and grays and beiges have had their day.

“People are venturing out with darker, more saturated colors,” she said. “Look for colors that have two shades, like a blue-green [shade]. An indication that you’ve picked a good paint is when you can see multiple colors within it.”

Wallpaper is another DIY option. Bold patterns and designs abound, and don’t forget the ceiling.

“It’s the fifth wall in a room,” she said.

The don’ts of DIY design start and stop with a sledgehammer.

“Anything that has to do with demolition work, you want to leave to the professionals,” Peppeard said.

Though some professionally done work can come with a smaller-thananticipated price tag.

“Changing the archway of a home can make a big difference,” she said.” You can take a rectangular opening and add the curve with the framing. It doesn’t take a lot of money to do.”

ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE

If design is the belle of the ball, organization is the one tirelessly working to keep it all picture perfect.

Organization professionals extol many ideas meant to help homeowners transform their spaces from chaotic and cluttered to serene and streamlined.

Top tips include starting small. By tackling a space manageable in size, homeowners run a smaller risk of feeling overwhelmed by the task before them.

Reducing the number of items in a space also goes a long way in fending off disorder.

But professional organizer Cherie Hiland encourages

anyone looking to embark on a project to consider one very important aspect before diving in. And that is the psychological and emotional toll such an undertaking might exact.

“There’s a lot of emotional labor for people when they’re going through their belongings,” said the owner of As Neat as a Button, which works with clients throughout the Kane County region. “People get really fatigued, and they’ll put items back in the box and not touch them again for years.”

Hiland’s background of clinical psychology and education makes her uniquely qualified to help those homeowners daunted by what needs to be done.

“I come in as a neutral third party,” she said. “I don’t come in with any history, and I ask questions like ‘what is the reason for keeping this?’ or ‘what might be the best way to keep this?’”

Hiland also brings with her the energy to see a project, particularly sizable ones, through to completion.

“Organizing a basement or garage is very exciting for me,” Hiland said. “People come in after it’s done and say, ‘I can’t believe it could ever look like this.’ Knowing I helped a client with something that was weighing on them … it’s the best part of the job.”

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Corned Beef & Cabbage

Tender corned beef and cabbage served with steamed carrots, buttered parsley red potatoes and irish soda bread.

Whiskey Bend

n WHISKEY BEND

222 W. Main St., St. Charles 630-549-7061

www.whiskeybendstc.com

History and food make gastropub an attraction

The high temperature in St. Charles hovered around a mere 15 degrees as Whiskey Bend hailed its first anniversary Jan. 20.

Why not? The gastropub at 222 W. Main St. pays homage to a section of the turn-of-the-20th-Century trolley system that connected Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, and Aurora. Legend holds that as the trolley proceeded south from Main St. onto 3rd St., headed toward Geneva, travelers hurriedly hopped off and on to clang shots of whiskey at a section of nearby saloons.

It was an especially enticing pastime for those eager to warm up on a cold day.

In modern times, Whiskey Bend, situated at the site of the former Pub 222, is a destination in any weather, with separate outdoor patios ready for fairer temperatures. The attraction, meanwhile, is apparent year-round.

“We find there’s a lot of folks who drink whiskey,” owner Colm Headley said. “We have a big following, and obviously it’s whiskey-oriented because of the name.”

Visitors to the Whiskey Bend website,

www.whiskeybendstc.com, could adjust their browser zoom level to 25% and still have to page down.

Whiskey Bend offers selections under six headings –American bourbon, American rye, Scotch, Canadian, Irish, and World – as well as options for flights.

“We have a wide variety; We have 135 whiskeys on our shelves, all kinds of different stuff from around the world,” Headley said. “We’ve got a big portfolio of whiskey, and that’s predominantly what we sell is whiskey and cocktails.”

Headley, who also is part of the ownership group at The Office, down the way at 201 E. Main St., says he works to keep different feels at the establishments.

Whereas The Office invites a more loungelike vibe, Whiskey Bend suggests a slightly more reflective drinking and dining experience.

Patrons who congregate near the back bar, original to the building and constructed in 1902, Headley said, figure to find a site that offers even more to ponder. History buffs will note the back bar to be the only holdover from the Pub 222 incarnation.

“It’s completely refurbished from the old place,” Headley said.

Led by head chef Scott Nickell, whose past stops include Preservation restaurant in Geneva, the kitchen changes its menu twice a year.

Offerings include entrees, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, and appetizers.

While the 222 Burger fixes an eye on nostalgia with its name and at least one ingredient – whiskey maple glaze alongside an 8-ounce patty, smoked mayo, pepper jack cheese, pulled pork, and frizzled onion – Headley said visitors are especially fond of two types of more modern cuisine.

The Southern Style Poutine is prepared with homemade pimento cheese sauce and chicken andouille sausage gravy, and the Seared Tuna Crudo (read: raw seafood) is served with citrus ponzu, fried shishito peppers, and Asian slaw.

Whiskey Bend also serves beer, seltzers, cocktails and wines, but odds are there’s a whiskey recommendation to accompany your food of choice.

And what’s all the better? There’s no rush to hop back on a trolley or into the car.

“We’re looking forward to a strong year,” Headley said.

By Kevin Druley • Photos provided by Colm Headley

Grab a

What better way to enjoy your home than curling up with a good book? Here are two recommendations for your March reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

FOR TEENS & ADULTS:

“Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnamr” by Thien Fam

As a chef, Thien associates important memories with the food he ate at that time. From the meal he had on the boat out of Vietnam (rice balls), to the first American dinner he ate with his family’s sponsor (salisbury steak), each vignette in this memoir begins with a simple illustration of one important meal. Thien’s graphical memoir describes the relationships he makes through sharing food, the work that goes into preparing each meal, and the importance of human connections. The vignettes trace his journey from a childhood in Vietnam, to a refugee camp, to an adult going through his American citizenship test. The panels are easy to follow, and this story is so well-served in this medium. The reader gets a real sense of Thien’s trepidation in the refugee camp in Thailand, of his nervousness around girls and his pride when he becomes a citizen. This graphic novel is perfect for older teens and adults interested in learning new cultures or with an interest in cooking.

– Margaux Morrone, Librarian

FOR KIDS (GRADES 3-7):

“Come See the Fair” by Gavriel Savit

Eva is a 12-year-old orphan who travels the country with her guardian pretending to speak to the dead through seances. People who see her swear it is real, but she knows it isn’t … until it is. Eva hears a mysterious voice telling her to come to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and sets off on a train journey with her new friend, Henry, who also is being magically drawn to the Fair. There they meet Mr. Magister, who needs help bringing magic to life in his enchanted Pavilion of Magic. The more Eva and Henry help Mr. Magister, the more they begin to suspect the motives of this project may not be so pure. Tragedy strikes, and Eva must reach beyond death to unravel the mystery of the magician's plan. Occasional sketches throughout will draw in readers who enjoy graphic novels. This is a dreamy read, perfect for older elementary and middle school students who like a bit of magic mixed into their historical fiction.

– Lexy Rodriguez, Community Engagement Coordinator

OF THE MONTH

Artist Joseph giunta

The Tri-Cities are booming with arts and artists — perhaps nowhere more vibrantly than Batavia’s Water Street Studios, which hosts events, galleries and up to 25 artists in residence. Each month, Kane County Magazine and Water Street Studios are partnering to highlight artists and their work.

Joseph Giunta is a celebrated graphic artist, cartoonist and instructor at Water Street Studios. “My goal as an artist is to create interesting pictures,” he says. “I am more concerned with my use of line, color, and contrast than I am with the actual subject matter. I think any subject has the potential to be a great picture if the artist designs it well. I want people to enjoy looking at my work and understand the emotions conveyed.”

As a young child, Giunta was immediately drawn to artistry, especially cartoons. “Ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil, I knew I wanted to draw,” he says. “I was a sickly kid growing up and found plenty of time filling pad after pad of paper with crude drawings. I was naturally attracted to cartoons and copied my favorite characters. I also knew who the popular illustrators were in my day. I followed their work and wanted to emulate them. I even nagged my parents to get me into art school while I was still a grammar school student. I guess I was obsessed with art, which was not always a good thing because it is also important to understand and appreciate art, literature, history, science, and math. Eventually, I came to love learning about the liberal arts and came to realize that an artist needs more than skill. An artist needs a curious mind and a love of learning. One doesn’t create in a vacuum.”

Giunta joined Water Street Studios as an instructor in 2023 after sparking interest in the area through witnessing the studio’s impact on the Batavia community. “They work hard to provide workshops, gallery showings, and outreach to schools, and retirement communities,” he says. “All this creative outreach helps them educate the public about art and introduce new artists to people who may not normally have access to this talent.”

Recently, Giunta began using colored pencils and oil pastels to create his art. “I am naturally drawn to the bold images made with the confident strokes possible with oil pastel,” he says. “Colored pencils, however, require a more thoughtful calm approach. One needs a great deal of patience to succeed. I think it is good for me to do a colored pencil painting occasionally. It slows me down and helps me think about all the aspects of a picture.”

Joseph Giunta’s cartoons and illustrations have appeared in books, magazines, and websites. He is an experienced art instructor, having taught classes at College of DuPage, Joliet Junior College, Triton College, and Water Street Studios. Giunta teaches workshops in oil pastel, colored pencil, pen and ink, cartooning, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator.

DETAILS OF Joseph Giunta's WORK:

To purchase or learn more about Joseph Giunta's work, visit www.joseph-giunta.pixels.com or www.drawntohumor.com.

u Window Dreaming: 22.5x30 inches, Mixed Media, $41.02 – art print (available in other sizes on other products)

v Peppers: 12x9 inches, Pencil, $12.20 –art print (available in other sizes on other products)

w Mellow Guitar: Digital Painting, 16x12 inches, $15.80 – art print (available in other sizes on other products)

x Lemons: 16x16 inches, Digital Painting, $19.41 – art print (available in other sizes on other products)

For more information on the artist of the month, head to waterstreetstudios.org or the organization’s social media pages.

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COMMUNITY

Creativity &

The St. Charles Art Council supports local artists and creatives throughout Kane County

The St. Charles Art Council is a local nonprofit dedicated to maintaining the rich local creative scene in Kane County, supported by several installations and fundraisers throughout the year. “Right now, we are working on the Fox River Valley Student Art Show,” says Director Kathy Hill. “For that event, we invite student artists in kindergarten through grade 12 from Batavia, Geneva, Aurora and St. Charles to participate. We host an exhibit for them at the 116 Gallery, which is right downtown in St.

Charles, and [we] have a marvelous artist's reception on April 6.”

Students are welcome to attend with their families and have a fantastic day celebrating their art and the creativity of their peers.

“They're so proud of the artwork because it's a regular art show,” says Hill. “We have refreshments, and the kids take all kinds of opportunities to get pictures taken right next to their artwork, to be celebrated. It’s such a fun evening with a two-hour reception.”

Photos courtesy of the St. Charles Art Council

In 2023, the Council ended up hosting nearly 320 people at the event, and about 100 kids applied for the installation with the Art Council working to accept at least one piece from every student who applied. “I think we found about 120 pieces of art last year,” says Hill.

In May, the Art Council will Paint the Riverside on the 11th followed by an art show taking place over Memorial Day Weekend. “It’s such a fun event,” says Hill. “Last year, we had close to 150 people that stopped by and helped paint and it was just such a feel-good event. We try to keep everything we do community-oriented.”

In August, the St. Charles Art Council will introduce their new signature event this year called Plein Air. “It's an outdoor

To find out more about sponsorship and the many local businesses and organizations who support such a worthy cause, visit www.stcharlesartscouncil.org. There you will find ways to help volunteer with the organization or where to sign up to participate in their special events.

Dessert Auction

painting event,” says Hill. “It will take place from Aug. 19 through 25. Then, in October, we're going to do another murder mystery, and in November we do our dessert auction, which has been a huge success since we started doing that.”

Every week, Hill sends out an email blast informing the community of the Council’s news and encouraging other art organizations to, in turn, send her information she can support and promote on the Council’s website. “It's been wonderful to hear from everybody and the arts organizations are incredibly supportive,” she says. “We really rely on volunteers, and we welcome all interest in helping our organization continue to grow.”

MARCH 2024

Catch a performance of "Billy Elliot" at the Paramount Theatre

"Jumpstart Your Creative Writing" at Water Street Studios*

This is the last week to enjoy Batavia’s Shiver by the River

Celebrate the gals in your life with International Women’s Day!

Submission deadline for St. Charles Art Council's Student Art Show

Shiver by the River

Happy Pi Day!

Shiver by the River

Happy St. Patrick’s Day – Sláinte! Gather downtown in Aurora for their St. Patrick's Day Parade from 11 a.m.-noon

Happy Easter!

Sign your kids up for a Teen Live-Action Murder Mystery through the Geneva Public Library. Geared toward grades 6-12*

Tweens can hunt for Easter eggs by flashlight in Batavia*

Head to St. Charles for a St. Patrick's Day celebration, parade starts at 2p.m.

Cruise the shallows of the pool at the Underwater Egg Hunt in St. Charles*

Let the pups roam during the Doggie Egg Hunt in St. Charles*

Take the kids to find dozens of Easter eggs at the annual Egg Hunt in St. Charles

Join Batavia Public Library for a talk about pollinator gardens and learn more about conservation

*Registration required

7

MBenefits of Mas sage Therapy

assage therapy offers a wealth of benefits for both the body and mind, making it a great choice for relaxation and rejuvenation. Making massage a regular part of your life can provide amazing benefits. Here are seven ways massage can improve your life.

1 Stress Relief: Massage helps to alleviate stress by promoting relaxation and reducing tension in muscles. The gentle pressure applied during a massage encourages the body to release endorphins, which are natural mood elevators, resulting in a calmer state of mind.

2 Pain Reduction: Massage therapy can effectively relieve various types of pain, including chronic pain, muscle soreness, and tension headaches. By targeting specific areas of discomfort and improving blood circulation, massages help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

3 Improved Circulation: The manipulation of soft tissues during a massage enhances blood flow throughout the body. Improved circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells more efficiently while removing toxins and waste products, resulting in better overall health and vitality.

4 Enhanced Flexibility and Range of Motion: Regular massages can help increase flexibility and improve range of motion by loosening tight muscles and connective tissues. This can be particularly beneficial for athletes and individuals recovering from injuries or surgeries.

5 Boosted Immune System: Studies have shown that massage therapy can boost the immune system by increasing the activity of white blood cells, which play a crucial role in defending the body against illness and infection. Regular massages may help to strengthen the body's natural defense mechanisms.

6 Improved Sleep Quality: Massage promotes relaxation and reduces stress hormones, making it easier to fall asleep and experience deeper, more restorative sleep. By calming the nervous system and promoting a sense of well-being, massages can help individuals achieve a more rejuvenating night's rest.

7 Enhanced Mental Wellbeing: In addition to its physical benefits, massage therapy also has positive effects on mental health. It can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue by promoting relaxation, improving mood, and increasing feelings of well-being. Many people find that regular massages provide a muchneeded break from the stresses of daily life, allowing them to recharge both mentally and emotionally.

At Elements Massage, we understand that each individual is unique and our team of skilled therapists is dedicated to tailoring every session to your specific requirements, ensuring that you always leave our studio feeling renewed and revitalized. If you would like to incorporate massage into your wellness routine, please contact us at (630) 232-7335.

Photos by Drew Pertl

Lately, the reminders have arrived almost daily, confirming the rapid passage of time.

The only variable that seems to change is the method by which the message is delivered.

Sometimes, it's as simple as taking a good hard look in the mirror, and wondering who that old guy is staring back at me.

Kids are particularly good at this line of work. At times, they can remind us simply by growing and developing, rendering involuntary service as unofficial measuring sticks. At others, they serve as much more active messengers, delivering all too eager comments about gray hair (or lack thereof); horrified reactions to one's entertainment and technology choices (as in: "Ew, Facebook? You. Are. So. Old."); or shock at realizing just how much of what they consider to be history is actually just memories for people older than 30 ("So, they had TV when you were a kid, but no Netflix? Or YouTube? How?")

Speaking of memories, old photos often can drive the point home quite effectively, allowing us to smile, laugh and perhaps shed a tear at the way we were.

And speaking of Facebook – the social media giant that just turned 20 and has likely learned just about everything about just about everyone –

has joined in the fun of making us all feel even older when we use it. How? Through the use of "Memories." Every day, for those who somehow don't know, Facebook sends you a custom link to old photos, videos and posts of the past. Some of them can be happy tearjerkers, like those photos of your kids from the early years, before they could deliver those slicing one-liners about your "baldy spot" or your musical tastes.

Others can trigger shouts of triumph, as you run into the living room to show your kids that you did, in fact, once have a rather nice looking crown of thick brown hair that their mother found rather attractive, which rather conveniently began changing and disappearing the moment those same children came into the world.

Others can be cringe worthy, like those "surveys" we once raced to complete to generate laughs for our friends, only to later learn appeared perfectly designed to help Facebook and their friends learn more about us and our friends – or to help hackers guess our passwords.

Others in the category of cringe? Photos from that kid's birthday party, not that long ago, held in your garage.

Now, far be it from me to disparage the long-standing and fine American middle class tradition of using our garages as auxiliary backyard party space.

And to be fair, the memories of the party itself had

nothing to do with inducing the cringe. Rather, what gave me pause was the confirmation that we were actually able, at one time, to use the garage for such a purpose at all.

See, among the myriad ways to determine the passage of time, the depth of the accumulation of stuff is not only handy, but often overlooked.

It's nefarious how it can sneak up, slipping past even your best efforts at diligence, taking advantage of good intentions and Midwestern "waste-not-wantnot" sensibilities, only to be suddenly faced with a mountain of unwanted, outdated, mismatched doodads, when those sensibilities clash with real world realities. (Such as: You don't actually know how to fix that. And it's cheaper to just replace it anyway.)

It's why, when we moved into our current house about seven years ago, we were shocked to discover just how much stuff we had collected in our former, much smaller dwelling during the 15 years we called it home.

Now, seven years later and a few years after a large home addition project and the addition of my wife's parents to the household, we appear to have again reached a point of reckoning, as so many items appear to have sneaked into the garage, crowding out many of its intended uses.

To this point, we have managed to maintain space for two vehicles in our three-car accessory unit.

But this spring, it is time to begin scaling that mountain – or more precisely, leveling it from the top down. Or the bottom up. Or whichever way is most efficient for restoring our ability to once again leave the garage door open without fear when company is near.

So, thanks for the Memories, Facebook.

With luck and a couple weekends of work, those Memories can include new photos of backyard parties, once again starring a neat and tidy garage.

Because what self-respecting old Midwestern dad would want it any other way?

n Jonathan Bilyk writes about the triumphs and travails of being a modernday dad who legitimately enjoys time with his family, while tolerating a dog that seems to adore him. He also doesn’t really like the moniker “Superdad” because it makes it sound like he wants to wear his undergarments on the outside of his pants. (Also,the cape remains on back order.)

Hop Hike Swim Sniff

St. Charles Park District prepares for annual egg hunt fun

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske Photos by Mike Frankowski

Work for the community-wide Easter Egg Hunt in St. Charles’ Pottawatomie Park begins just after the confetti from the New Year Celebration is swept off the floor.

Recreation Supervisor Lara Piner relies on volunteers, from local scouts to businesses, to help fill the more than 12,000 eggs that will be hidden for the St. Charles Park District’s Community Egg Hunt.

“It takes a lot of volunteers,” she said, explaining how in the snow-covered early weeks of January she was organizing volunteers to help fill the colorful plastic eggs that will be hidden for thousands of seekers when they descend on the park Saturday, March 23.

“We’ll hide between 12,000 and 15,000 eggs,” she added. “We have to start months before to make sure we’re ready.”

The hunt is free to the public, with children ages 9 and younger divided into different age categories and locations to help make sure everyone can find plenty of treats in Pottawatomie Park, located near downtown St. Charles and along the Fox River.

Each season the staff at St. Charles Park District bring festive and fun events to celebrate the spring holiday. There is the Flashlight Egg Hunt & Hike at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center where participants follow the trails outside of the Discovery Center to learn about egg laying animals and collect filled eggs at different stations. At the end of the trail, participants will participate in an egg hunt. The event is for all ages and the registration cost is $12 per child. Register for a time slot for the Flashlight Egg Hunt, between 6-7:45 p.m.

Last year the team at Norris Recreation Center launched a new egg hunt for children in the center’s competitive pool. The Underwater Egg Hunt returns Saturday, March 16 with children ages 3 to 12 invited to swim and gather plastic eggs in the shallow end of the pool. The park district team organized the new event last year and it was very well-received, said Ande Masoncup, assistant superintendent of recreation at the Norris Recreation Center.

Parents can assist children ages 3 and 4 in the pool, while children ages 5 and older should be comfortable swimming independently to participate in the hunt, Masoncup said.

Approximately 500 plastic eggs will

float in the pool as children, divided by age groups, take their turns paddling to collect eggs. After the hunt, families can stay to enjoy the Open Swim time and the Easter Bunny will be available for photos.

For those who prefer more time with the bunny, there’s the traditional Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Wednesday, March 27 at Pottawatomie Community Center featuring time for each family to snap photos with the Easter Bunny while enjoying a delicious pancake breakfast. The cost is $18 per person and advance registration is required.

And there’s even an egg hunt to enjoy with your favorite pup. The annual Doggie Egg Hunt returns to the dog park at River Bend Community Park. Dogs can put their noses to use sniffing out the plastic eggs that have treats and tickets for prizes hidden inside.

For the dog hunt, the pups are divided by size into the two play areas to search out the plastic eggs. Dogs must be on a 6-foot, non-retractable leash and advance registration is required, with a cost of $5 per dog. Piner added there are raffle prizes too. The Easter Bunny will be available so people and their pups can pose for a few pictures to cap the special occasion.

THEY'RE BACK

HEADLINES ARE BUZZING ABOUT THIS YEAR'S CICADA EMERGENCE. WHAT IMPACT WILL THEY HAVE ON GARDENS AND YARDS?

As we are sure you have heard, this is a year for cicadas to make an appearance this summer. Here in Northern Illinois, Brood XIII of the 17-year cicada will emerge. South of Springfield, Brood XIX of the 13-year cicada will emerge. Both will emerge for the first time in 221 years.

However, here in Northern Illinois, we will not see a co-emergence as we are too far north.

Cicadas spend most of their life in the soil as a larvae feeding on small roots and then emerge as adults. They will then mate and lay eggs on small twigs and branches and return to the soil to start the 17-year process over again. It is important to keep in mind that this is a natural occurrence and has been happening for thousands of years.

Despite what some of the headlines read, all of our trees are not going to die, and we are not going to be living in a barren wasteland when the emergence is over. If you have or will be planting tiny seedling trees (like those given away on Arbor Day or those purchased from Soil and Water Conservation), you may have reason for concern. Consider netting them with a fine bird netting. You can plant larger, more mature trees (like those that you would normally purchase at a nursery or garden center) that won't be damaged.

Use insecticides sparingly and consider the broader ramification of their use because it’s difficult to properly spray for such cyclical insect populations without harming beneficial insects such as caterpillars, bees and butterflies.

FAQS ABOUT CICADAS VS. PLANTS

Does egg-laying (called “oviposition”) harm trees?

Very young woody plants and tree whips (small trees that are less than 1-inch diameter lined out in nurseries for further growth or sold at big box stores) can be more seriously damaged than older trees in the landscape. The female cicada’s egg laying on the young stems can cause wounds that may lead to breakage of the stem or dead portions at the top of the tree and also may provide entry for canker-causing fungi and wood-boring insect pests. Studies have shown that females prefer small-diameter branches for egg laying and damage is usually limited to branches smaller than an eighth inch to half inch in diameter.

Does larvae feeding on the roots cause damage?

While studies show it is rare for trees in our area to have any negative root effects from larval cicadas, occasionally it can slow the growth of some trees in the year after a hatch, or it can expedite the growth depending on the type of tree. Such slowage of growth is minimal and most likely unnoticeable in garden plants. There is nothing that needs to be done to trees to protect their roots from cicadas.

Does the wound left from egg-laying (oviposition) heal?

Studies have shown that it can take one to two years after cicada egg laying for a tree to repair the damage from ovipositing. Most trees callous over the wounds and don’t skip a beat – no different than other minor damage like a pruning cut or a broken branch. Some trees with softer bark could take a bit longer to heal. Do not try to paint over or wrap these wounds during the growing season. Let the tree heal on its own and you should see no negative effects from the damage.

Should I or can I spray insecticides?

Non-systemic insecticides (a.k.a. contact insecticides such as Sevin) are not effective and do not deter adult females from landing on host plants or deter them from laying eggs on host plants. Young trees treated with systemic insecticides (such as Imidacloprid, which is a soil drench) have been observed to have less egg nests and scars than untreated trees. Netted trees, however, showed little or no damage from egg laying. Again, and we can’t stress this enough, use caution and prudence when spraying insecticides unnecessarily as it can do greater harm than the cicadas can to the trees and surrounding ecology.

So in other words – don’t panic about the noisy bugs with the big orange eyes! Enjoy this quirk of our ecology and join us as we look forward to summer and the buzz of cicadas wafting on the hot summer breeze.

n Reference: Fred Miller, PhD, Morton Arboretum senior entomologist

Meagan Provencher is the Senior Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. She can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@wasconursery.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

PLANNING YOUR LEGACY

leg·a·cy

According to the Oxford Dictionary, legacy can be defined as:

noun

• an amount of money or property left to someone in a will. "My grandmother died and unexpectedly left me a small legacy."

• the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life. "He left us a rich legacy of buildings that are both innovative architectural creations and genuine works of art."

Jean A. McCartney, my mother, died on Jan. 20 this year. She grew up in North-Central Wisconsin in a small papermill town and was a Depression-era baby. She worked her way through college and became a beloved teacher, wife, parent, grandparent, mother-in-law and community leader. Despite a humble upbringing, the lives she touched and people she influenced seem to border on being innumerable.

There is a finality in the passing of a parent. You find yourself reflecting not only on the life of your loved one who passed, but also on your own life. How will Mom be remembered? How will I be remembered? How do I want to be remembered? What am I doing about it?

Our private wealth management team’s tag line, Helping to Assure Lifestyle & Legacy, was developed as a result of decades of working with wealthy individuals and their families. We’ve observed that, at some point, the worry of the financial day-to-day is often replaced with bigger, more profound questions.

Jean was a prolific writer and had a knack for sending just the right note to people at the perfect time. Although her lifestyle was modest, thanks to disciplined investing and a well-structured estate plan her presence will

continue to be felt for many years after

death. How typical of Mom, yet how extraordinary.

What will your legacy be? What are you doing to help assure it?

For conversations beyond returns and asset-allocation, give our team a call.

This