MCM July 2016

JULY 2016

PATIO PARADISE Guide to waterfront dining PAGE 20

CRAFT BEER CRAZE

Local breweries weigh in PAGE 22

WAKEBOARDING WONDERLAND NEW QUARRY CABLE PARK PUTS SPIN ON WATER SPORT

SEIZE THE SUMMER AT MCHENRY COUNTY FAIR

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����� � ���� ������� Illinois Vein Specialists, I needed a walker.”

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Dr. Stephen P. Rivard (L.) and Mr. Joe Kainz (R.), inside Joe’s Onion Pub

J

oe Kainz is Barrington’s well-known proprietor of The Onion Pub. He became a patient of Illinois Vein Specialists in 2010 after his orthopedic surgeon became concerned that Joe’s knee replacement surgery was not healing properly and requested a consult. Joe could not move comfortably, required the aid of a walker and just was not recuperating from his knee surgery. This was not the plan.

Thinking back, Dr. Stephen Rivard, medical director of IVS, recalls: “Below the knee, his legs were 19 inches in circumference and so hard and taut I doubt a needle could have penetrated the skin. My initial diagnosis of hypertensive venous disease was immediately and definitively confirmed by our Doppler Sonography equipment. Joe was scheduled for endovenous laser closure of the severely incompetent veins in his legs and as his circulation improved he began walking again without the walker in less than a month.”

Joe smiles: “When I learned that Illinois Vein Specialists was moving in right next door to us in the Lake Barrington Professional Center, I knew we’d be doing business together. Our selections of in-house, craftbrewed beers are mighty popular and our pub grub can’t be beat. But, little did I know I’d be the one paying the bill . . . but I’m sure glad I did.”

A BROAD MEDICAL MISSION While it may seem a bit boastful, such results are common at Illinois Vein Specialists. Dr. Rivard has become the go-to physician when other doctors are having trouble diagnosing the reasons for lack of patient progress after hip and knee replacement, and general wound healing.

He has also found venous circulatory improvements can aid neuropathy sufferers and can even ease the pumping burden of those with congestive heart failure.

Spreading the word about the broad implications of venous disease— quite apart from obvious important medical issues like varicose veins and the less serious spider veins—is very much a part of the mission at Illinois Vein Specialists.

Dr. Rivard pointed out some little known facts: “It is not generally understood that three-fourths of all circulatory problems relating to poor wound healing and ulcerations are problems with venous stasis and poor oxygenation from veins rather than with arteries. Nor is it understood that people have about 400% more venous capacity than is needed; that’s why we can eliminate those big, painful, ropey veins some patients suffer from without impairing circulation. Finally, vein disease and complications impact about 25% of the population and are not necessarily a function of age.”

PHLEBOLOGY: THE NEWEST MEDICAL SPECIALTY Phlebology is the name of the Board Certified Specialty that diagnoses and treats vein disease. Dr. Rivard, who began his career in Emergency Medicine and practiced at Good Shepherd Hospital, is among the very first group of physicians in the US to be Board Certified in Phlebology (and one of the few physicians so certified in IL). He’s also Certified in Vascular Ultrasonography, which is the essential diagnostic technology used in Phlebology. This combination serves as the foundation for everything that happens at IVS. Illinois Vein Specialists opened in 2009 and has a staff of a dozen—physicians, medical technicians, ultrasound specialists and administrative personnel. Since then they have helped well over a thousand Barrington-area patients. “One of the things I like the best about specializing in vein disease is the opportunity to meet wonderful people like Joe Kainz; being able to help them is the reason I get up in the morning.”

To find out how Illinois Vein Specialists, A Center of Excellence in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vein Disease™, might be able to help you: call for an appointment at 847-277-9100, stop by our offices at 22285 Pepper Rd, (suite 105), Lake Barrington and look at our “brag book” or visit us on-line at www.Illinoisveinspecialsts.com. © 2012 Illinois Vein Specialists. All rights reserved.

SUMMER STYLE ESSENTIALS

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Editor's Note Hello readers! I am Kara Silva, the new editor of McHenry County Magazine.

My predecessor, Allison McCaleb, has played a pivotal role in the production of this magazine for the last year, and my only hope is that, under my leadership, the publication continues to be an amusing and aestheticallyappealing place for community members to share their stories.

With that said, let me briefly introduce myself.

If there are any qualities that I can claim from my Irish heritage, it’s the love of a good story.

Eight years ago, I entered my first professional newsroom, and – since then – I have lived the life of a journalist: ruled by deadlines, hunkered down in the trenches of truth-telling and referring to my AP Stylebook as a sort of writing bible.

This issue – the Water Recreation edition – will help inject a little soul into your summer by giving you even more reason to seize the day and get outside.

The Quarry Cable Park and Grille, located at Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake, is finally open for shredding. Cover girl and Quarry supervisor Courtney Kampert is excited to share this wakeboarding wonderland with the masses, find out what’s happening at The Quarry, on Page 8.

From SUP yoga, windsurfing and paddling the Nippersink Canoe Trail to waterfront dining and maneuvering the county’s craft beer scene, we’ve got you covered.

Thanks for reading,

I’ve been following the leads and lives of those living in the Chicago suburbs for a couple of years shy of a decade, and – as the current editor of Kane County Magazine – I am thrilled to have McHenry County Magazine under my tutelage now, too.

GENERAL MANAGER Jim Ringness 815-526-4614 jringness@shawmedia.com

Kara Silva, Editor

DIRECTOR OF NICHE REVENUE Sherri Dauskurdas 630-427-6263 sdauskurdas@shawmedia.com EDITOR Kara Silva 630-427-6209 ksilva@shawmedia.com

on the

COVER

In Crystal Lake, you no longer need a boat to ride the wake.

The Quarry Cable Park and Grille is finally open, and experienced wakeboarder Courtney Kampert is excited to share this recreational hot spot with the masses, find out what the park has to offer on Page 8.

Photo by RON MCKINNEY Salon Services by MARIO TRICOCI Stylist - JENNA Makeup - STEPHANIE

4 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

Published by Shaw Media 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 Phone: 815-459-4040 Fax: 815-477-4960 www.McHenryCountyMagazine.com

DESIGNER Carol Manderfield 630-427-6253 cmanderfield@shawmedia.com CORRESPONDENTS Melissa Riske, Kelsey O’Connor, Shonda Dudlicek, Jonathan Bilyk, Yvonne Benson, Elizabeth Harmon, Wendy Foster, Sandra Manley, Stephanie N. Grimoldby, Michelle Stien PHOTOGRAPHERS Ron McKinney, Nancy Merkling, Sheryl Mayhew, From Me 2 You Photography

McHenry County Magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send payment information and address to McHenry County Magazine, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@ shawmedia.com.

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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 5

INSIDE

WATER RECREATION 8 WAKEBOARDING WONDERLAND The Quarry Cable Park and Grille in Crystal Lake is finally open for shredding

12 PADDLE TO PROTECT Wildlife returning to Nippersink Canoe Trail as stream recovers

15 BOARD HOUSE, A BOARD HAVEN Rental shop makes a splash with SUP yoga, windsurfing and paddleboarding

DINING & ENTERTAINING 20 PATIO PARADISE

Cycling the Prairie Trail is pure adventure

40 RACES, RUNS AND RIDES to counter being a desk jockey

HOME & LIFESTYLE

42 BOOK NOOK Sizzling summer reads

OUT & ABOUT

22 CRAFT BEER CRAZY

44 SEIZE THE SUMMER WITH THE MCHENRY COUNTY FAIR

FASHION & BEAUTY 27 TOP 10 HAIR CARE TIPS for your next holiday getaway

Lush natural areas and an abundance of species make McHenry County an ideal spot for both veteran and novice birders.

38 TRAILBLAZERS

Guide to waterfront dining locales McHenry County microbreweries stay busy trying to meet local demand

48 BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

HEALTH & WELLNESS

BUSINESS & CIVIC 29 VORACIOUS VOLUNTEER Woman of Distinction Gloria Mack spends golden years exploring interests, serving community

FAMILY IN FOCUS 35 MEETING THE CHALLENGES

Las Vegas acts, big concert blend with festival favorites

47 ARTIST SHOWCASE Award-winning Lake in the Hills artist shares “Shadows on a Wall,” an ink-on-paper piece.

48 BIRD’S-EYE VIEW Lush natural areas and an abundance of species make McHenry County an ideal spot for both veteran and novice birders.

50 CALENDAR OF EVENTS See what’s happening in McHenry County this July.

of aging parents

36 DIRTY LITTLE SECRET Tips to ridding your kids of lice

6 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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WAKEBOARDING

WONDERLAND

8 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

WATER RECREATION

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The Quarry is open for shredding

By ELIZABETH HARMON | Photos by RON MCKINNEY

T

he Quarry Cable Park and Grille, located at the Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake, puts a new twist on wakeboarding, and – in the process – it’s giving more people a chance to try it.

“Typically with wakeboarding, which is a lot like waterskiing, the rider is pulled behind a boat. The benefit to our park is that you don’t need a boat, so it opens the sport up to a lot more people,” says Elisabeth Landt, operations manager at The Quarry.

The 32-acre facility, which opened in June, uses cables suspended from 30-foot towers to move riders around Three Oaks’ North Lake. There are two straight courses, which take riders – one at a time – straight across the lake and back, and a half-mile circular course that can accommodate up to 10 riders at once, and it features rails and ramps.

The straight courses are excellent for those just learning to wakeboard, Landt says.

“There’s a lot of interaction between the rider and operator, so it’s perfect for beginning riders, younger kids or people with special needs. It’s also a place for intermediate riders who want to work on new moves.”

The circular advanced course “is where you’ll see professional riders and advanced local riders, doing the really challenging moves,” she says.

Courtney Kampert, a supervisor at The Quarry, is an experienced wakeboarder who will not only be helping others learn the sport, but challenging herself as well.

“I’d like to get up to the point where I can hit some of the jumps and rails,” she says.

A wakeboarder since she was 11, Kampert, now 20, says she has taught a number of family members and friends to wakeboard.

“If a person is athletic, and if they’ve snowboarded or water-skied, they usually pick it up easier. It’s a skill that you learn over time – learning to stand up and balance on top of the water,” she says.

Since The Quarry is on a contained lake, riders do not have to maneuver around other

-Continued on page 10

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WATER RECREATION

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 9

Pullout Quote: “Typically with wakeboarding, which is a lot like waterskiing, the rider is pulled behind a boat. The benefit to our park is that you don’t need a boat, so it opens the sport up to a lot more people.”

– Elisabeth Landt, operations manager at The Quarry Cable Park and Grille.

offering wakeboarding necessities available for purchase or rental, a sand volleyball court, baggo area, fire pit and outdoor yoga.

-Continued from page 11 boats, or deal with churning wakes, which gives it an advantage for novice riders, Landt says.

The park is located on Three Oaks’ previously underutilized North Lake.

“We’re looking at having drop-in classes where people can enjoy the morning quiet of Three Oaks, which is just beautiful,” says Landt.

“Yoga is also very beneficial for wakeboarding and a great way for advanced riders to improve their flexibility.”

The ’43 Tap and Grille will have a casual menu, featuring “elevated comfort food” with plenty of outdoor seating and lakeside views, Landt says.

“There were a few stand-up paddleboarders over there, and some fishing, but not much else,” Landt says.

“It’s burgers, wraps, salads, foods with a summertime feel. We’ll also be serving local brews from Crystal Lake Brewing and some of the other area microbreweries,” Landt says.

In addition to the wakeboard courses at The Quarry – which also will be available for lessons and private parties – it has a pro shop,

The Quarry is owned by local residents Pat McGinnis and Charlie Copley, whose families are well-known in the construction and roofing

10 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

WATER RECREATION

industries. The privately-owned business employs about 30 people. “[The owners] grew up enjoying watersports on Crystal Lake and wanted to bring something new to the area,” says Landt.

While wakeboard parks have become popular in warm-climate states, they are often temporary, pop-up facilities. The Quarry’s high-quality and permanent cable system has earned high praise from professional riders from Liquid Force, a well-known wakeboard manufacturer and sponsor of The Quarry. Liquid Force is expected to present wakeboarding exhibitions this season.

“There aren’t many parks around, so it’s not only going to be new for us, but for people from the region, and we’re very excited about it,” Kampert says.

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WATER RECREATION

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 11

PADDLE TO PROTECT WILDLIFE RETURNING TO NIPPERSINK CANOE TRAIL AS STREAM RECOVERS

By JONATHAN BILYK

K

im Compton hasn’t yet seen an otter in the Nippersink Creek herself. And Compton, education program coordinator at the McHenry County Conservation District in Woodstock, says no one has officially confirmed any otters in the stream either.

But the district has begun hearing reports from those paddling the creek, claiming to have seen the furry river creatures that historically called the stream their home. Compton says she believes it will only be a matter of time before those sightings are verified, marking yet another step in the stream’s recovery, and providing another reason for people to put a canoe or kayak on the 15-mile stretch of stream the 12 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

conservation district has officially designated as the Nippersink Canoe Trail.

habitable for the otters and other species that rely on the aquatic creatures for food.

“It’s just been a drastic change for the better we’ve seen on the creek in the past few years,” says Compton.

Since the late 1990s, however, the conservation district has sought to change that, gradually buying land around the creek and launching In the 1950s, after about a century of European- projects to remove the nearly 6-foot high earthen berms – or “mudbanks,” as Compton American settlement, local authorities began reengineering the Nippersink, easterly from near calls them – along the creek and restore the waterway to a more natural state, similar to the land currently known as Glacial Park, near Richmond, to the McHenry-Lake county line near what Compton says can be seen on historical Fox Lake. Channels were created in the stream to maps and aerial photos from the 1930s. better drain the land and make it more suitable As the stream has reverted closer to its original for farming, essentially speeding excess water form, the wildlife has begun to return. And with downstream and away from the tilled land. the wildlife, paddlers have begun dotting the creek’s surface in canoes and kayaks, as well, However, through the years, the channelization taking advantage of the district’s canoe trail to left the stream unusually fast and silty, says enjoy a day on the water and – mostly – the Compton, making it less hospitable to the fish quiet of nature. and mussels and other aquatic species that historically called the creek home and, thus, less WATER RECREATION

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“There are so many people paddling the creek now,” says Compton. “It’s really wonderful to see.”

The trail features four possible launching and landing points, bookended by the district’s Keystone Landing near Richmond and Nippersink Canoe Base near Spring Grove.

In Glacial Park, the creek’s canoe trail enters its first riffle – a shallower portion of the stream, with a rocky bottom – offering a “mini-rapids” experience.

“As a recreational paddler, it’s fun to navigate,” she says.

To enhance the experience on the canoe trail, the district – last year – launched an interpretive smartphone app, which is available for download or via a QR code posted on signs at the canoe launches. The app teaches visitors about the Nippersink and what they can see along the way.

But as a “nature lover,” Compton says she always loves floating under the canopy of oak trees hanging over the creek, just before the Route 31 bridge.

Compton says she paddles the river at least a dozen times a year, both recreationally and as part of guided tours she leads through the conservation district.

If paddlers are paying attention, they may see a range of river wildlife, including eagles, herons, egrets, muskrat, turtles, mink – and perhaps, soon, even otters.

“It never gets old,” she says.

The creek regularly offers new surprises and sights, for those willing to look, she says, but there are two particular points on the creek that are her favorites.

“It gives a really peaceful, solemn cathedral effect,” she says.

conditions” would be stream flows of between 100-250 cubic feet per second.

“Those can change quickly, day to day, depending on rainfall,” she says.

She advised to watch weather conditions, as well, because areas around the creek offer limited opportunities for shelter in the event of thunderstorms.

Those without a vessel of their own can rent canoes or kayaks from some local companies, For those looking to paddle the stream, Compton including Tip A Canoe LLC or Ed’s Rental, recommended canoeists and kayakers check Compton says. Further, the district offers guided the stream conditions, and particularly stream tours, either for families or adults-only, departing flows, before heading out, using a link on the on certain dates. conservation district’s website. She says “ideal

u For more information on the Nippersink Canoe Trail, visit www.mccdistrict.org. www.nwherald.com/magazine

WATER RECREATION

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 13

Residential & Commercial

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14 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

WATER RECREATION

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BOARD HOUSE,

A BOARD HAVEN

Rental shop makes a splash with SUP yoga, windsurfing and paddleboarding

By YVONNE BENSON Photos by NANCY MERKLING

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L

ocated at the popular Three Oaks Recreation Area, the Board House is one of two water-vessel rental and instruction companies on the lake. The Board House focuses on stand-up paddleboards – often called SUP – and windsurfing, whereas the other company rents out canoes and kayaks.

Rick Pasturczak is the owner of the Board House in Crystal Lake and Alpine Accessories in Lake in the Hills. The Alpine store sells skis and snowboards in the winter and paddleboards and sailboards in the summer.

WATER RECREATION

“We’re on the perfect lake,” Pasturczak says of the Board House. “It’s an old quarry; it’s just a beautiful, beautiful facility.”

Only non-motorized vessels are allowed on the lake, says Pasturczak, and boards can only be rented from the companies at the lake to avoid contamination, such as algae and bacteria, from other bodies of water. The only exception is for races.

“People can bring their own board for the races, but we have to clean their boards first,” Pasturczak says.

-Continued on page 16 MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 15

-Continued from page 15

¢ PADDLEBOARD YOGA

¢ SAILBOARDING

Jessica Beuckman is in charge of SUP yoga instruction at the Board House, where she offers weekly paddleboard yoga classes.

“Sailboarding – or windsurfing, there are two terms out there – it’s like taking a sailboat and a surf board together and being blown across the water,” Pasturczak says. “When you’re in a “My first experience was just me on my own SUP board trying various yoga poses,” Beuckman sailboat you feel secure because you have the walls around you. When you’re on a sailboard says. “I quickly learned how challenging and you’re more [one] with the water because you [how] much fun this could be. There’s also something about being outside in the sun and on can reach down and touch the water, and you’re more one with nature.” the water while also practicing yoga.”

SUP yoga adds a little variety to a yogi’s practice, Sailboarding can be difficult, is not always relaxing and is very much dependent on the while it also attracts those new to yoga. strength of the wind.

“Every student that comes to a SUP Yoga class “The higher the winds, the more excitement and falls immediately in love with the practice,” Beuckman says. “I think everyone should try SUP the more speed is involved,” Pasturczak says.

“There’s a little bit of strength involved on a Yoga at least once; it’s challenging, but also so high-wind day.” much fun.”

He insists that first-time sailboarders need to Some benefits of SUP Yoga include building have a lesson before going out. stability and balance, increasing flexibility and strength, and it also has a calming effect on the mind, Beuckman says.

“There’s something about being in nature and surrounded by water that just harmonizes you to your very core,” she says.

16 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

“A beginner has to learn in low-wind conditions,” he says. “When you’re skiing you don’t start on a steep tall hill. When you’re learning sailboarding, you have to start with lower winds – 10 miles per hour – and then you become more skilled and can go out in stronger winds.”

WATER RECREATION

Sailboarding is an action sport and the wind determines how challenging it can be. Having balance and learning to harness the wind and steer the vessel are crucial components to sailboarding, Pasturczak says.

“If you go out without a lesson, you simply get blown downwind,” he says. “The wind will just blow you back on shore. [During a lesson] you learn the basics, and then you can go out.

People who have been in a sailboat before, they understand the wind a little bit and catch on better.”

¢ PADDLEBOARD RENTALS Standup paddleboarding differs from sailboarding because no lessons are required in order to rent a paddleboard.

“We say that paddleboarding is easy to learn but challenging to master,” Pasturczak says.

“Paddleboarding is similar to snow skiing, in such you can do it in many different ways. You can go out for a relaxing cruise; you can get a workout; you can enter a competition; you get to enjoy the scenery around you; and you can enjoy it by yourself or with a group of friends.”

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However, some patrons do opt for paddleboard lessons, as it’s surprising how much there is to know about the activity.

“There are about a half-a-dozen kinds of paddle strokes,” he says.

In addition to SUP yoga and paddleboard races, the Board House also offers supolo, which is water polo on paddleboards.

“It’s fun because you’re so close to other people, and they’re laughing, and they fall in [the water],” Pasturczak says. “Sometimes we get teams who are really serious and competitive. We do that on Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m.”

Youth Triathlon

Sat • July 23 • 8:30am James O. Breen Community Park • St. Charles

Kid-friendly, kid distances & kids only!

SWIM the Crayfish Canal at Otter Cove, BIKE a closed parking lot course in the park and RUN the trails/grass.

Race distances vary per age group. This is a Chronomix timed event. Awards presented to the top athletes. Goody bag includes race t-shirt and much more!

IF YOU GO

DAYS OF OPERATION: Through Sept. 18

PA

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays (weather permitting) CONTACT: 847-943-7043 (The Board House); 847-854-4754 (Alpine Accessories) INFO: www.aaboardhouse.com www.nwherald.com/magazine

.C

HA R L

ES

WHERE: Three Oaks Recreation Area, 5517 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake

ST

WHAT: The Board House

R

K

CT

SINCE 1911

Perfect for beginner and experienced competitors!

DISTR

I

Ages 5-15 Registration Fee:

Competition Groups: Ages 5-7 / Ages 8-10 / Ages 11-15

$40 per child (Early Bird Rate until July 10) $60 per child (July 11-23)

A great way to stay active and have fun!

For more info or to register, visit ottercove.org WATER RECREATION

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 17

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WATER RECREATION

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 19

Patio paradise GUIDE TO WATERFRONT DINING LOCALES

By YVONNE BENSON Summertime in McHenry County is beautiful but fleeting. Fortunately, an abundance of outdoor dining options allow residents to take advantage of the season by basking in the sun and taking in the peaceful water views.

Sip and savor in the sunshine or under the stars at these waterfront eateries:

AFTER THE FOX

1406 Riverside Drive McHenry 815-344-3760 The family-friendly restaurant and bar allows customers to watch the boats float by from the back deck – or even arrive by boat!

Boasting daily lunch and dinner specials, come for steak, seafood and sandwiches.

BIMBO’S ITALIAN

1318 Riverside Drive McHenry 815-385-1444 www.bimbositalian.com Bimbo’s Italian is a homey Italian restaurant with a great view of

the river. The restaurant delivers family-friendly service and are great for a romantic first date.

BROKEN OAR MARINA BAR AND GRILL

614 Rawson Bridge Road Port Barrington 847-639-9468 www.brokenoar.com The Fox River-front restaurant serves cold brews, good food and it regularly has live music. It’s the restaurant and pub associated with the Broken Oar Marina for boats. uDog-friendly patio after 5 p.m. on Mondays

BUDDYZ PIZZA

1138 N. Green St. McHenry 815-363-1010 www.buddyzpizza.com Buddyz Pizza, located along the McHenry Riverwalk, specializes in Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.

The menu features 25 signature pizzas, all named after Chicago landmarks. A top-seller is the Buttercrust pizza, good with any topping. uDog-friendly patio

CORKSCREW POINTE

1402 Riverside Drive McHenry 815-578-8360 www.corkscrewpointe.com With 16 beers on tap and fun cocktails, like the “Monster Rum Runner” (only on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Corkscew Pointe is a sports bar with a karaoke problem. You can see the river from the windows while enjoying a cool beer indoors, but it’s not the focus.

DOCKERS RESTAURANT

33 W. Grand Ave. Fox Lake 847-973-0033 www.dockersfoxlake.com Dockers is on the shore of Fox Lake and does a great job of encouraging happy memories through community, food and drinks. The restaurant encourages Broken Oar Marina Bar and Grill in Port Barrington 20 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

DINING & ENTERTAINING

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INDOOR Port Edward Restaurant in Algonquin

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you to dock your boat at the eatery so that you can enjoy the menu from your vessel.

EL PUERTO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

200 Forest Ave. Fox Lake 847-973-1370 www.elpuertorestaurant.net El Puerto Mexican Restaurant encourages people to bring their whole family to enjoy a meal on the expansive patio overlooking the lake.

Furthermore, the restaurant serves award-winning margaritas.

The Snuggery in McHenry

PORT EDWARD RESTAURANT

THE SNUGGERY

3505 S. Wright Road McHenry 815-455-1444 Kief’s Reef serves basic bar food and drinks, such as the rum bucket with a straw, that you can bring to a picnic table on the water. The restaurant is known for casual fun and great parties.

20 W. Algonquin Road Algonquin 847-658-5441 www.portedward.com Port Edward offers a really special dining experience along the Fox River. There are nice river views, but the food, drinks and ambiance are the complete package. One of the fun attributes of Port Edward is that you can reserve a table on their indoor boat. It’s a boat inside of the restaurant that floats in water! uDog-friendly patio

OAK PARK LOUNGE

RIVERSIDE PUB

KIEF’S REEF

801 Oak Grove Road Johnsburg 815-385-9872 Oak Park Lounge is a selfproclaimed dive bar with a lovely view of the lake. Inside there is a pool table and televisions.

1625 IL-176 Crystal Lake 815-444-6200 www.rspub.biz This is a simple, clean spot for a good meal and drink. There is karaoke multiple times a week and live music on the weekends.

801 N. River Road McHenry 815-578-9600 www.snuggerychicago.com/ mchenry Between sports, trivia and a luau, The Snuggery serves a full menu that cane be enjoyed in the dining room or on the large patio, fit with plenty of tables with umbrellas.

VICKIE’S PLACE

1211 N. River Road McHenry 815-385-2014 www.vickiesplace.net The tiki-themed Vickie’s Place is a riot and a great place for tropical drinks and margarita flights! The restaurant sells red-neck drinking glasses, “tasteful” tie-dyed clothing and offer great water views.

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DINING & ENTERTAINING

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 21

Craft beer crazy McHenry County microbreweries stay busy trying to meet local demand

By JONATHAN BILYK

For John O’Fallon, the craft beer buzz across McHenry County, and throughout the nation, has been both a blessing and a challenge.

On the one hand, when O’Fallon and his business partner, Chuck Ross, launched their Crystal Lake Brewing microbrewery two years ago, the huge and rising demand for local, skillfully crafted brews was among the leading factors propelling their business forward.

On the other hand, O’Fallon understands insatiate demand will only spur more and more entrants into the contest, in order to satisfy the thirst of craft beer drinkers throughout the region.

country in the Marines. After picking up a homebrewing hobby in the mid-1980s, Ames, now 55, says he would make a point of visiting breweries near where he was stationed to sample the wares and learn more about the craft.

After his retirement in 2010, he took formal college classes in California and Chicago.

Initially, he couldn’t amass the capital needed to follow his dream of opening a brewery. But while working in California for a time, he bought out a failed brewery and shipped the equipment back to McHenry County. There he bought the historic downtown McHenry building, which housed another brewery from 1868-1942. In August 2013, Ames opened the eight-barrel brew pub he branded Chain O’Lakes Brewery – which he noted can be abbreviated COL, an homage to his Marine Corps career.

“This area, around McHenry and Johnsburg, is where I always saw myself opening [a brew “It’s tough, to be honest,” O’Fallon says. “There is pub],” says Ames. “And that I was able to get this a lot of competition right now, and I expect more building, the site of the old McHenry Brewing breweries to open.”

Company, it’s worked out well for us.”

According to data from the most recent annual Similarly, O’Fallon says he and Ross, both Crystal report of the Brewers Association trade group, Lake natives, never wavered in their intent to craft brewing continues to make a splash in open a craft brewery in their hometown. the beer industry pool, representing about 12 “It wasn’t so much about saying, ‘We’re going percent of the total U.S. beer market in 2015, a to build a brewery, so where should we put it?’” market share that has more than doubled since says O’Fallon. “It was much more a case of, 2011.

‘Crystal Lake should have a brewery, and we’re But the report says there were nearly 4,300 craft going to build it.’” breweries nationwide, with more opening all of Both brewery owners say that they have the time. experienced rapid success, in different In McHenry County, craft breweries include the directions.

Chain O’Lakes Brewing Company in McHenry, Ames says his small capacity has allowed him opened by retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Curt to master the beers he produces, including his Ames in 2013; Crystal Lake Brewing, which most popular brew, which he calls the Fox River opened in 2014; The Onion Pub & Brewery in Scotch Ale, while cementing the Chain O’Lakes’ Lake Barrington (Wild Onion Brewing); and connection to the communities in northern Scorched Earth Brewing Co. and Village Vintner McHenry County. With an interior capacity of 40, Winery & Brewery, both in Algonquin. plus a beer garden that can hold an addition 100 Ames, a Johnsburg native, planned to open a people – which is situated about a block-and-abrewery decades ago while moving about the half from the Fox River – Ames says his brew pub

has developed a reputation as a “Cheers-style place” where “everybody knows everybody’s name.”

“We’re a family-oriented, community brewery,” Ames says. “People love coming in here to have conversation and enjoy a great beer.”

At Crystal Lake, O’Fallon says his brewery has set its focus on establishing their reputation locally, but then working on pushing their product out to craft beer fans throughout the region and the country.

With their brewmaster Ryan Clooney finding the right balance, O’Fallon says demand for their product has placed a strain on their brewing capacity. He noted with pride CLB’s third place win in the World Beer Cup contest in the Munich Helles category.

“The only two breweries in the world to have a better Munich Helles than CLB are both centuries-old German breweries,” O’Fallon says.

“It’s kind of crazy to think about and incredibly gratifying.”

Now, O’Fallon says, thanks to the spotlight on an international stage, CLB beer is distributed across Northern Illinois and the brand is picking up steam.

“We’re at capacity, and will need to expand the brewery again soon,” he says.

Ames also says he is eyeing expansion for Chain O’Lakes, as well, particularly to find more space to brew his top sellers for local and regional distribution.

He says the ever-evolving palates of beer drinkers in the region are demanding it.

“I’ve seen a huge difference just from when I first started,” Ames says. “People are really shifting in their likes and in their tastes. They’re demanding something better, something more than just saying, ‘Give me something that tastes like a light beer.”

q IF YOU GO Crystal Lake Brewing 150 N. Main St. Crystal Lake 779-220-9288 crystallakebrew.com

Chain O’Lakes Brewing Company 3425 Pearl St. McHenry 815-331-8345 chainolakesbrewing.com

The Onion Pub & Brewery 22221 N. Pepper Road Lake Barrington 847-381-7308 onionbrewery.com

Scorched Earth Brewing Co. 203 Berg St. Algonquin 224-209-8472 scorchedearthbrewing.com

Village Vintner Winery & Brewery 2380 Esplanade Drive Algonquin 847-658-4900 thevillagevintner.com

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To have your business included in this guide, contact your representative at 815-459-4040. www.nwherald.com/magazine

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for your next vacation Whether you’re heading to the tropics, exploring a new city or on a cruise ship at sea, the key to having beautiful hair throughout your trip is to have a plan. Here are 10 hair tips to make sure your lovely locks are kept tame while you travel.

1. BE PREPARED

7. SUNBLOCK

Research what the weather will be like where you’re heading, and use that information to help you decide which hair products to bring.

Travel-sized products don’t take up a lot of space and can help keep your hair looking great throughout your vacation. If you’re flying, be sure to follow Transportation Security Administration guidelines for liquids to avoid having to toss out your products in the airport security line.

Yes, sunblock for your hair is a vacation essential! Just like you need to protect your skin from harmful rays, your hair needs to be protected, too. Choose a spray-on product with SPF-15, made specifically for hair. The product will help protect hair from being damaged and will keep colored hair from fading in the sun.

2. CHECK THE AMENITIES Check with the hotel concierge to find out what will be stocked in the rooms and what can be ordered by request. Even if the hotel doesn’t have a hair dryer, it’s a good idea to leave yours at home to save space in your luggage.

3. PACK THE ESSENTIALS Once you know what the hotel has available, determine what you’ll need to bring. In addition to your daily travel-sized hair care products, don’t forget a brush and wide tooth comb.

4. SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER When choosing travel-sized products, look for shampoo and conditioner that add moisture.

Products with argan oil or shea butter usually do the trick. We recommend Unite 7Seconds shampoo and conditioner to add moisture and enhance shine.

5. TEXTURIZING SPRAY A good texturizing spray can do wonders for your hair. It can help you create those coveted beach waves. The spray also can help to control frizz – a common problem in areas with high humidity. A great texturizing spray will leave your hair with a glossy shine, making it look like you spent much more time on your hair than you actually did. Unite Tricky Lite is our favorite, along with thermal protection; it’s a great finishing wax for lightweight texture and a little hold.

6. DETANGLER Pool and ocean water can do a number on your hair. Using Unite 7Seconds leave-in conditioner spray will help you comb through knots and tangles more easily, saving your hair from breaking and being damaged.

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FASHION & BEAUTY

8. DRY SHAMPOO Dry shampoo is your best trick to lowmaintenance vacation hair. Spraying dry shampoo on the roots of your hair will absorb oil, add volume and refresh your look. Bring a small bottle of dry shampoo to freshen your hair so you can skip a full wash in the shower.

9. ANTI-HUMIDITY SPRAY Prevent frizz on your tropical vacation with an anti-humidity spray. We recommend U Argan Oil by Unite to provide moisture and instant shine. As a natural UV and thermal protector, it tames frizz and smells amazing.

10. SECRET WEAPONS There are a few items that you may not think of packing that can work miracles when you’re away from home. Pack one or two pretty hair accessories, such as a claw clip, barrettes, bobby pins, ponytail holders and a hat. Another easy way to keep hair looking neat is to braid it before your departure and undo the style right before you arrive. You’ll debut beachy waves that are manageable and chic. All these tools will help keep your hair looking nice and well groomed.

No matter what happens with your hair on vacation, be sure to keep things in perspective.

Plan ahead to avoid problems, but the most important thing about being on vacation is to relax. You’ll be at your absolute most beautiful when you’re having fun and smiling, regardless of how your mane behaves.

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PepperAnnex.com 815-893-0849 MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 27

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FASHION & BEAUTY

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VORACIOUS VOLUNTEER Gloria Mack spends golden years exploring interests, serving community

By MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE | Photos by FROM ME 2 YOU PHOTOGRAPHY

R

etirement is no time to sit idle. For Gloria Mack of McHenry, the golden years are a time to explore your interests and take time to serve the community.

For 20 years, Mack worked as an accountant for Tempus Construction Services in McHenry.

During her time there, she really enjoyed her work and her co-workers, she says.

“It’s wonderful to work with people of like minds,” Mack says.

In retirement, she has been able to share her time and talents with local groups and remains an active part of the community.

For more than 10 years, Mack has been a hospice volunteer with Journey Care Hospice.

Mack says she was inspired to serve in hospice care after her experience with her mother.

“Back then they didn’t have hospice, and I took care of her,” Mack says. “They really need volunteers.”

While some may see hospice care as difficult work, Mack says the work is very rewarding.

“I have learned much more from them,” she says.

From her work as a hospice volunteer, she decided to serve on the Valley Hi Nursing Home Operating Board. Mack says she found the facility and the care it provided to be a great program, and she wanted to support it through her time on the operating board.

Mack also enjoys pursuing a love of history.

From a study committee to creating a historic preservation board, Mack happily donated her time. When the board was established, she

stepped up to serve as the first chairwoman of the McHenry Historic Preservation Board.

“I’ve always enjoyed history,” says Mack, who attributed her interest in the subject to a great history teacher she had at McHenry High School.

Mack was 15 when her family left Chicago and relocated to the McHenry area, near Johnsburg. It was a big difference leaving the urban setting of the city to the rural open lands in McHenry.

Mack is an active member of the McHenry County Civil War Roundtable board and says she enjoys the board’s work in preserving the civil war history in the community. Mack says that data shows around 700 men from McHenry fought in the Civil War. She even treks out to local cemeteries to ensure Civil War veterans’ graves are marked accurately.

Mack also enjoys volunteering with the McHenry Historical Society, where she works as a docent, speaks with students or dresses up in historical costumes.

Kurt Begalka, McHenry Historical Society administrator, considers Mack an amazing volunteer.

“The depth and breadth of her volunteering, and the type of volunteering she does, is really quite amazing,” Begalka says, adding that – in the past – Mack has rolled up her sleeves to help peel wallpaper during the restoration of the McConnell Farm in Richmond.

Though she has a lot on her plate, Mack doesn’t see her varied volunteer work as work at all.

“Well, I enjoy what I do, and I do what I enjoy,” Mack says.

She’s also active with the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, where she coordinates the church’s mission fund, and supports programs abroad and in the community, such as the Wonder Lake Food Pantry.

“She’s one of the volunteers you can always count on,” Begalka says. “With everything she does, she’ll always make time for you.”

2016 Sponsors

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BUSINESS & CIVIC

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 29

ADVENTURE AWAITS MEET THE 2016 KIA SOUL

-Continued on page 32

T

he 2016 Kia Soul is packed with almost everything you need for your next big adventure. Offering more accessories than any other Kia, its sleek and sophisticated exterior makes way for a luxurious and quieter interior tailored to keep you comfortable.

Ventilated driver and passenger seats that circulate air will keep summertime road trips cool, while heated seats will keep you warm in the winter.

Technology in the Kia Soul, which has a conveniently-located push-button start, includes a mobile gadget lab complete with LCD display and an available rear-camera display. UVO is your 8-inch co-pilot, allowing you to turn words into actions and control your world with the touch of a button or using the sound of your voice.

Add a little atmosphere to your ride with interior lighting that changes color and intensity based on each music track.

The 2016 Kia Souls keeps you comfortable while you explore new horizons.

Adventure is out there, go find it.

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Are you seeking an affordable and fun way to make a difference?

You can help build a better world right here in McHenry County by joining GIVE360!

Our own Community Foundation supported 62 nonprofit organizations last year with $1.2 Million in grants.

You can join in the fun by voting for your favorite charity! A gift of $360 will turn you into a philanthropist for less than a dollar a day!

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Share in the pride of supporting non-profit organizations right here at home.

BUSINESS & CIVIC

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 33

Meeting the challenges of aging parents Do you worry about having to care for your parents as they age? Do you feel caregiving for your parents is too big of a job for you? Don’t feel bad, many adult children feel that way. As you prepare for the challenges of aging parents, adult children need essential information to prepare, one step at a time.

1. RESPECT YOUR PARENTS Learn how to talk and, more importantly, listen to your parents. They want to know you are here to support them, not to criticize. You will want to prepare yourself and your parents for good conversations. You cannot one day come in and take over for them. Often, parents are proud people. They need to know you love them, want to assist them with their challenges and ensure their safety.

If they say “No,” you will need to consider a different strategy.

2. ASSESS DAILY ROUTINE Are your parents able to pay their bills and balance their checkbook? Is their personal care appropriate and are they able to complete their household chores and laundry? Is their home too big or has it become cluttered? Are your parents still driving and, if so, should they be? Have you noticed any new dents on the car or have they received any speeding/parking tickets?

3. ASSESS GENERAL HEALTH Do they lose their balance or are unable to see or hear? Are they taking medications correctly? How is each parent’s memory, emotional state and ability to do familiar tasks? Are they exhibiting confusion, forgetfulness, depression, attitude or social willingness.

You may want to attend their doctor’s appointments to learn for yourself.

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4. ORGANIZE ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS Create or update their wills and trusts, designating trusted people to make medical, financial and business decisions in case your parents are unable. Locate their health care and property power of attorney. It’s a great idea to keep these documents in your parent’s home, in their car and electronically, so – if the need arises – you will be ready and can focus on your parents, not searching for documents.

5. CREATE A LEGACY PROFILE Document checking/saving accounts, investments, retirement savings, birth certificates, military service records, social security numbers, safe deposit boxes, life insurance, etc.

6. DOCUMENT END OF LIFE CARE Make sure everyone in your family is aware of each parent’s wishes if he or she were to suffer an illness.

Listen to how your parents want to be remembered, how they feel about donating their organs and their wishes for their funeral/burial. Knowing your parents’ wishes before an event takes place will be key.

7. FAMILY MEETINGS Remember, you are all in this together. It is important to include your siblings and determine what roles you are willing to play in caregiving. A family meeting will be essential in making sure your parents are loved and taken care of during their final stage in life.

FAMILY in FOCUS

Patty Loris, MBA, CFP is a Wealth Manager with DorionGray Retirement Planning, Inc., located at 2602 IL Route 176, Crystal Lake. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Dorion-Gray is not affiliated with Securities America companies. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 35

DIRTY LITTLE SECRET Tips to ridding your kids of lice with MICHELLE STIEN I’ve officially entered into yet another parenting rite of passage – lice infestation.

burrow or hide in furniture or pillows.

They also only live about a day out of hair, because that is their food source.

Admittedly, I’ve always thought that children that ended up with lice had dirty or unkempt hair. That was until my own beautiful daughter sat at my kitchen table with a small bug in her hair.

I plucked it out and thought that perhaps she got it from playing in the yard, but then I noticed her itching her scalp the next morning. At first, I considered that the scalp scratching was from a new shampoo we started using a few weeks back, but then I remembered the little hitchhiker from the night before, spurring me to promptly inspect her scalp. After a Google search of “lice infestation images,” it became abundantly clear that she had lice.

8. DO have a nervous breakdown at least once, if not twice during the process. Cry uncontrollably and question everything you ever knew about being a parent. Despite the fact that lice do not discriminate – and actually prefer clean hair – having lice still means tiny little bugs are living in your hair and laying eggs. A good cry will do you good.

So, in the essence of “keeping it real” and sharing my experiences as a mother to the masses with my no-holds-barred approach – brutal honesty – here are a few things you should and shouldn’t do when your kid gets lice.

1. DO NOT bother with Nix or any other product out there that claims to get rid of lice, even homeopathic concoctions. Some of these products will kill the live bugs, but nothing kills their eggs, otherwise known as “nits.”

Apparently lice have become resistant to these products and, no matter what you use, you have to comb through the hair and remove the tiny little nits that are attached to the hair shaft with herculean strength. Essential oils, such as tea tree and peppermint, work great to prevent lice, but do not cure it.

2. DO have someone check you, as well. It turns out that being an affectionate parent who snuggles with her kids – and may or may not let them sleep in her bed when daddy is out of town – makes it very easy to get lice from them.

3. DO find a salon that offers the Shepherd Method – “strand-by-strand method” – of nit removal if you can afford it. If you can’t afford it, re-mortgage your house or find a brave soul 36 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

with enough patience and knowledge of nits to do it for you. You might also want to purchase the special comb that the salon sells. It works much better than the ones that come in the kits that are sold at the drug store. My daughter and I could have done some serious damage at Nordstrom that day, but, instead, we had a “spa day,” and I was able to sleep that night.

4. DO NOT stop combing once you stop getting nits. Follow the instructions the salon gives you for how long to comb each day for the next few weeks. They can come back if you aren’t diligent about getting rid of EVERY. SINGLE. NIT. 5. DO strip all of the beds, wash the bedding in hot water and dry them using heat. Lice don’t live a long time without a head of hair, but they can exist for 24 to 48 hours.

6. DO NOT throw out your family’s entire wardrobe. Instead, wash the coats, hats and jackets that your children wore over the last few weeks. Wash any stuffed animals you can and bag up the rest to throw away – and hope that the kids don’t notice.

7. DO vacuum the main living areas of your home, including the couches and mattresses, but DO NOT become obsessive. Lice can’t move very well once they fall off the hair and they don’t FAMILY in FOCUS

9. DO tell the people with whom your children have been in close contact so that they can check their kids for lice, too. Keep in mind, lice don’t jump and can only be transferred by hair-to-hair contact. In some ways, it is very difficult to transfer them, but it also can be very easy, especially if your child is at a sleepover, working closely with someone in class or sharing hair ties and combs. Also, the more I told people about it, the more I found people who had suffered through an outbreak themselves. Chances are that most people are too embarrassed to talk about it, despite the fact it is about as common as the flu, but I felt a lot better once I knew I wasn’t alone.

And that’s why I decided to use this column for the greater good. The fact is, kids get lice and most of them take showers on a regular basis.

My advice is to buy some peppermint oil, put it in your shampoo and hope for the best.

1 Motivated Mommy with Michelle Stien • Michelle is a mom, freelance writer, group fitness instructor and motivational speaker. She also fits in marathon running, coordinating 5k events, volunteers and keeps the Stien household running like a fine-tuned machine ... most of the time. To inquire about speaking for your group or organization, contact her at mstien77@gmail.com or visit 1motivatedmommy.com www.nwherald.com/magazine

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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 37

TRAILBLAZERS

CYCLING THE PRAIRIE TRAIL IS 26 MILES OF PURE ADVENTURE

By SHONDA DUDLICEK | Photo PROVIDED

¢ TRAILSIDE TENT CAMPING An added perk for adventure – long-distance – cyclists is the ability to camp for one evening on the Prairie Trail.

There is one site at the North Branch section of the trail, says Kummerer, that allows camping.

“It’s not a campsite; it’s more like a large field. There is a water pump,” she says.

W

hile riding along a bike trail, you can explore areas of your community that you’d never be able to see while driving in a car; and the open-air experience allows you to feel more connected with your natural surroundings.

A biking experience not to be missed is the Prairie Trail – 26 miles of trails that travel from Kane County to the Wisconsin state line. The trail – a former Chicago and North Western railroad line – connects eight McHenry County communities, cuts through prairies and woodlands and runs alongside residential areas, too.

Multiple scenic spots, such as like Glacial Park, Larsen Prairie, Sterne’s Woods, Diverse City Prairie and the Fox River, are featured along the route. The Prairie Trail also yields access to nearly 100 miles of other trails.

“You can do a short and long ride. You can pick a section and go through downtown Crystal Lake, then to the Fox Lake trails,” says Wendy Kummerer, communications and marketing manager for the McHenry County Conservation District in Woodstock.

“It’s relatively flat, so it’s great for destinations like an ice cream shop or a candy store. The trail appeals to all different kinds of riders.”

Kummerer has ridden the Prairie Trail, and so has Mike Henley of Gurnee, president of the McHenry Bicycle Club.

38 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

“It’s good to use to build endurance and stamina,” says Henley, who biked 5,800 miles when he retired last year. “You can go a lot of distance on it. There are some hills and, on the south trail, there are some extreme hills. There are signs that tell you to walk your bike because of the steep hills with a turn. But they’re good to go through a lot of little towns to explore and ride.

That’s what’s great about any trail system.

The bike club is mostly made up of retirees who ride together three days a week on low-traffic roads. “You’re never alone if you’re out riding with a club,” Henley says. “There’s the camaraderie and you get tips and suggestions on places to ride.”

Henley says that when he first started riding five years ago, he wanted to see how fast he could go and how far he could push himself. Now, he just enjoys riding with people and talking.

Camping is by permit only, and only applies to the designated area. Tents cost $10. Seven tents are permitted at one time and tents and camping gear must be removed by 9 a.m. the following day. Campfires are prohibited, but camp stoves are permitted.

Interested cyclists looking to camp along the trail should register at least seven days in advance. To register, call the Brookdale Administrative Offices at 815-338-6223, ext. 1200.

For a tailor-made excursion, the McHenry Bicycle Club offers Wisconsin camping trips, most of which last three to four days and clock 25 to 50 miles.

For more information, visit mchenrybicycleclub.org.

But Henley also suggests that those new to cycling should learn the rules of the road.

UPCOMING DESTINATIONS AND DATE ARE: DOOR COUNTY July 17 through 22

“Everyone who rides a trail needs to learn bike etiquette,” he says.

SPRING GREEN Aug. 14 through 19

Cyclists can take safety tests at rideillinois.org.

MADISON Sept. 12 through 16

Of cycling the trails, Henley says, “You’ll go places and see things you’ve never seen before.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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Helping Honeymooners

since 1984

¢ TURN YOUR BIKE INTO AN ADVENTURE VEHICLE The Prairie Trail is an “awesome trail system, in good shape, and a good route to get to the border,” says Bob Olsen, owner of Wheel Werks in Crystal Lake.

“Lots of people use the trails to get to Lake Geneva or New Glarus, Wisconsin, to stay overnight,” says the Crystal Lake resident.

Olsen admits that he personally likes riding to a location, going out to eat, sleeping in a motel and getting a hot shower and breakfast the next morning, but plenty of his customers are up for the camping experience.

“You can certainly bring camping gear and small bike packs that hang off the seat frame or handlebars,” Olsen says.

Olsen, who used to commute to Elgin riding the Prairie Trail, has some suggestions for necessary equipment when camping off the bike:

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 39

RACES, RUNS AND RIDES to counter being a desk jockey

By WENDY FOSTER

Looking for a way to burn off some steam and some calories this summer? These running, walking, riding and swimming events are not only fun, but will benefit great local causes.

Here is a list of active events to keep you staying fit this summer:

more information, visit Events.

TheCureStartsNow.org.

HEROES LIKE HALEY 5K

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Sunday, July 10 WHERE: Cary Grove Park District, adjacent to Cary Grove High School WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Sunday, July 3 WHERE: Huntley Park District, 12015 The event, which is suitable for any fitness level, includes a fun run/ Mill Street, Huntley walk, as well as a chip-timed 5K The kick-off to Independence Day celebrations includes a 5K and open course. Proceeds from the event swim. Participants will be admitted will go to two Cary-area young people fighting cancer, as well as free to Stingray Bay. For additional a scholarship in memory of Haley information, visit www.4thFest5K. Marie, who died from brain cancer com. in 2015. For more information, visit RUNDEZVOUS FRONTIER HeroesLikeHaley.org.

SURVIVAL RACE 4TH FEST 5K RUN/WALK AND OPEN SWIM

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9 WHERE: Lippold Park, 8597 IL-Route 176, Crystal Lake The 4-plus-mile race will be reminiscent of an 1800s rendezvous, when mountain men, fur traders, frontiersman and native Americans gathered once a year to trade, buy, sell, socialize, and even compete in challenges. The event will include hatchet throwing, archery, fire starting and more.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Crystal Lake Food Pantry.

For more information, visit RundezvousRace.com.

RACE AGAINST THE ODDS RUN FOR HOPE

WHEN: 8 a.m. Saturday, July 9 WHERE: Grace Lutheran Church, 1300 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock The 5K run/walk will be in memory of Hope Fuller. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Cure Starts Now Foundation. For

CRYSTAL LAKE PARK DISTRICTOPEN WATER SWIM RACE

WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16 WHERE: Main Beach, 300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake The event includes a 1-mile and 2-mile open water swim race for ages 17 and older. The rain date is July 23. For more information, visit www.CrystalLakeParks.org or call Joe Davison at 815-459-0680, ext.

1228.

MCHENRY RIVER RUN

WHEN: 8 a.m. Saturday, July 16 WHERE: McHenry High School East Campus A 5k and 10K race will take place along the McHenry Riverwalk.

For more information, visit ci.mchenry.il.us or call Nicole Thompson at 815-363-2165.

ACRES OF HOPE FARM TRAIL RUN 5K AND 10K FARM TRAIL RUN

WHEN: Saturday, July 30, 7:30 a.m.

WHERE: Stade’s Farm and Market, 3709 Miller Road, McHenry

40 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

The fifth annual event will include a 1-mile fun run/walk, 5K and 10K farm-trail run, a pancake breakfast, visit by Pink Heals and kids’ creative project activity. Proceeds will benefit local charities and the McHenry County Fire Honor Guard. For more information, visit RaceOnTheFarm.org.

SAVAGE RACE

WHEN: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 30 WHERE: 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove The 5-plus-mile Savage Race is over wooded terrain and features 25 obstacles including mud, fire and barbed wire. For more information, visit savagerace.com.

BIKE HUNTLEY 2016

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday, July 31 WHERE: Town Square/Coral Street, Huntley The event will feature a 7.5mile, family bike ride through Huntley with the Huntley Police Department. A picnic will take place at the conclusion of the ride. For more information, email bread@ huntley.il.us or visit www.Huntley.

Il.Us. SIXTH ANNUAL WE.CAN.TRI TRIATHLON

WHEN: 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7 WHERE: Woodstock Water Works Aquatic Center at Emricson Park, Woodstock The sprint-length triathlon will feature a 400-meter swim, 12.4mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. The children’s triathlon includes a 50- to 100-meter swim (depending on age), 3.5-mile bike ride and 1-mile run. A team division is available

HEALTH & WELLNESS

for those wanting to share the experience.

For more information, visit www.

WoodstockRecreationDepartment. com or email David Zinnen at dzinnen@woodstock.il.gov.

CRYSTAL LAKE NIGHT OWL BIKE RIDE

WHEN: 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 WHERE: Crystal Lake City Hall complex, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake The 15-mile ride is not a race. The Crystal Lake Police Department bike patrol will ride along with participants during the ride.

Proceeds from the evening bike ride, will benefit the Land Conservancy of McHenry County and promotes bike riding. For more information, visit www.CLNightOwlRide.org.

DEEP DISH DASH 5K RUN/WALK

WHEN: 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 WHERE: Lou Malnati’s Lakewood, 8515 Redtail Drive, Lakewood The event includes a youth dash (7:30 a.m.) and a 5K Run/Walk (8 a.m.).

The event takes place in memory of a late Lou Malnati’s employee who died of cancer, and in honor of three current employees who are cancer survivors. Proceeds from the event benefit Family Health Partnership Clinic. For more information, visit www.LouMalnatis.com.

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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 41

Book Nook

SIZZLING SUMMER READS

By SANDRA MANLEY

Here are a few summer selections ¢ ‘THE GIRLS’ Is there anything better than to get you started:

by Emma Cline summer reading? A warm breeze The ‘THE AFTER PARTY’ on your face as you quickly turn the ¢ awkwardness

by Anton DiSclafani pages of your favorite new book, and River Oaks, discomfort a warm summer rain that cools as Texas, 1957. of puberty is We are the evening goes on and the pages not a stage introduced to of life people continue to turn. These are the Cecelia “Cece” are eager Buchanan, many pleasures of living in a part of to revisit. In and her best the country that experiences the Emma Cline’s friend, Joan debut novel, magnificence of all four seasons – Fortier – Evie Boyd two young make sure to relish every minute of reminisces Southern about her life at age 14, which involves summer, as best you can! socialites who face a climatic peak in their enmeshed friendship during a particularly tumultuous summer.

Cece rejoices in her traditional housewife role, while Joan is the town “it” girl struggling to find meaning and direction in their familiar hometown. The book is lush with the girls’ personal histories, but the story is even richer than its characters. It shows the struggles faced by Cece as she tries to manage her own family life, while simultaneously feeling as though she has to be the guardian of her best friend. It’s a great conversation piece for your next book club or to mull over with your high school bestie.

Honorable mention: When you’re finished reading “The After Party,” make sure to revisit DiSclafani’s debut novel, “The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls,” published in 2013.

42 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

HOME & LIFESTYLE

having to attend a private boarding school and her struggle to find an identity in an ever-shifting home life – her father abandoned the family for his secretary and her mother takes up with a new man of whom Evie doesn’t approve. Evie feels lost until she meets Suzanne, a member of a cult driven by a Charles Manson-esque charismatic leader.

Evie is drawn to the freedom of the group’s rebellious nature. She wants to go home to make sense of a life that appears to have occasional glimmers of hope for redemption in her teenage mind, but Suzanne’s powerful draw continues to lure her back. This book is an untold mystery that involves finding out what Evie’s role is in the cult’s violent actions? This may not be a comfortable read, but it’s certainly a powerful one.

www.nwherald.com/magazine

¢ ‘THIS TOO SHALL PASS’

¢ ‘LAYERED’

by Milena Busquets

by Tessa Huff Every once in a while, I come across a slim novella that makes a big impact.

Busquet’s newest novel, translated from Spanish, centers around Blanca, a woman who is newly grieving the loss of her mother.

Blanca is the ultimate fallible, yet likeable character. People looking for two-dimensional characters with no faults should stay away from this book!

To escape her grief, Blanca takes her children, lover, ex-husbands and friends to Cadaqués, a coastal town in Spain where her mother used to have a house. Her struggle to navigate between mourning’s necessary selfishness and her own desire to find a path to her future make this a very human novel. Personally, I can’t wait to read more from this writer, and I hope you will enjoy the genuineness that shines through.

July isn’t usually a time when we think about baking. Who wants to bake indoors when you’re already baking outside in the heat?

Tessa Huff’s debut cookbook will leave you so inspired you will want to keep the oven pre-heated at all times. The display of a beautiful cake is the culinary equivalent of seeing a big bouquet of flowers or an extra-large birthday present. Sad, empty cake domes can now come out of the basement or pantry with fresh cakes to display. Fancy cake servers from your wedding registry can have utility again.

The recipes vary in complexity, but there are tips and guidelines throughout for both beginner and advanced bakers. I am personally excited to try the lavender olive oil cake; it looks easy to make, but delectably sophisticated. Give it a try, and if you can’t stand the heat … save it for winter.

Sandra Manley, LSW, grew up in Island Lake, IL. She is an Oncology Social Worker at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, specializing in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology and Solid Tumors. In her spare time she can be found roasting vegetables in her oven, enjoying a very dark cup of coffee, and of course, reading. You can follow what she is reading on Goodreads: Goodreads.com/ SandraReadsMSW.

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MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 43

McHenry County Fair

LAS VEGAS ACTS, BIG CONCERT BLEND WITH FESTIVAL FAVORITES

By STEPHANIE N. GRIMOLDBY | Photos PROVIDED

I

f visiting the McHenry County Fair isn’t on your summer to-do list, you might want to take note of some new attractions that will be offered.

A special concert night, comedic acts from a Marengo resident turned Las Vegas star and more are on the docket for the 68th annual fair, which will run Aug. 3 through 7 in Woodstock.

Those who have a hankering for fair traditions won’t be disappointed, either. After all, the county fair has roots in farming, so local 44 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

agricultural products and livestock will be exhibited per usual.

“The McHenry County Fair takes the old tradition of having the agriculture here, home economics [and more], and mix[ing] that with … new entertainment to have fun as well,” says Liz Behrens, office manager for the McHenry County Fair Association. “I think we … do a good job of trying to bring that education portion in for those who haven’t grown up with animals on the farm.

But it’s not just that. We have the entertainment here. It kind of takes a little bit of both worlds and pushes it all together so there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.”

OUT & ABOUT

Buzz-worthy bandstand

Behrens can remember when the fair regularly hosted a special concert featuring big-name bands, such as Sixpence None the Richer – a band that headlined the fair in the late ’90s.

But in the early 2000s, when the county sold part of the 80-acre parcel that the fair association rented each season, the fair’s footprint was significantly reduced. The large grandstands were taken down, and the concerts stopped.

“It changed the dynamic of entertainment for a while,” Behrens says.

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This year, for the first time in more than a decade, the fair is proud to once again offer a dynamic concert, as Caroline Kole will open for the Willis Clan on Thursday, Aug. 4.

Kole, a country-western singer who is a regular opener for Reba McEntire in Las Vegas, will perform at 7:30 p.m. At 8:30, the 12-sibling Willis family – which has its own reality TV show on the TLC network – will perform high energy country and bluegrass songs mixed with Irish dancing, too.

Tickets for the concert are $5, and VIP seating is available for $10.

“It’s hard to choose an act that will fit everyone in the family, but we thought they would be able to do that,” Ken Bauman, president of the McHenry County Fair Association, says of the musical acts.

Another new and exciting act will be Andy Martello, a former Marengo resident who now is a Vegas headliner as part of the comedy magic duo, Spike & Hammer. The “comedian who happens to juggle” was on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Martello also is the announcer of the touring show “Price Is Right Live!” and has written two books.

Martello spent his elementary and high school years in Marengo and in 1985 – at the age of 15 – he won his very first talent contest at the McHenry County Fair.

The victory propelled him to embrace his calling as an entertainer, he says.

“I loved every minute of it,” Martello recalls.

“I’ll never forget the sound of people laughing … it sounded almost like a laugh track from a television show. I just felt like I was in heaven. I had no idea if I was going to win the contest, but – at the time – I felt so strong that I was doing something right. It was exhilarating.”

Coming back to perform for his childhood community – he’ll host free shows three times each day of the fair – will be exciting, he says.

“I love going back home, seeing familiar faces,” he says, though he doesn’t expect everyone to know him. “I am the most famous non-famous person in the entire world,” he quips. “If you’ve never heard of me, congratulations, because neither has most of the world. If you have, come by and say, ‘Hi.’” www.nwherald.com/magazine

New freebies

The fair has increased the number of free family activities available to fairgoers once they’re past the gates.

On Wednesday evening, 5- to 9-year-olds will compete in a Princess category; 9- to 12-yearolds will compete in a Junior category; 13- to 16-year-olds will compete for the Teen title; and 16- to 21-year-olds will compete for the title of Miss McHenry County.

While Conservation World is a repeat exhibit – the tent is dedicated to teaching children about The popular annual KTM Motocross races will conservation through engaging activities – it take place at 6 p.m. Friday (tickets cost $5 for will showcase a new greenhouse with a butterfly grandstand seats and $10 for pit seats), followed exhibit and natural prairie to explore. by a free performance by rock band 7th Heaven.

Similarly, the Barnyard Discoveries exhibit in the On Saturday, the Illini State Pullers will host bovine barn is an fan favorite, but for the first truck and tractor pull shows at 10:30 a.m. and 5 time in several years, a “Milk a Cow” feature will p.m., with a special Street Diesel Truck Shootout be available on Saturday, Aug. 5. that will take place during both shows. The “People can come in and actually milk a cow winners of the first two shootouts will move on themselves,” Behrens says. “That really is mostly to a final shootout at the Boon County Fair later about educating, learning about farm animals in August. and all the different processes [of farm life].”

-Continued on page 46 Monster murals, 7-foot-long coloring sheets, will be strategically planted in shady spots throughout the grounds, such as Conservation World, Barnyard Discoveries and the food tent.

Fast Eddie and the Corvettes, a popular group performing the golden oldies of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, will perform on the entertainment stage Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

And the Ultimate Flying K9 Crew – a touring “dog trick” show – will visit the fair for the first time, with three shows each day.

The K9 Crew was featured on Season 4 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” and the canines’ tricks – which include agility stunts, Frisbee throwing and comedic acts – are meshed together with music for a high-energy show.

“I think that should be a really fun show for everybody to come and enjoy,” says Behrens.

Tried and True

The fair always has offered livestock and nonlivestock shows, educational displays explaining agriculture and conservation techniques, and booths for various businesses and organizations.

And all of those things will be featured again this year.

The McHenry County Queen Pageant isn’t going anywhere, either. In fact, it’s expanding, Behrens says, as new categories have been added to allow more girls to participate.

OUT & ABOUT

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 45

-Continued from page 45 Other favorite – and free – events from years past will include the mother-daughter look-alike contest on Thursday evening; Joe Stebbing Jr., a chainsaw sculptor who will create works of art from pine logs during four one-hour shows, running from Thursday through Sunday; and the popular lip sync battle, which will hit the stage Friday.

The entertainment will culminate Sunday with demolition derbies at 1 and 5 p.m. The longtime tradition gathers large crowds to the grandstands, Behrens says.

Fashioned after Spike TV’s “Lip Sync Battle” show – which, in turn, evolved from a popular segment on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” – the fair’s lip sync battles will feature contestants who pretend to sing as they dance and groove their way through a song.

No matter what attracts people to the fair, everyone is sure to have a good time, says Behrens.

“One of the bigger highlights was our 2015 queen [Nora Brown] – she had her whole court up there as her backup dancers,” Behrens says.

Each show costs $5 for grandstand seats; $10 for attendees ages 8 to 13; and $20 for attendees ages 14 and older.

“The fair is something that the family can do together to create some really cool memories,” Behrens says.

Another new feature of the 2016 McHenry County Fair is its online ticketing system. Fairgoers can receive discounted prices by purchasing tickets at www.mchenrycountyfair. com. If purchasing at the gates general admission tickets cost $8 for attendees ages 13 and older; $5 for children ages 6 to 12 years old, seniors 60 and older and veterans; and free for children ages 5 and younger.

Of course, the Midway will be open daily, offering carnival games and rides, but the entire Midway area is scheduled to be paved before the fair opens, providing a nice smooth surface to walk on, says Bauman.

If you go

And pedal pulls will take place Friday and Saturday, where children compete against each other to see who can pull a weighted sled the furthest distance.

The contest is free to enter, and each participant receives a coupon for free ice cream, Behrens says.

WHAT: McHenry County Fair WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 7 WHERE: McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock INFO: www.mchenrycountyfair.com

“There’s usually a good size crowd, so people love and enjoy doing that,” Behrens says.

46 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

www.nwherald.com/magazine

Artist SHOWCASE JOSE F. BOLET

LAKE IN THE HILLS INK ON PAPER “SHADOWS ON A WALL”

Jose F. Bolet recalls the moment when he saw the piece of art that inspired “Shadows on a Wall.” He was traveling across the U.S. when he noticed a wall mural while parking his car in Vernon, California.

“The light was orange, and the gentle breeze made the shadows dance as if they were a part of an animated film,” he recalls. “I took a photo and kept it for a while, until I decided to do this [piece] with ink on paper.”

Bolet says that his drawings explore his interest in conveying mood and the relationship between the subject matter and the essential components associated with the subject itself.

Bolet is an award-winning Latin American artist whose work has been exhibited in both Venezuela and the U.S. Bolet graduated from the Escuela Tecnica de Artes Visuales Cristobal Rojas in Caracas, Venezuela, and continued his education by studying cartoon drawing, graphic design, illustration, philosophy and philosophy of the arts at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas.

He also is the author of “Rendering in Black, 25 drawings across U.S.”

To submit an entry to Artist Showcase, email artwork, title of piece, name and village of residence of artist, a two- to three-sentence description of the piece, short bio and artist photo to McHenryCountyMagazine@shawmedia.com, subject head “Local Artist Submission.”

Lush natural areas and an abundance of species make McHenry County an ideal spot for both veteran and novice birdwatchers.

By KELSEY O’CONNOR | Photos by SHERYL MAYHEW

48 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

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Audubon Society has observed 235 different species in the county just this year.

Birders in the county will even be able to spot some breeds that used to be a rarity.

“People always ask about eagles. The bald eagle has made a fantastic comeback,” says Aufmann.

“And they’re really not that hard to find; they’re breeding in McHenry County now.”

Great white egrets, once almost extinct, also have become more common to see in the area. Though large birds get a lot of attention, Aufmann says the smaller species are worth seeking out, as well.

One ideal spot for birding is McHenry Dam. The water attracts a variety of wildlife, including an assortment of water birds. Other nearby locations popular with birders include Glacial Park in Ringwood, Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry and Volo Bog State Natural Area near Ingleside.

For new birders seeking some guidance, the McHenry County Audubon Society holds regular outings to local bird hotspots.

Next time you’re taking a walk outside, make sure to keep your eyes to the sky.

McHenry County is an excellent location to observe birds of all kinds, thanks to a plethora of natural areas and the close proximity to the Fox River. The county boasts around 285 unique species of birds.

“You will discover so many ecosystems just in McHenry County,” says Stacy Iwanicki, president of the McHenry County Audubon Society – a group that holds events and classes for local birders. “The biodiversity is just amazing, and the birds will help you discover it.” www.nwherald.com/magazine

“It’s pretty common when we get newbies out on our bird walks; they just don’t realize how many birds are out there,” says treasurer Jeff Aufmann. “That’s the fun of it, you never know what you’re going to see.”

Another appeal of birding is how easy it is to start.

“It doesn’t cost a lot of money. You can get started with a pair of $30 binoculars, and you can do it right out your window,” says Iwanicki.

Other handy gear for amateur birders includes a good field guide and a notebook.

“Once you get hooked, you keep a life list of all the species you’ve seen. It’s like stamp collecting or coin collecting – you want to see how many you can get,” says Aufmann, noting that the OUT & ABOUT

“People don’t realize how many beautiful little birds there are,” he says.

Common types in the area include robins, woodpeckers, warblers, wrens, sparrows, swallows, meadowlark, nighthawks, blackbirds, pheasants, loons, mallards and more.

There are around 18 million dedicated birders in the U.S., says Aufmann, and that number is only getting bigger.

“I think birding has become more popular,” Aufmann says. “I think there’s more appreciation of the outdoors and nature in general. There’s more ‘green’ people than there used to be, it’s catching on.”

As the number of birders has grown, so has the diversity among the group at the Audubon Society.

“I think it’s been a steadily growing sport,” says Iwanicki. “I am thoroughly impressed and amazed by the number of young people getting involved.” u For birding resources and more information on local bird walks, contact the McHenry County Audubon Society at mchenryaudubon@gmail. com.

MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE | July 2016 | 49

JULY 2016

CALENDAR

ROCKIN’ RIBFEST

WHEN: Thursday, July 7, through Sunday, July 10 WHERE: Sunset Park

200 Miller Road | Lake in the Hills The four-day festival will feature barbecue by nationally-renowned professional “ribbers,” fair food and live musical entertainment on the grounds of Sunset Park. The Rockin’ Ribfest is the signature fundraising event for the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club. Tickets cost $5 for general admission (ages 13 and older) and children ages 12 and younger will be admitted free of charge. For more information, visit lithribfest.com.

GARDEN WALK

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9 WHERE: Various gardens in McHenry County area

The Garden Walk, presented by McHenry County College and U of I Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners, will feature eight of the best home gardens in the county. The tour starts at the McHenry County College demonstration garden, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. The self-guided tour will feature woodland gardens, prairie gardens, a plant collector’s garden, pass-along-plant gardens and a sustainable organic farmette. In addition, Master Gardeners will answer questions as well as offer educational materials. For tickets, visit www. mchenry.edu/gardenwalk.

‘FESTIVAL OF DANCE’

WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, July 10 WHERE: Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St. | Woodstock The “Festival of Dance,” presented by the Woodstock Dance Academy, will include both classical ballet and contemporary pieces by a various choreographers. Tickets cost $15. For tickets, visit www.woodstockoperahouse.com or call the box office at 815-338-5300.

ART ATTACK! SIP AND PAINT BYOB NIGHTS WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, July 11 WHERE: Grand Oaks

1401 W. Route 176 | Crystal Lake Grab a friend or family member for Art Attack!, a BYOB painting class with instructor Julie Kukreja, who will give instruction on how to create an acrylic painting. Attendees can bring beverages and snacks. All materials will be

provided. The cost to attend is $35. For more information, call 815-459-0680, ext. 1220, email sthompson@crystallakeparks.org or visit www. crystallakeparks.org.

SECOND HAND SOUL BAND (MOTOWN/ROCK) CONCERT

WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12 WHERE: Main Beach Band Shell

300 Lake Shore Drive | Crystal Lake Second Hand Soul Band will perform. In the event of inclement weather, some concerts will be moved to Park Place Banquets, 406 W. Woodstock Street. The decision will be made at 4 p.m. For more information visit, www.crystallakeparks.org.

PAWFEST

WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. July 16 WHERE: Animal House Shelter

13005 Ernesti Road | Huntley Bring your pet for a day of celebration and fun. The event will feature K9 police unit demonstrations, games for kids, a 50/50 raffle, face painting, a water slide, food and beverages, a pet photographer, dunk tank and more. For more information, visit www.animalhouseshelter.com or call 847-961-5541.

CELEBRATING THE PIG FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 16 WHERE: Retreat and Ecology Campus

2710 S. Country Club Road | Woodstock Loyola University Chicago’s Retreat and Ecology Campus will prepare a farm-to-table dinner focusing on a locally-raised pork and LUREC farm produce, paired with craft brews. The evening will feature an appetizer reception in the LUREC gardens and a five-course dinner in Searle Hall.

The cost is $80 a person. To reserve a spot, visit www.luc.edu. For more information, email lurec@ luc.edu or call 815-338-1032.

33RD ANNUAL FIESTA DAYS CAR SHOW WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 17 WHERE: Petersen Park

4300 Peterson Park Road | McHenry The 2016 Fiesta Days Car Show welcomes all participants and their automobiles and trucks of all sizes, types and makes. This year’s show will

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include a special Car Corral featuring old-school hot rods and rat rods, with special classes and trophies and prizes for the participants.

Registration for show participants is from 8 a.m. to noon. Judging will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and winners will be announced at 3 p.m. For more information, www.fiestadayscarshow.com.

20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT CELEBRATION WHEN: 5 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 WHERE: LITH Airport

8407 Pyott Road | Lake in the Hills The Village of Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a free concert at the airport, featuring Dixie Crush. The country party band will perform a high-energy, boot-stomping show.

Concessions will be available (cash only). Gates open at 5 p.m. The event is free.

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT – ‘STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS’

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. (dusk) Tuesday, July 26 WHERE: Back patio of the Algonquin Area Public

Library, 2600 Harnish Drive, Algonquin The Algonquin Area Public Library will present “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” as part of its outdoor movie night. The event is free. For more information, visit www.algonquin.org/recreation.

ROCK & ROLL BEACH SHOW

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28 WHERE: Indian Trail Beach

228 Indian Trail | Lake in the Hills During this free concert, The Wave Runners will perform music from Jimmy Buffet, The Beach Boys, The Safaris, the Ventures and more. Parking is free and there is a shuttle available from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. from LITH Police Station to Indian Trail Beach. Blankets, chairs and refreshments are welcome. Concessions will also be available for purchase. For more information, visit www.lith. org.

SIDEWALK SALES

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 29; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 30; and hours and participating businesses vary Sunday, July 31.

WHERE: Downtown Crystal lake During the Sidewalk Sales, merchants will set up tables full of merchandise at affordable prices. The four-day event will take place rain or shine. For more information, visit www.downtowncl.org.

LOUIE ANDERSON

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, July 29 WHERE: Raue Center for the Arts

26 N. Williams St. | Crystal Lake Two-time Emmy Award-winner Louie Anderson, a comic named by Comedy Central as “One of 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time,” will perform at the Raue Center. Tickets start at $31.

For tickets, visit rauecenter.ticketforce.com.

2008 Main St., Spring Grove, IL 60081 50 | July 2016 | MCHENRY COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

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August 3rd to 7th, 2016 Entertainment at the Fair McHenry County Queen Pageant Magic Show 4:00pm on Friday 6:00pm on Wednesday Magic Show 2:00pm, 4:00pm & 7:30pm on Wednesday 11:00am, 2:00pm 7:30pm on Thursday-Saturday 11:00am, 2:00pm & 6pm on Sunday Mother-Daughter Look-Alike Contest 5:30pm on Thursday Family Night Concert in the Grandstands 7:30pm on Thursday Caroline Kole and The Willis Clan Lip Sync Battles 5:00pm on Friday

KTM Motocross Races 6:00pm on Friday 7th Heaven 9:00pm on Friday Fast Eddie and The Corvettes 11:30am, 2:30pm & 6:30pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday Illini State Pullers 10:30am & 5:00pm on Saturday Caroline Kole 9:00pm on Saturday Demolition Derby 1:00pm & 5:00pm on Sunday

SPECIAL EVENTS Magic Show Ultimate Flying Canine Show Chainsaw Sculptor Barnyard Discoveries Pedal Pulls