Life & Style - Spring 2012

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2 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Life & Style : Spring 2012 3

710 North Illinois Avenue P.O. Box 2108 Carbondale, Illinois 62902 618-529-5454 • 800-228-0429 fax 618-529-3774 www.LifeandStyleSI.com cara.recine@thesouthern.com Publisher Bob Williams Executive Editor Gary Metro Editor Cara Recine Advertising Jason Woodside Director Graphic Rhonda M. Ethridge Designer Circulation Mark Romanowski Online Lauren Siegert J.C. Dart

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Photographers Shawn Connelly Steve Jahnke Paul Newton Alan Rogers Adam Testa

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4 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Contributors Shawn Connelly Rob Crow Les O’Dell Cara Recine Joe Szynkowski Adam Testa Les Winkeler Copy Editing Rob Crow Mark Fitton Mary Thomas Layton Advertising Stacy Cramm Design Sharon Haege Kelly McGuire Anita Palmisano Ken Rowe Jay Stemm Advertising Rob Baril Sales Kelly Caudill Brian Flath Alicia Lorenz Tina Moon Meagan Murray Lacey Thompson David Zoeller

Life & Style in Southern Illinois is a publication of The Southern Illinoisan. Contact us at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901, or at P.O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL 62902. Reach us on the Internet at www.LifeandStyleSI.com. Life & Style in Southern Illinois is published four times per year and is distributed free of cost to a variety of businesses and hotels in Southern Illinois. © 2011 by The Southern Illinoisan. All rights reserved. For more information call 618-529-5454 or 618-997-3356. Visit us online at www.thesouthern.com.

welcome

Letter from the executive editor “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” Those famous words were spoken in “The Wizard of Oz” by the lovely and immensely talented Judy Garland. She spoke as her character, Dorothy Gale, clicked the heels of her ruby slippers and departed the strange world of Oz for home in Kansas. It’s a bittersweet moment in the classic 1939 musical. Dorothy’s good-byes to her fantastic Oz companions trigger tears for some, yet there is a greater gladness that she and Toto will at last return to the place always closest to the heart: home. It is a special place for everyone. It may exist only in our thoughts as a place of childhood comfort and wonder. Or it may represent the brick and mortar dwelling we currently occupy – our place of refuge from the workday, a place of peace between dusk and dawn. My wife, Debbie, and I have made homes out of 10 dwellings in four states – beginning with a three-room apartment and progressing to single-family homes of various shapes and sizes. Our current home is one of the most special, along with a home built in 1851 in Kenosha, Wis., and the first home we ever bought, a simple bungalow about 100 yards inland from Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Wis. Home today means a wooded parcel, rolling hills and neighbors who prowl the turf on paws, claws and hooves. It is place with an elevated deck, offering views into the surrounding woods in

Paul Newton

Happy home, happy spring – from us to you

two directions, a view across lawns and landscaping to the highway in another. It is a place where my thoughts safely roam free, where I allow my heart to feel full, where I take my rest. We celebrate home in this issue of Life & Style in Southern Illinois. It is the debut issue of 2012, a spring season issue of new possibilities for green living in the season dominated by green – the color of hope. Inside you can learn about the trend of low-maintenance landscape – which relies less on grass, mowing and fertilizing and more on groundcover, decorative rock, flowers and easy-care plants that require less water, work and money. Look for more in the coverage by frequent contributor Les O’Dell.

Another great thing about home is coming back to it after a getaway. Memphis is a great place to visit, and its within an easy drive. Check out the city called home by Elvis, the home of the blues and a must-see stop in the world of barbecue in a long-form article by Adam Testa, a feature writer for the magazine and The Southern Illinoisan. There is plenty more to see in this issue, from reclaimed furniture gone upscale, to the Danish mastery of cooking offered at Tom’s Place north of De Soto on U.S. 51, to the growing cultural scene at the Varsity Center of the arts in Carbondale. From our home to yours, we wish you the very best spring. — Gary Metro

Life & Style : Spring 2012 5

contents

From the ground up 50 Green homes have never been more beautiful

Spring 2012

42 Profile

They’re ‘Free Again’ Carterville couple rescues, rehabilitates, releases wildlife

62 Getaways

The land of the Delta Blues Memphis welcomes us with rich history in music, food and culture

10 Social Seen: Who do you know? Southern Illinoisans have been out and about

28 Décor: Sustainable style

Eco-friendly furniture gets a place at the table

30 Heritage: Renovating history

Dr. Ted VanAcker gives old buildings a beautiful new life

32 My Favorite Things: Liz Lively Lynn

Family is at the top of the list of what she loves about spring

60 Artist: Carbondale’s Robin Haller Where does she get her inspiration? Everywhere

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72 Good Eats

From Denmark to De Soto The Sorensens – father and sons – at the top of the culinary world

cover photo lori Sweitzer and David Davies of Photography by lori created the cover art for this issue.

correction In the winter magazine, the story on Ike eigenrauch’s home should have said the countertops were done by the Granite Group in Marion. www.LifeandStyleSI.com.

this issue Letters to the Editor Don’t Miss This Tech Self Style Lens Envy Design Gadgets

5 22 24 34 40 48 70 71

Where We Live Entertainment In Our Backyard Cheers to Beer Luxury Wine Parting Shot

76 82 84 86 89 94 96

Life & Style : Spring 2012 7

contact us Life and Style in Southern Illinois 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901 618-529-5454

EDITORIAL

Cara Recine editor 618-351-5075 cara.recine @thesouthern.com

ADVERTISING

Jason Woodside advertising director 618-351-5015 jason.woodside @thesouthern.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Trisha Woodside circulation and promotions manager 618-351-5035 trisha.woodside @thesouthern.com Subscription 8 issues for $17.95 rates: 4 issues for $9.95

“Like�us on Facebook. Attending or hosting an event? Post your pictures on our page and your event could be included in an upcoming edition of Life and Style in Southern Illinois. www.facebook.com/LifeandStyleSI

8 Life & Style : Spring 2012

p.o. box

be heard Like something that you have seen in our magazine? Let us know about it.

SEND LETTERS life & Style in Southern Illinois Cara Recine, editor P.o. Box 2108 Carbondale Il 62902-2108 EMAIL cara.recine@thesouthern.com

A class act Dear Editor, I love your magazine. I have referred many to it, as there is nothing else quite like it in Southern Illinois. also, the photography is just beautiful. a class act production. Great job! Mary Jo McCurdy lake of egypt

Job well done! Dear Editor, Just a note to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading every issue of life & Style in Southern Illinois. this is definitely an “upscale” magazine in both visuals and in the writing. Not only is it very professionally done, but your topics for articles and pictures are very diversified! I like that! Here’s to all those responsible! Michael Scott Simpson

Local talent Dear Editor, I recently read the holiday issue of life and Style Magazine and enjoyed it very much. I especially enjoyed the article about Nicole Jones, since she was one of my former high school students and now has her own television show. It is always great when we can showcase local talent. Jeffrey White Media Center Specialist Murphysboro High School

Life & Style : Spring 2012 9

social seen

RLC Foundation Scholarship Dinner

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1

Scholarship donors and guests met and dined with student recipients at the 22nd annual Rend Lake College Foundation Scholarship Dinner in October in the James ‘Hummer’ Waugh Gymnasium on the Ina campus. The annual event honors financial supporters and students who benefit from their contributions.

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1. Presenter Karen Sweeten, recipient Lauren Rue of Mount Vernon and scholarship donor Dr. Gary Sweeten

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2. Recipient Mariah Barr of McLeansboro and representative Donnie Millenbine 3. Recipient Amanda Gardner of Thompsonville, representative Peggy Davis and recipient Danielle Roberts of Mount Vernon 4. Recipient Corinne Wilderman of Mount Vernon, Ind., scholarship presenter Wayne Arnold and scholarship recipient Erica Wilson of O’Fallon 5. (Front row,) Recipients Alyssa Moffitt of Dix and Kelsey Allen of Mount Vernon, Dr. Charles ‘Bill’ Roe, RLCF board of directors member; (back row) scholarship recipients Samuel Oliger of Belle Rive and Tanner Colbert of Dix

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6. Recipient Karley McDaniel of Mulkeytown and RLCF Board of Directors member Mary Ellen Aiken 7. Scholarship presenter Theresa Melena and recipient Cortez Hodges of Mount Vernon 8. Presenter Mary Ann Evilsizer and recipient Leanna Burkitt of Mulkeytown 9. Presenter Rhonda Gilbreath, recipient Dana Rone of Whittington and presenter Sharon Rogers 10. Presenter Sharon Fields, recipient Christina McLaughlin of Bluford and scholarship donor John C. Fields, D.M.V.

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PROVIDED BY REND LAKE COLLEGE

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High Rollers in Herrin

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Herrin Chamber of Commerce hosted Casino Night on Nov. 4 at Herrin Elks Lodge to raise money for the organization. 1. Angela Matesevac and Cru Rounsaville of Herrin 2. Nina Helleny and Liz Lynn of Herrin

4 Provided by Herrin Chamber of Commerce

3

3. Mike and Donna Monchino of Herrin 4. Carla and David Hays and Jeff Green of Herrin

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Life & Style : Spring 2012 11

social seen

13Pro Winter Gala

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1

13Pro, a regional group for young professionals, hosted its Winter Gala at the Stadium Club at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale on Dec. 8. 3

1. Rachel Kubiak and Drake Hall

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2. Laura Taylor and T.J. Martin 3. Jenni Janssen and Tena Bennett 4. (Back row, from left) Laura Taylor, Kristin Korn, Randy Johnson, Adam Blackward and Dennis Poshard; (front row, from left) Janet Jensen, David Coracy, Rhonda Barrett and T.J. Martin 5. (Back row, from left) Aur Beck, Heather Chambers, Jesse Barge, Amanda Thalhammer, Nic Skovgaard, David Hughes and Kim Clemons; (front row, from left) Sherry Ratcliffe, Evin Isley, Chase Rudolph, Logan Johnson, Jacek Wiltowski and Liz Lynn

Provided by 13Pro

5

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Herrin Crystal Ball

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The Herrin Chamber of Commerce Crystal Ball was Jan. 14 at the Civic Center. 1. Jennifer Frost, Beth Harness, Liz Lynn, Nina Helleny, Katie Calcaterra and Melissa Farley, all of Herrin 2. Roger and Pam Hendricks of Herrin 3. Jennifer and Kevin Frost of Herrin

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4. Julie Osman, Dennon and Alicia Davis, all of Marion, and Lori and Chris Haake of Herrin 5. Herrin Chamber of Commerce President Kelly Green and Kathleen Jones, both of Herrin 6. Katie and Ben Calcaterra of Herrin and Susan and John Raski of Herrin 6

7 Provided by Herrin Chamber of Commerce

7. Kathy Childers and Randy Youngblood of Herrin

5

Life & Style : Spring 2012 13

social seen

15 Years at Tom’s Place

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A Culinary Masters Dinner was hosted Jan. 19 at Tom’s Place in De Soto to celebrate Lasse and Maryjane Sorensen’s success at the restaurant. Chef Lasse was joined by his father, Gert, and brother, Jan, both of whom are master chefs. (To see a story about the culinary family, see Page 72.)

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1. Lori Sisulak of Carterville, Mike Maurizio of Carterville and Becky Gordon of Rantoul 2. Greg and Phyllis Smith of Pinckneyville 3. Steve and Becky Gordon of Rantoul 4. Sandy Maurizio of Carterville and Alan and Debbie Latoza 6

5

5. Dr. Michaelis and Martin Jackson of Carbondale and Michelle Koehly and Steve Lunn of Marion 6. Joe McFarland of Makanda and Mark and Mary Carvell of Carbondale 7. James Hutchens of Centralia and Kathy Sanjabi of Carbondale 8. Roberta Reeves, Gene and Mary Mantovani of Carbondale and Craig Reeves of Carbondale 9. Randy and Sherry Skoffic of Carbondale and Ten and Angela Kristensen of Freeburg

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Paul Newton

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Women in Leadership The third Women in Leadership program was Jan. 12 and 13 in the Hiram H. Lesar Law Building at SIU Carbondale. The program focuses on preparing law students to be leaders while also learning about challenges that women face as leaders within the legal profession.

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1. Cindy Loos, Judge Carolyn Smoot, Courtney Loos and Vanessa Knepp 2. Ella York and Laura Barke 3. Mallory Zimet, Jessica Birks, Jason Epps, Brent Colbert and Jessica Nardulli 4. Sheri Lawler, Michael Lawler Jr. and Michael Lawler

5

Steve Jahnke

5. James Capel, Benjamin Ford, Tim Pyzik, Tracy Prosser and Nicholas Adkins

be seen Have you been to a great event lately? Did you take photos?

If you would like to have the photos considered for publication in our magazine, call for details and image specifications: Cara Recine • 618-351-5075

Life & Style : Spring 2012 15

social seen

West Frankfort Chamber

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The West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual dinner Jan. 19. 1. John and Mary Moreland 2. Wes and Laurie Taylor 3. Linda Aken 4. Don and Linda Gass 5. Sharon Ossig, chamber Citizen of the Year

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6. Judy Davis and Nick Norovich

6

Alan Rogers

5

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Marion Area Chamber

1

Nearly 400 people attended the 91st annual Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet at the Pavilion of the City of Marion on Jan. 20. 1. Meredith Ashe, Lety DeMattei and Connie and Steve Ashe of Marion

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2. Kim and Tom Haag of Thompsonville 3. Jon and Lisa Cavaness of Marion 4. Melissa and Matt Adkins and Jeff and Kristin Shrum of Marion 5. Brandee Gillespie Davis and William Davis of Marion 6. Greg and Vickey Taake of Marion

Steve Jahnke

7. Jim and Jodi Siefert of Carterville

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don’t miss this

Something for (almost) everyone America’s 40th Anniversary Tour When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 3 Where: the Carson Center, 100 Kentucky ave., Paducah Tickets: $37-$57 Info: 270-443-9932 or www.thecarsoncenter.org america’s best-known tunes — “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross the River,” “tin Man,” “lonely People” and “Sister Golden Hair” — were cornerstones of 1970’s top 40 and FM rock radio. this show will feature songs reflecting some of their songwriting inspirations, as well as showcasing their first album with a very special acoustic set featuring standards such as “I Need You” and “three Roses,” as well as some never-before-performed deep cuts.

Spring Home Builders Expo When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 10 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11 Where: the Pavilion, Marion Cost: $4 for adults, free for children younger than 12 Info: 618-529-5085 or by email at darla@hbasi.org If you’re thinking about building, remodeling or beautifying your landscaping, you might want to drop in on the Spring Home expo 2012, where more than 70 home-andgarden businesses will be represented. the expo is organized by the Home Builders association of Southern Illinois.

Mid-America Morel Mushroom Festival & Hunt When: Saturday and Sunday, april 14 and 15 Where: trail of tears lodge & Resort, 1575 Fair City Road, Jonesboro Cost: each day is $10 (before March 31) or $15 the day of; children 12 and younger, $5 Info: 618-833-8697 or http://trailoftears.com/ morelmushroomhuntfestival.aspx this family-oriented festival takes place in the heart of prime and proven morel habitat, in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest. If you’re a lover of morel mushrooms or if you want to learn more about them, this is the place to be. Discover what you need to know about finding the fungal treasures, get a chance to find some, and see and taste cooking demonstrations. Check out the cook-off Sunday, where some of the best morel cooks will gather and present their finest fare. lodging and meals are available.

For more information on these events and activities across Southern Illinois, go to www. LifeandStyleSI.com 22 Life & Style : Spring 2012

March 2012 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

April 2012 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration When: all day Saturday, March 17 Where: Murphysboro Cost: Free Info: 618-684-6421; www.murphysborochamber.com or director@murphysoborochamber.com this year, the Chamber of Commerce will be partnering with the Southern Illinois Irish Festival group to bring this favorite to the streets of Murphysboro. You’ll find a 5K walk/ run, Irish stew cook-off, parade and Irish Kids’ Festival. the Dorians, a well-known and popular Irish music group featuring local musicians, will perform at the liberty theater downtown. the 17th Street warehouse will be open and offering for sale corned beef and cabbage, along with an Irish potato buffet. tickets will be available at the door, and it’s sponsored by 17th Street Bar & Grill.

Shawnee Hills Spring Arts Festival When: Friday through Sunday, april 27 to 29 Where: anna arts Center, 125 w. Davie St., anna Cost: Varies by event Info: Joanne Blakley 618-697-6285 or www.annaartscenter.com whatever your preference for artistic expression, it’s probably available at this relatively new festival. what’s planned? on Friday, it’s the Your Stage dinner event, featuring some of the best of the best local talent, an all-you-can-eat dinner and open mic, $10; Saturday is the judged arts show and artists Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a performance dinner event Saturday evening, $10; Sunday is the artists reception with live music and refreshments. Previous festivals have included sketch comedy, one-act plays, dance and open readings of poetry and short fiction.

Coming in May Derby Day at Blue Sky Vineyard When: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5 Where: Blue Sky Vineyard, 3150 S. Rocky Comfort Road, Makanda Cost: Free Info: 618-995-9463 or www.blueskyvineyard.com watch the Run for the Roses — the Kentucky Derby — on the big screen while displaying your Southern flare for dramatic dress and enjoying mint julep-infused Blue Sky white Sangria. If you want the opportunity win some great prizes, ladies are encouraged to wear a hat, an absolute must for any woman attending the Derby in louisville. Gentlemen can compete for the “Most Distinguished” look. when partiers arrive, they will be given tickets with each horse’s name, and people holding the winner will be eligible for a significant prize. Food, wine and other beverages will be available for purchase.

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tech

App-tastic Managing chores around the house can itself be a chore. In past eras, “honey-do” lists and Post-It notes would dot refrigerators and other surfaces around the house, reminding you of errands and their respective timetables for completion. Today, though, the need for pen and paper has been

eliminated and replaced by electronic applications for devices like tablets and cellphones that can ease the burden of remembrance. Here are some popular applications that can make life around the house a little less stressful.

These electronic ‘assistants’ keep our lives on track Epicurious: this app features more than 30,000 recipes collected from cookbooks, magazines and chefs, and allows users to search for the perfect recipe in a matter of moments. For cooks crunched for time, recipes can be searched using an ingredients list of what’s already in your kitchen pantry or fridge. iReward Chart: Keeping track of the children and their chore lists can be a hassle, but this app makes it a little bit easier. taking the outdated concept of dry-erase board charts and smiley-face stickers, iReward Chart allows parents to keep a digital record of what tasks children have accomplished and how close they are to customizable rewards. Grocery IQ: with this app, you can build a shopping list by searching for certain items from a catalog of thousands or scanning the barcode on a product as it’s running low in the cabinets. Notes can be added about quantity, container sizes and prices, and users can categorize lists by store aisle to prevent wasted time wandering the store. a fully integrated coupon book can also save shoppers money. Remember the Milk: this app replaces the need for a daily planner, as it helps keep day-today activities organized. to-do lists can be easily arranged and organized with appointments, deadlines and tasks-at-hand. Color coding a tagging systems allow for easy navigation, and the program can send reminders via email and text message.

24 Life & Style : Spring 2012

BillMinder: Handy for those whose bills get lost in the shuffle, this app organizes bill payments by due date and instantly alerts the user when deadlines are approaching. A password-protected AutoPay feature also allows for automatic payments, and a tracking feature logs spending habits using charts and graphs to help plan a detailed monthly budget. Zinio: Stacks of months-old magazines that have barely been read can be a thing of the past with this app. Zinio, a digital magazine e-store and reader, allows users to download and read individual issues or subscriptions, complete with interactive graphics, animated illustrations and video options not offered by print publications and other e-readers. Penultimate: Jotting notes, contemplating a new layout for the living room and giving directions are all tasks simplified with this app, which lets users sketch, draw and write with a swipe of the index finger. Users can choose between graph, lined and plain paper backgrounds, and an eraser function prevents starting from scratch when making mistakes. TaskRabbit: Users of this app can post any errand or chore they need help with to a public queue and list the price they’re willing to pay someone to help them out. The message then goes out to thousands of pre-qualified and background-checked workers, who will volunteer to help out for the right price. TaskRabbit is currently only available in certain cities and area. — Compiled by Adam Testa — Source: How Things Work

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décor

the Great outdoors Company offers an extensive line of rustic furniture made of reclaimed wine barrels. the furniture is ordered from 2-Day Designs in Georgia.

Sustainable story by Joe Szynkowski As the eco-friendly push penetrates the furniture business, companies are offering their customers many options that can tie a room together without tearing down the environment. One such furniture trend is really on a roll. The Great Outdoors Company, Inc. in Carbondale offers an extensive line of furniture fashioned from reclaimed wine barrels. The rustic, yet modern, appearance of the pieces has helped boost their appeal to a broad consumer base. “It’s a great look with that little bit of uniqueness that people love,” said Mickey Stewart, owner of The Great Outdoors. Stewart orders his wine barrel furniture from 2-Day Designs in Georgia. The company refurbishes the wine barrels, which have been retired from all over

28 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Eco-friendly furniture is finding its way into plenty of local homes the world and still feature the stamp from their original location. Some of the barrels are branded with France, Spain and California. “People see that kind of unique feature and they just think it’s so neat,” Stewart said. “They’re willing to pay a little more for the quality of product combined with the look.” Wine barrel furniture comes in the form of table bases, legs, stools, benches, bistro tables and more. Customers can expect to pay between $1,200 and $1,500 for a bistro table, and between $400 and $500 for a kitchen island. See the furniture yourself at The Great Outdoors Company or visit www.greatoutdoorshq.com for more information.

If you’re seeking a little more cushion for your coin, local furniture businesses have plenty of eco-friendly pieces available through manufacturers. The Furniture King in Carbondale can order products from La-Z-Boy’s popular EcoComfort line of fabrics and cushions. The fabrics are tested and approved through a certification process and come in a variety of colors. The company’s cushions are created from soy, lessening their environmental impact while preserving La-Z-Boy’s high quality of comfort and appearance. For more information, call The Furniture King at 618-549-8332 or visit www.bradthefurnitureking.com. For your outdoor needs, Country Crafted Furniture in Mount Vernon

StePHeN RICKeRl

Bistro tables and chairs are fashioned from reclaimed wine barrels.

wine racks (right) and beverage coolers (below) are fashioned from reclaimed wine barrels.

offers the popular poly-wood furniture made from recycled milk jugs. Since the furniture is not produced with wood, it is rot-free, splinterfree, fade-free and termite-resistant, all invaluable features of any furniture that resides outside. “People love it because it is so easy to clean,” said Richard Strite, longtime owner of Country Crafted Furniture. “You just scrub it and it never loses that color. And, it’s not a hollow-type material. It is a solid piece of furniture.” Poly-wood is an ideal material for

any type of outdoor furniture, including gliders, porch swings, coffee tables or lounge chairs. Its quality comes at a cost, more than double the price of regular wood furniture. “We sell our wood deck chairs at about $115. The poly will run about

$244,” Strite said. “But, as far as maintenance, you never have to do anything else to it.” To order your poly furniture in time for spring, visit Country Crafted Furniture on Broadway Street or call 618-242-9318.

Life & Style : Spring 2012 29

heritage

the building now housing SI Dermatology in Murphysboro was once a post office. ‘there is something about rehabbing a structure that no one wants anymore,’ says Dr. ted Vanacker, seen here in front of a vault used in the former post office. a hallway in the office (left) leads to another vault.

Renovating Ted VanAcker is giving beautiful, old buildings new life

history

30 Life & Style : Spring 2012

story by Les O’Dell photography by Steve Jahnke

It could be said that Dr. Ted VanAcker is single-handedly saving the buildings of Southern Illinois. Where others see abandoned and dilapidated eyesores that once held thriving offices or businesses, the Herrin-based dermatologist sees an opportunity to bring old buildings — and the history they hold — back to life. During the last 15 years, VanAcker has purchased nearly two dozen structures in the region with plans to renovate each; some are now home to businesses, event centers or medical practices. His projects include the former Annex movie theater in Herrin, Murphysboro’s turn-of-thecentury post office and West Frankfort’s old city hall. He says the works stem from a love of historic architecture and a desire to reuse items and structures that have been long abandoned. “There is something special about rehabbing a structure that no one wants anymore, highlighting its unique architectural aspects and focusing on what the building could be,” he says. “It’s a really great feeling to take a building that has long been empty and make it useful again, filling it with people, activity and laughter.”

a spiral staircase extending from the Murphysboro building’s basement to the second floor and a stained-glass ceiling in a second-floor waiting room are also original features.

Take the postal building in downtown Murphysboro, for example. Originally built in 1900, the building featured 20 granite steps (each 30 feet long), eight limestone columns, two spiral staircases, four vaults and what VanAcker believes was the first local indoor bathroom. After extensive renovations, the structure today houses a number of VanAcker’s businesses, including Southern Illinois Dermatology, Egyptian Fitness Center and Dermacare Body Boutique, complete with stainedglass ceiling and ornate architectural details. VanAcker has restored and uses a 1940s-era medical office for his Du Quoin practice; Harrisburg’s Egyptian Fitness Center is in the old Pruett building, which housed Hart’s Department Store for many years; and Egyptian Day Spa is a renovated 1925 farm house located along Illinois 13. One of his favorite projects, however, has been the former West Frankfort city hall, a building slated for demolition before his involvement. A group wanting to save the structure asked VanAcker to analyze the facility and share his opinion with the city council.

“The council asked if I wanted the building, and I said, ‘Sure, I’ll take it,’” he recalled. After making what he calls a very low bid — the lowest of three bids received — he was handed the keys to the building, which once housed city offices, the police station, the fire department and courtrooms. Months and nearly $750,000 later, the fire station became The Old Firehouse Event Center, and the police station is now one of VanAcker’s dermatology offices. “We actually see our patients in the old jail cells,” he points out, noting that the doors and windows still have bars. The renovations have been popular with patients (many tell them they come to his offices because of the architecture and aesthetics) and with those interested in history.

“There is community memory in these buildings,” says Robert Swenson, associate professor of architecture at SIU Carbondale. “They’re landmarks and part of our main streets. I’m glad that he does this.” VanAcker says he will continue to renovate old buildings. “It would be much cheaper to buy an empty lot and throw something up quick, but the cool factor wouldn’t be there,” he explains. “If a building has some history that is important to the community, that’s attractive to me. I like to look at the buildings I have rehabbed as gifts back to the community — ways to say thank you. I’d like to challenge other business leaders to look at the historic buildings throughout Southern Illinois and consider renovating them for their businesses.”

Life & Style : Spring 2012 31

my favorite things

My favorite things

Liz Lively Lynn is a Herrin Losing the jackets. As a mom to young sons, I hometown girl, who comes from am constantly searching for the matching glove a tight-knit family. “I come from or a hat. Spring means freedom from the search. a long line of strong-willed women who give back Mother’s Day. Being a mom is to their community, awesome and so is celebrating it! their church and It’s also a perfect opportunity to who live a faithshow my mom that I think she filled life,” she walks on water. Go moms! says. The first smell of fresh cut grass. Liz graduated Few things can instantly turn me into from SIU a fourth-grader who can’t wait for Carbondale Summer. with a specialty in organizational communication. She’s Bocce. The Herrin executive director of Herrin Bocce Club does a Chamber of Commerce, serves on fantastic job keeping the school board at Our Lady of our bocce complex in Mount Carmel, is a soccer coach great shape and free for for the All Star Soccer League in all. Pizza + bocce + family: Herrin and has served on the board My summer go-to activity. of directors for Herrin United Way. She’s a co-founder of 13Pro, a successful young professionals Herrin Park. I love visiting organization in Southern Ilinois the park in the spring. It’s that has raised thousands of dollars fun to see if I can still do for various charities including The the monkey bars and chase Women’s Center, The Night’s Shield the boys down the slides. and the American Heart Association. Liz married Ryan Thunderstruck. I love Lynn, retirement Spring storms and advisor for Miners’ baseball! Retirement Outdoor family time. Defenders on 11Whether it’s watching our 11-11. “I haven’t sons chase around our nieces stopped smiling and nephew, playing a game of since then,” she says. kickball or getting out the bats Together they have three sons — and gloves, I love my outdoor Gavin, Chance and Nicholas — family time! and she spends much of her free time on the various courts, fields Flowers. and diamonds of Southern Illinois Seeing watching them play sports. She and my her husband are also big Saluki fans. plants You’ll get a very good sense of Liz, bloom does who’s brimming with personality, in my heart her answers to our question: What good. are your favorite things about spring?

32 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Paul NewtoN

Liz Lively Lynn

The grill. I love the food, the smell and the freedom of grilling! Basically you can put anything on the grill and it tastes amazing! Just don’t turn it too high too fast or you end up with hockey pucks for burgers. I learned that lesson the hard way. (You’re welcome for the tip.)

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Sarah Kemp leads her Vinyasa I Yoga class at one-o-one Yoga in Carbondale.

Yoga students hold postures during a Yellow lotus Yoga class in Murphysboro.

Exercise for body, mind and spirit story by Joanna Gray It’s the New Year, and you want to take a yoga class as exercise to help you get in shape. That’s a fine resolution, but the practice of yoga is far more than just another exercise routine, such as aerobics or strength training. This 5,000-yearold practice with origins in India has a transforming effect on body, mind and spirit, making it a perfect panacea for managing the stress of today’s modern life. Through physical poses and a mindful awareness of each breath, yoga is all about creating a healthy balance between body, mind and spirit to achieve a more

34 Life & Style : Spring 2012

balanced way of moving, thinking and living one’s life. “Yoga is an active process through body positions, specific type of mental focus and focus on breathing,” said Stephanie Goldstein of Hatha Yoga Barn in Carbondale. “People can create physical changes inside themselves and feel that they can control their reactions to stress stimulus.” Yoga teacher Sandy Stevens of Yellow Lotus Yoga in Murphysboro described yoga as a philosophy. “There is no certain type of religious belief required to practice yoga,” Stevens said. “It’s a personal practice of looking

alaN RoGeRS

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inward, not trying to attain a shared belief or spiritual goal.” Also, yoga is not limited to a single philosophy or style. For example, Hatha yoga, the Barkan method of hot yoga, Vinyasa flow yoga and restorative yoga are just a few of the styles taught by experienced yoga teachers at studios and through private lessons in Southern Illinois. Best of all, there is a style of yoga to fit nearly everyone’s individual needs, regardless of age, gender, weight or physical issues. “As a yoga teacher, I want people to be open and patient with themselves when they come to a class, regardless of where they are physically and fitness-wise,” said yoga instructor Lisa Dover of Lisa Dover Yoga in Carbondale. “In my mind, yoga is for everyone.” Dover practices and teaches the Barkan method of hot yoga, a vigorous style that is practiced in a warm room. The heated

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self Learn more Lisa Dover Yoga 3200 Fishback Road Carbondale, IL 618-713-7070 www.lisadover.com

alan Rogers and Paul Newton

Hatha Yoga Barn Stephanie Goldstein 901-237-9001 www.stephaniegoldsteinyoga.com

Jan Thomas balances in a high lunge during a Yellow Lotus Yoga class.

Instructor Stephanie Goldstein of Murphysboro leads a yoga class at Hatha Yoga Barn in Murphysboro.

room helps her muscles be more open and pliable so she can get into stretches more deeply, and the sweating that results serves to detoxify the body. “I found that I didn’t feel fatigued at the end of the day when I practiced Barkan yoga regularly,” Dover said. “I also had more energy to do daily tasks. I’m also a massage therapist, and I found that I was needing a massage less often because yoga was keeping me stronger and energized.”

that you shouldn’t shy away from yoga if you’re not physically fit or flexible. A well-trained yoga instructor can evaluate your condition and guide you in choosing the best style of yoga for you to start with. “People who think they’re not flexible enough to practice yoga are actually the best candidates,” Stevens said. “A gentle, slow beginner’s yoga class would be the ultimate match for someone who has been sedentary or is older.” For persons who have physical limitations or mobility issues, Dover may recommend individual yoga therapy sessions with Carbondale-based certified yoga therapist Toni Morris before joining a class. “Yoga is for everyone, but it’s also about being authentic about where you are with your body,” Dover said. “Private lessons or yoga therapy can help you learn at a slower pace.” Stephanie Goldstein of Hatha Yoga Barn in Carbondale practices the style of Hatha yoga, which was first brought to the west by B.K.S. Iyengar, a highly respected yoga master now in his 90s. Iyengar yoga is a practice of active relaxation that is a blend of hard and soft practices focused on the sequence of yoga postures and how long they are held. Goldstein regularly teaches this restorative style of yoga in which all poses are supported by props, which shape the

Strengthening the body

You many not envision your less-thanperfect body doing yoga poses or finding even a few seconds to catch your breath, let alone focus on your breathing. But, the benefits of practicing yoga regularly make it all worth it. “Yoga helps to purify the body,” Stevens said. “Yoga builds muscle tone and strength, and it can be quite physically demanding. All of the effort to stretch and breathe through holding difficult postures also helps to build mental stamina.” Stevens practices and teaches Vinyasa Flow yoga, which is a physically vigorous style of yoga intended to produce body heat to warm up muscles, tendons and ligaments. She also offers Thai yoga body work, an ancient style of massage, combining yoga and acupressure that dates back 2,500 years. She maintains

36 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Yellow Lotus Yoga Sandy Stevens 1329 Walnut St. Murphysboro, IL 618-303-8735 www.yellowlotus-yoga.com One-O-One Yoga Kathy Neely 101 S. Graham St., No. 1 Carbondale, IL 618-457-8186 www.center101yoga.com

body into the position to hold, so the person doesn’t need to exert muscular effort. She has used restorative yoga to help hospice caregivers reduce emotional stress and build strength and flexibility to do the challenging physical aspects of lifting and moving hospice patients. “Yoga is a revealing process based on non-violence and truth, self-restraint and self-study,” Goldstein said. “On a physiological level, restorative yoga specifically affects the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, resulting in lower blood pressure and heart rate, lower levels of cortisol in the blood, lower levels of adrenaline and other excitatory nerve transmitters that can overstimulate the nervous system.” Kathy Neely, owner and director of One-O-One Yoga Studio in Carbondale, noted that yoga practice is a good starting place for people whose strength and flexibility are diminishing as they age. “Some claim that practicing yoga can reverse the aging process,” Neely said. “‘Reverse’ is a strong claim, but I believe that yoga can certainly slow down the progression of physical issues that happen as we age.”

Calming the mind and spirit

Persons who practice yoga regularly are able to handle the stress of today’s busy, constantly connected daily life

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alaN RoGeRS

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Above: Zac Nelson balances in the plank position during a Yellow lotus Yoga class. Right: Yoga instructor lisa Dover assists one of her class members with proper form while doing the warrior II pose in Carbondale.

— Sandy Stevens Yoga teacher at Yellow lotus Yoga in Murphysboro

38 Life & Style : Spring 2012

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Neely of One-O-One Yoga noted that an important aspect of a yoga practice is Yoga Off the Mat, a philosophy that carries over into guiding principles and behaviors for one’s life. “We have a beautiful yoga community at the studio that has developed into a nice social environment, where an atmosphere of sharing happens spontaneously,” Neely said. “People bring in books and yoga magazines to share and extra vegetables from their gardens in the summer. Yoga promotes a sense of wellbeing that you can carry over into all aspects of your life.” People who practice yoga regularly find that they have more energy to take care of others and can do so with a more joyful and calm spirit. “For people who are looking for a really nice way to take care of themselves physically, mentally and spiritually, yoga provides the nourishment for all three of those things,” Stevens said.

Life & Style : Spring 2012 39

Massage Therapy • Physical Therapy

— juggling work, family and personal obligations — more calmly and efficiently. “In our western style of living, we’re always turning our attention outward to obligations, family, work and daily tasks,” Stevens said. “Yoga is a practice that involves turning your senses inward. Turning your attention inward and focusing on your breath begins to calm down the mind. From that place of calmness, we’re not driven to overreact as much to the stress of day-to-day living.” Dover said practicing yoga tends to cease the chatter of the mind. “That laundry list of things you need to do goes right out the window when you’re standing on one leg and trying to balance in a pose,” she said. “You focus on the present moment, and that leads to self-discovery as well as improvements in physical strength and flexibility.” The mindfulness of each movement and pose in the practice of yoga set it apart from the typical exercise class. “The main tenant I hold to is that the mind leads the body, and the intelligence leads the mind,” Goldstein said. “In the practice of yoga, the mind has to lead the body so that the body isn’t just flailing mindlessly around as in a regular exercise class, and that’s the difference between exercise, in general, and the true practice of the physical poses in yoga.”

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style

Need some

energy?

Feeling

Try a little Tangerine Tango, Pantone’s top color for 2012

A color swatch of Tangerine Tango, Pantone’s top color for 2012. Of course, few people would want to saturate a room or their wardrobe with the color, but it’s a great choice for a world that needs a shot of energy and boldness. The experts at Pantone Color Institute, a New Jersey-based company that developed a standardized color system used by all kinds of designers, printers and publishers, says it also will work well with more organic colors in the home.

the CB2 brand Parlour Chair is a good example of how tangerine tango can be used to add a pop of color to a more neutral, organic room. ‘It’s a very contemporary color,’ says angela Rowe of Decorating Den in Harrisburg. ‘No one is going to get all their furniture in this color; it would be too much. But you will see little bits of it everywhere, such as in a decorative pillow or one piece of furniture.’ Color specialist and Southern Illinois blogger Kristin williams recommends using it as an accent color in your home. ‘I would never use it to paint the walls, but accent pieces in this color can liven up a room. Her blog features projects done by ‘real people in real homes, and it works,’ she says. other suggestions from williams: trim the front of a white bookcase, paint a chair or sidetable, or make a bold welcome statement by painting the front door.

40 Life & Style : Spring 2012

The backdrop: Interior wall colors

— Story by Cara Recine — Additional sources: McClatchy-Tribune News, The Associated Press

by

Ass

oci

at ed

Pr ess

Your next wall color could be famous. Or, at least, it could share colors seen on walls at one of the world’s most famous art museums, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The museum has chosen 150 colors from its collections and galleries in partnership with Fine Paints of Europe, an upscale paint company based in Vermont. The color wheel shows the results of a meticulous selection and matching process that involved everything from holding up paint chips beside century-old paintings to stopping someone on the subway because of her shirt color, they have developed two distinct collections: one of colors used on gallery walls and another of colors used in paintings. ed

“Gray was everywhere and not just on walls. It was on furniture and furnishings,” Rowe said of the upscale presentation of the latest home design trends. With names such as Silver Fox by Benjamin Moore, Meeting House by ICI Paints and Luna Light by Columbia Paint, these colors suggest the warmth and depth needed to soothe and serve their purpose, too: Showing who you are with what’s in the room, not necessary on the walls. Using these colors also means you don’t have to change your walls to change your mind. “Choose something you can live with for a long time,” Williams said. “Pick something that will last. That way you don’t have to paint your walls over and over again. You can change the décor, instead.” But just as the curator of a great museum has the final say, you are the curator of your home. “It’s really a matter of personal style and taste,” Williams said, cautioning against following trends that might not be right for you. “Listen to who you are and what you like.”

Pr ovid

Just as the walls of the world’s great museums create a background for paintings, your interior wall colors serve as a backdrop for your objects, whether they’re works of art, a great piece of furniture or a fireplace. The Guggenheim Museum in New York City has created a color palette for interior walls that are in harmony with the 2012 color palettes of high-quality and cutting-edge paint companies such as Benjamin Moore, Behr and Sherwin Williams. They all reflect a trend toward colors and materials that are more organic, found in and harmonizing with natural surroundings. “Interior wall color is returning to earth tones and neutrals,” said Kristin Williams, a color specialist and blogger from Carbondale. Don’t yawn, yet. “Neutral” doesn’t mean pastel, pale or boring. These are rich, saturated colors, deep grays, pale sea greens (not seafoam!) and steel and slate blues. “They have great depth and complexity,” said Williams, whose blog can be found at favoritepaintcolors.blogspot.com. Angela Rowe, interior designer and owner of Decorating Den in Harrisburg, was recently at High Point Market in North Carolina, where she saw displays using these colors.

‘We’re already seeing it,’ says Cheryl Lambert, owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio in Herrin. ‘This color is really, really big.’ Lambert says we will see lots of tangerines and corals, as does Vel Green, director of the Green Door Spa in Mount Vernon. ‘What I’m seeing is definitely following the Pantone choice of tangerine,’ Green says. Both agree the trend toward eye makeup is softer and more natural, leaving room for a beautiful bright lip or nails.

A Judith Leiber Jelly Bean Collection clutch. As is almost always the case, fashion designers lead the way when it comes to design and color trends. Tommy Hilfiger’s Spring 2012 women’s collection featured the reddishorange color in many ways, including this coat. ‘I feel very strongly about 2012. I think people over the last couple of years have been conservative with buying clothes. Eventually, you have to refresh the wardrobe.’ A little will go a long way. Try a clutch, a scarf, a skirt, bag or shoes.

Life & Style : Spring 2012 41

profile

Two red-tail hawks perched atop their cage at Free Again.

Setting

them

free

Carterville couple rescues, rehabilitates and releases wildlife

42 Life & Style : Spring 2012

story by Adam Testa photography by Steve Jahnke Bev Shoffstall has always been passionate about the outdoors. She grew up on a farm surrounded by woodland areas. When she and her husband began dating, they spent much of their time hiking and camping in the wilderness. In 1988, they ventured even deeper into the realm of wildlife and nature when they established Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitation in Carterville. For more than 20 years, they have rescued and rehabbed hundreds of animals and released them back into the wild. “That’s the payoff — the day you open that cage and see them take off,” she said.

Can you tell us about your background and how you started Free Again? As a vet tech, which was my original choice of profession, we would have wild animals that people were bringing in on rare occasion, and the doctors didn’t take much time with the wild animals because they were busy with paying clients they had to attend to. At the end of the day, somebody had to do something with these other animals, and I had always had an interest in wildlife and the outdoors. That’s where it all started. When I got my first permit to be a wildlife rehabber, the first year we only got one animal. We didn’t realize it was going to turn into this; we thought it was just going to be something I did on occasion as a hobby, just something to do here or there. But, by our fifth or sixth year, we were taking in more than 100 animals. We knew it was going to take on a life of its own at that point. That’s when we incorporated and got a not-for-profit status and turned it into Free Again. How does rehabilitation work? It’s different between orphans and injuries. Obviously, orphans are quite labor-intensive from the standpoint of multiple feedings a day, but you have to have a good feel for how much attention that animal can get to still be a healthy animal. It does need to be held while you’re feeding, but you need to have that backbone to walk away from it and not cuddle it and talk to it and play with it and spend a lot of time with it, because the more you do that, the longer it takes to undo it to get them ready to be released. If they get too tame too early, they never turn back. They would be just tame enough that they would be a nuisance animal out there. They would find people and not necessarily come up to be petted, but they would not show fear. They would

just hang around too close. With an injured animal, of course, that’s a whole different thing. My background as a vet tech aided that process because I can do a lot of the work myself without running to the vet. As long as they can help me with the major injuries, I can do the bandage changes, give fluids and things like that on my own without their help. That, depending on if it’s a mild head injury and it’s just a matter of sitting in the cage and getting some TLC, maybe being force-fed, but just hanging around could be a two-week turnaround, or it could be a four-month process if it’s a major fracture.

Beverly Shoffstall checks on how well the broken right wing of an immature redtail hawk was progressing after having undergone orthopaedic surgery. Shoffstall said she had received the bird just before Christmas, after it had ‘most likely been hit by a car.’ after three months of rehabilitation, the hawk should be able to released back into the wild. Below: a short-eared owl named Shorty.

Some animals stay here; others are released. What is the ultimate goal? The goal is, of course, rehabilitation — getting them in, getting them fixed and getting them released, so they’re a viable member of the wild community. That’s the big thing. Just because they can make it doesn’t mean we keep them around. If an animal cannot survive in the wild,

Life & Style : Spring 2012 43

profile

Above: Beverly Shoffstall, owner of Free again wild animal rescue, pets a South american cougar named Simba. Simba has been at Free again since he arrived 17 years ago. Left: one of two american bald eagles that also call Free again home.

if their chances of survival are very poor, they’re usually euthanized. There are a few we keep for education. The second part of our mission is educating people about the wild world around them. We do have several birds of prey we use for educational programs, and we have four mammals we use, as well. We’re very selective with those, as well. Those are animals that other people had already made pets out of and that we couldn’t revert.

44 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Each one we keep, we have to get permission for that animal. We can’t just keep things around just because we didn’t want to get rid of them.

‘That’s the payoff — the day you open that cage and see them take off.’

— Bev Shoffstall Free again wildlife Rehabilitation Carterville

Life & Style : Spring 2012 45

profile Lend a helping hand Free again wildlife Rehabilitation always needs help in the form of monetary and service donations. to find out more about how you can help, call 618-988-1067. the center is located at 4031 Big Muddy Road in Carterville.

Left: a bobcat named taz is also part of Free again’s family. Below: Sadie, a red fox, smells Beverly Shoffstall’s sleeve.

What kind of educational programs do you do? We do well over 100 a year. We work closely with Crab Orchard. Once a month, we do a Families Understanding Nature program that we take a different animal, just one species, and tell everything we can about that one kind of animal. Instead of doing a whole bird of prey program, where we do five at a time, we just take one animal, and then they have crafts and activities to go with it on the same day. In addition to that, we do a lot of school programs. Our birds of prey programs are not just entertainment; we hit a lot of natural history facts that tie in very well with some of the science classes with their concepts of camouflage, adaptation and predator-prey relationships. So, they are pretty heavy on the educational aspect. For a lot of the young people, it’s scary. We live in Southern Illinois with all this nature around us, and these kids have never seen wild animals. There’s a new terminology of Nature Deficit Disorder, where the kids aren’t getting out; they’re just sitting in front of screens. What kind of animals do you have throughout the year? We are the only all-species center in Southern Illinois, so we will have everything from reptiles — although that’s mostly just turtles — to mammals. If it’s out there and it gets injured, we take it in. The common ones we see are squirrels, raccoons, possums, deer, cottontail rabbits. But, from year to year, we may get fox, coyote, bobcat. We’ve had mink. We even had a badger one year. We are set

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up to take any size mammal. To take in the birds, songbirds and birds of prey, we have to have a U.S. Fish and Wildlife license. Like I said, we’re the only ones in Southern Illinois who have that. Why is it important to have an operation like Free Again in Southern Illinois? Some people will say that saving an individual animal makes no difference in the bigger populations. Our philosophy is that, first of all, more than 90 or 95 percent of the animals we get in are here because of either indirect or direct contact with man. Rarely will we see anything that is a natural occurring event. Usually, it’s our domestic animals that are getting into the nests or hurting babies. We hit them on the highway; they get caught in our barbed-wire fences. Whether we hurt them maliciously on purpose or it’s just because we’re here, these animals are getting hurt. We just feel it’s the humane thing to do to give them, if they are viable, a second chance to be rehabilitated and put back into the environment. The second part of that, though, is also just the humane end of it. If it’s the only owl you’re ever going to find, and someone else says, “Oh, it’s just an owl,” you’re not going to make an attempt to ever help anything else again. When you have small children coming in with baby bunnies in a box, maybe one cottontail rabbit isn’t going to change the world, but it may change how they look at the world.

What can people do to help? There are several things. First of all, the obvious one is that if there’s an animal in distress, we’re here for them. I want people to realize there is a difference between rescue and rehabilitation. If I’m taking an animal in from 80 miles away, I cannot be there immediately; someone else needs to step up and be the first responder. It would take me two hours to get there. And, if it’s in a dangerous situation, we need people to step up and at least secure the animal, so that it’s not in more danger. Many of these animals are dangerous animals if you don’t know what you’re doing. But, usually with a phone call, I can get people through, even if all they’re doing is getting a laundry basket on top of it and getting it off the road. We are strictly not-for-profit; we have no government funding, either state or federal. All our funding comes from private donations. We can always use donations, both monetary and supplies. We need volunteers actually here on our ground to help with feeding and cleaning. We can use everyone — from older, retired women, who want to help feed baby bunnies, all the way up to men, who want to help with construction, and everything in between.

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,17(*5,7< ‡ 2%-(&7,9,7< ‡ (;&(//(1&( -RKQ )RUEHV 3UHVLGHQW -RHO 6DPEXUVN\ )LQDQFLDO &RQVXOWDQW ZZZ IRUEHVILQDQFLDORQOLQH FRP 6HFXULWLHV RIIHUHG WKURXJK /3/ )LQDQFLDO PHPEHU ),15$ 6,3& Life & Style : Spring 2012 47

lens envy

Bird’s-eye view story by Les Winkeler photography by Christopher Kays Chris Kays and I spent two days on a photo safari, scouring the roadsides and lakes of Southern Illinois for wildlife. It really wasn’t difficult to find critters, but I was impressed with the diversity of wildlife we located with minimal effort. The pileated woodpecker was a pleasant surprise. However, I was totally blown away by the cooperative nature of the pelican. But, undoubtedly my favorite moment was spotting the barn owl perched in the trees. The bird stood out like a ghost. Getting a good photo of the owl was a perfect ending to a spectacular day.

a bald eagle stands watch at Horseshoe lake State Fish & wildlife area in alexander County.

a team of american black ducks swimming on a pond inside of Crab orchard National wildlife Refuge in williamson County.

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a pileated woodpecker in flight at Mermet lake State Fish and wildlife area.

the barn owl has been classified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as an endangered species in the State of Illinois. this barn owl was perched in a tree next to a highway in williamson County.

a ring-billed gull sits on a bridge at Crab orchard National wildlife Refuge in williamson County.

an american white pelican sits on some rocks at Mermet lake State Fish and wildlife area.

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cover story

Green

from the ground up

From foundations and floors to ceiling fans and roofs, building an eco-friendly home has never looked so good

story by Joe Szynkowski

What does eco-friendly mean to you? For most, it involves preserving natural resources and being kind to the environment. Maybe you incorporate specific aspects of eco-friendly behavior into your home life — leaving the lights off more often and using less water daily. Some Southern Illinoisans take it a step further. They build their homes with eco-friendly methods. They meticulously map out the building processes and painstakingly plan final designs, all in an effort to lessen their homes’ impacts on the environment. And, they are doing so in style. Their homes are as beautiful as they are energy efficient. Local eco-builders are excited about the sustainable living trend, and not just because it will help their bottom lines. They hope the trend is part of what they call a necessary evolution toward homes that use less and give more back to the earth and future generations.

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ur homes define us. We invest money, time and labor into making them look their best. We invite people into them for special occasions. Pictures of our loved ones adorn their walls, on top of our favorite colors, textures and designs. We spend so much energy maintaining our homes and lawns that, sometimes, we forget about their impact on the environment surrounding us. Our faucets waste water, our appliances zap electricity and our furnaces emit dangerous gases into the atmosphere. Again, our homes define us. “We definitely want to make a lighter impact on the planet, and we’re doing everything we can do to make that happen,” said Ed Cook, owner of Rocky Comfort Builders in Carbondale. “That’s the direction we’re working toward every chance that we get.” Contractors like Rocky Comfort build ecofriendly structures without sacrificing style. Some of the most stunning homes across the region were constructed with insulated concrete forms, solar technology and cellulose insulation. Their walls were beautifully brushed with chemical-free paints and their windows treated with elegant shades and blinds fashioned from recycled materials. Energy-

efficient ceiling fans gracefully move the air that is heated and cooled by geothermal systems. Each home is a collection of parts, which promotes a type of living that can be described as eco-elegance, from the ground up.

The eco push

It is an exciting time for contractors like Cook, who calls today the “bounce-back” of eco-friendly building. He has seen demand for green build rise and fall since he started Rocky Comfort in the environmentally friendly 1970s. “If everybody had stuck to it and made it a national priority, we would have been light years ahead of where we are now,” Cook said. “I’m looking at this as the second cycle, and we’re still hanging in there.” Eco-friendly builders have been aided by lucrative homeowner rebates awarded by the federal government. The incentives aim to persuade people to improve their homes in ways that will help not only their personal health, but also the well-being of the environment. “Some people you find want their houses built this way for the rebates and tax credits,” Cook said. “But, a lot of people just think it’s the right thing to do.” Buzzwords like “geothermal heating and cooling” have also helped expand the eco-friendly conversation. Geothermal systems, in essence, use the earth’s natural heat to supply a home’s heating, cooling and hot water. The federal government is offering a 30 percent tax rebate for homeowners who install geothermal heat pumps. “We get more questions on geothermal systems than any other part of green building,” said Curt Erwin, owner of Erwin Construction in Benton. “With all of the rebates that are out there for people to install these systems, it has made it very inviting.”

The build

contractors can build is limited only to the creativity of the homeowner. “The planning process is really neat,” Cook said. “When we order material, we order exactly what we need. We go through the prints and the framing design, and we try to get the closest lengths for everything.” Building eco-friendly encompasses more than merely selecting the materials that will save energy and lessen your home’s carbon footprint. It includes everything that comprises the building process, from the initial plans to the discarding of unused materials. “We recycle all of the materials we don’t use,” Cook said. “I think that really impresses people when they see how we work. We really cut down the waste stream. We recycle all of the cardboard, every piece of packaging. We feel like it’s a part of our jobs.” Before you decide to build eco-friendly, there are factors you should consider. There are many online resources that can help you estimate the final cost of your project, as well as lists of credible contractors. Cook advises people to consider all aspects of an eco-friendly build. “The one thing that people always shoot at me is what is the difference in cost (between a regular build and a green build),” Cook said. “The only way to really do it is to actually estimate the build twice. It’s a time-consuming process. Compared to the contractors who are putting up homes left and right, I tell people I can’t compete in that market. We don’t know how to build like that.”

Cook hasn’t built the same home twice in 30 years. Rocky Comfort has constructed traditional ranch styles, geodesic domes, modified timber frames, a 17-sided home, and super insulated passive solar homes to name a few. The type of home he and other eco-friendly

On the following pages, Life and Style takes an in-depth look at all of the different aspects of an eco-friendly build, from the ground up. We give you a detailed breakdown of what to consider if a build or remodel is in your future. Our sources include expert builders, designers and retailers who paint a helpful picture for you in your journey of building a beautiful, sustainable home.

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cover story

Structure

A home featuring all of the energy-efficient bells and whistles on the inside can only go so far without proper protection from the elements outside. “We really push on people that heating and cooling is not an area to skimp on,” said Butch Dunn, owner of Ecological Construction in Carbondale. Dunn installs insulated concrete forms (ICF) and cellulose insulation in most of the projects he takes on. Here’s a quick breakdown of each. Insulated Concrete Forms: According to the Insulating Concrete Form Association, houses built with ICF exterior walls typically require 44 percent less energy to heat and 32 percent less energy to cool than comparable frame houses. The forms are interlocking units of foam or wood fiber that are dry-stacked and filled with concrete. They allow no air leakage and can have a substantial impact on heating and cooling bills. They also have a high resale value and serve as a solid building block in basements and walls. Cellulose Insulation: Cellulose insulation is comprised of plant fiber and is more dense than fiberglass insulation, producing a solid thermal and acoustic barrier between the inside and outside of homes. “It just super-insulates the house,” Dunn said. “It seals all possible air leaks and doesn’t let any air move in or out of the house.” “It’s the highest-rated insulation you can get outside of NASA. It’s a little more expensive but it is amazing stuff. Once you have this insulation put into your house you never go back.”

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Houses built with ICF -insulated concrete forms -- require 44 percent less energy to heat. the forms are interlocking units of foam or wood fiber that are dry-stacked and filled with concrete.

Air and water

One word consistently resurfaces when you talk with eco-friendly builders: geothermal. And it’s for good reason. Installing geothermal systems that use the natural heat from the earth’s consistent temperature to heat and cool a home is almost a uniform practice across today’s green-building industry. Geothermal systems can also provide water heating in the place of traditional hot-water tanks. The geothermal pump that maintains the flow of water and energy through the system is installed securely indoors, usually in a basement or utility room. There is no unsightly, bulky unit to install in your yard, scoring major style points for the outside of your home.

Air

The earth absorbs a large portion of solar energy, resulting in a constant moderate temperature below its surface. Geothermal systems use a sealed underground piping loop filled with water, circulated by a high-efficiency heat pump. In the winter, water circulating through the pipes absorbs heat from the earth and sends it to the heat pump, which concentrates it and transfers it as warm air throughout the home. In the summer, the heat pump absorbs the heat from the home’s air and transfers it to the circulating water. This provides cool air in the home.

Water

Some geothermal manufacturers offer triple-function geothermal heat pumps that provide heating, cooling and hot water. Some systems are on-demand, eliminating the need to heat stored water like required for a conventional hot water tank.

Rebates

Under the federal government’s tax credits for consumer energy-efficiency program, homeowners who have a geothermal system installed through the 2016 can receive a credit for 30 percent of the cost of the system, including the cost of installation. For more information visit www.energystar.gov.

Low VOC products Volatile organic chemicals (VOC) reside within thousands of household items. They are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, including some chemicals that, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, can cause shortand long-term adverse health effects. VOCs can be emitted from paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies, solvents and cosmetic products. An EPA study found levels of about 12 common organic pollutants to be two to five times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. So why should we be concerned about VOCs? According to the EPA, key signs and symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include nose and throat irritation, headaches, allergic skin reaction, nausea, fatigue and dizziness. So the next time you’re painting a wall or decorating a room, do so with the goal of decreasing the amount of dangerous VOCs in your home. Paint: The wall in your home painted with your favorite color can actually release low levels of toxic emissions years after the initial application of paint. Visit your local home improvement center to find low-VOC options in primers and paints that are also rust-preventative, durable and corrosion-resistant. Finishes: Make that furniture shine without making your health decline. Local hardware stores have lowor no-VOC finishing products on their shelves. Find the water-based, solvent-free kind made from natural oils that will beautifully adhere to your furniture. Blinds: Your window blinds may not be the first place you suspect high levels of VOC, but the paint and finish they contain can actually be a prime source. Splurge a little on some bamboo Venetian blinds or blinds made from natural fibers to cut down on the amount of toxins in your home.

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cover story

Flooring

Eco-friendly floors come in many different stylish materials and can be coated with unique natural finishes. Materials range from bamboo to natural linoleum, and finishes can be applied in the factory or on-site. As anyone who has looked into ordering sustainable flooring already knows, the list of options is endless. Here is a brief guide to get you started.

Floor materials

Choosing the right eco-friendly material for your flooring takes a creative eye and an understanding of what you want your finished room(s) to look like. Bamboo Flooring: Durable and elegant, made with no added formaldehyde Cork Flooring: Thermally insulated and available in large number of rich colors Hardwood Flooring: Sustainably harvested maple, oak, ash, beach, birch, etc. Natural Linoleum: Long-lasting, easy to maintain flooring made of linseed, cork, limestone and tree rosin

Floor finishes

When it comes time to finish your floors, it is best to go natural. Find a finish that is plant-based and non-toxic. Not only will your floor look great, but

your lungs will be saved from breathing in unsafe chemicals. Finishes are available in clear-coat and a wide variety of colors.

What is reclaimed wood?

Many floor materials are fashioned from reclaimed wood, which is cultivated from old barns, buildings and sustainable sources of timber. Instead of destroying logs for use as mulch, firewood or even landfill, manufacturers offer the wood as beautiful flooring. And along with helping the environment, you can have an interesting story of your floor’s heritage when showing it off to your guests.

what’s old is new again in floors fashioned from reclaimed wood. along with helping the environment, your floor comes with an interesting story of where the wood came from.

to stay eco-friendly, find a finish that is plantbased and non-toxic. there are many more choices now that homeowners want to keep their homes greener and safer.

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Solar panel systems Many Southern Illinoisans have left the grid, eliminating their dependence on public utilities. And they’re doing so with the help of photovoltaic systems. “People expect to get lower energy bills with the systems and that’s what they get,” said Aur Beck, owner and chief technician of Advanced Energy Solutions Group in Carbondale. “Once someone has a zero-dollar energy bill or actually sees their meter turn backwards, it just becomes a point of obsession. Then they become advocates and try to get other people to live the same way.” Photovoltaic systems use one or more solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. “A lot of the most effective technology has been around since the 1950s,” Beck said. “Now it’s just about making the systems more efficient and using less area to make the same amount of electricity.” Beck has been an active advocate for solar energy for more than a decade. He installs solar systems and consults with people interested in going solar. “Usually what I’ll do is sit down with somebody and talk about their home plans and ways to reduce their energy,” Beck said. “Usually, they still end up buying the solar systems. If they’re energy-efficient enough, they can go really low on their bills with solar energy.” Beck started Advanced Energy Solutions Group in 1999. His business installs solar systems in eight states. He has also made a point of teaching continuing education classes at John A. Logan College, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a handful of other colleges across the Midwest. “The Midwest is about 10 years behind on solar,” Beck said. “There really wasn’t that large of a market in the Midwest, but that has changed in the last three years tremendously.” Beck said people can expect solar systems to pay for themselves after about seven years. Government rebates offer added incentives for homeowners. “There are a lot of benefits to getting a system installed, which has really helped business,” Beck said. “When I started in 1999, most solar businesses were in it because of their passion. Now it’s a strong business.”

Solar panels used to be clunky and unattractive, but that’s no longer the case.

Metal roofing Metal roofs have become a popular option for people looking for more durability and less dependence on asphalt shingles. Many metal roofing options are made of recycled materials such as copper, steel or aluminum from cans. Durability: Metal roofs are made to last. You won’t have to worry about damage from the elements like hail or snow. In fact, metal roofs allow snow to simply slide off their surface instead of allowing buildup and the potential for damage. They are also fire-resistant. Their longer life spans make roof replacements less frequent, ultimately producing less waste. Rain-friendly: For people interested in collecting rainwater from their roofs to water their gardens or for use in their households, a metal roof is an ideal option. Metal roofs also eliminate the chemical runoff that may occur from conventional asphalt shingles. Beauty: You can find metal roofs in all colors and textures. Some of the recycled metal shingles can be made to look like wood. Sleek-looking metal roofs are all the more beautiful at the end of their lives because you can recycle them. Ideal for solar panel systems: The seams in metal roofs make them a perfect fit for photovoltaic panels that comprise solar systems. Combining an ecofriendly metal roof with a highly efficient solar system would earn you

Many metal roofing options are made from recycled materials such as copper, steel or aluminum. they’re durable and eliminate the chemical runoff that can occur with conventional asphalt shingles.

double points with the environment. Other options: If a metal roof doesn’t fit your fancy, other eco-friendly roofing options include the use of shingles recycled from rubber, plastic or wood fiber. Wood shingles reclaimed from forests and old structures also provide a beautiful-looking roof with an ecofriendly touch.

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cover story

Windows

When it comes to windows, there are conflicting strategies to keeping your energy costs down while also maintaining comfort in your home. For homeowners able to build an eco-friendly home from the ground up, window orientation is a crucial step in the planning process. By positioning your main windows facing to the south, you can draw in the sun’s natural solar energy and heat, even during the winter. For homeowners who are restricted to their windows’ current positioning, a specific type of window will help you in your battle with the sun. Low-emissivity (low-E) windows control heat transfer through the microscopically thin metal or metallic oxide layer glazed directly on the surface of the glass. The low-E coating reduces the window’s U-factor, which is used to measure a window’s rate of heat loss. Windows manufactured with low-E coatings typically cost about 10 to 15 percent more than regular windows, but they reduce energy loss by as much as 30 to 50 percent, according to the United States Department of Energy. Window manufacturers apply low-E coatings in either soft or hard coats, depending on the energyperformance and durability sought by the homeowner. Some low-e coatings are also available for do-it-yourselfers. The films are relatively cheap compared to window replacements and can last up to 15 years without peeling. Low-e coatings increase energy savings, boost temperature comfort within a home and reduce fabric fading of window treatments.

Window treatments

Installing new windows that look great can save you a lot of money and stress, but the real fun starts when it is time to decide how to design around your windows. There are literally thousands of design options for window treatments out there ready for you to explore. But it’s not all about look. It is important to also consider factors like insulation and solar heat control. Windows lose heat in the winter and gain heat in the summer. High-quality window treatments can control that flow of heat and go a long way in lowering your energy usage and carbon emissions. Angela Rowe, owner of Decorating Den in Harrisburg, is one of many helpful local designers who can help you pare down your wish-list and find the

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design that best fits your personal needs – all while keeping the environment in mind. “Our main supplier for window treatments is Hunter Douglas,” Rowe said. “They are very cognizant of staying on top of the latest green trends and telling us about what is made out of recycled materials.” Hunter Douglas has been producing natural and appealing ways to harness heat and light for more than 60 years. All of its fashions are designed and assembled in the United States, and the company is committed to lowering energy usage and implementing other changes that will eventually reduce the population’s carbon footprint by 20 percent. Along with honeycomb shades, Roman

If you’re building, the location of windows is an important choice. If main windows face south, you’ll draw the sun’s natural solar energy and heat, even in winter. when it comes to window treatments, there are thousands of options to choose from, in terms of ‘look.’

shades and modern draperies, Rowe said bamboo blinds have become trendy in recent years. Customers have the opportunity to fully customize their treatments by choosing the material, specialty shapes and design options of the product. It’s a good thing, Rowe said, because personal style takes many forms. “It’s different for every home and depends a lot on the privacy and light control that people are looking for,” she said. “It also changes with personal style, whether someone is more traditional, modern, casual or elegant.” With so many options to choose from and factors to consider, do not be afraid to reach out to a local designer to get the best-looking results for your home.

To be energy efficient, the EPA requires the use of improved motors and blade designs. But these strict rules certainly don’t limit the styles to choose from.

Ceiling fans

The downward breeze you feel from your ceiling fan soothes your skin and circulates the air around you. And, if your fan is Energy Star-approved, its eco-friendly effect can also contribute to a cleaner environment and lower energy bills. For a ceiling fan or light combination unit to earn the Energy Star it must meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the United State Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA requires the use of improved motors and blade designs, as well as units that are more than 50 percent more efficient than conventional ceiling fans. Fans that use less energy provide a relief from the heat as well as from your monthly electric bill. During the winter, running a ceiling in reverse helps recirculate the heated air trapped near the ceiling. And if saving money and helping preserve precious natural resources aren’t exciting enough for you, choosing from an unlimited amount of styles should do

the trick. But before you buy, be sure to consider factors such as room size and color schemes. Modern: A contemporarylooking fan can be the perfect accent piece in a room with furniture or artwork that features a similar look. Blades can be ordered in brushed steel, silver or bronze to complement your color scheme. The shape of the blades can also give your room a futuristic feel if you are so inclined. Vintage: Oval-shaped blades featuring a bamboo finish can give any fan a vintage feel. Ornamental lighting and copperbrushed fixtures can also work in tandem to produce an antique-like feel that will

help your fan move the air in vintage style. Traditional: Looking for the perfect match for your rustic furniture and open space? A country-style ceiling fan featuring washed walnut birch-finished blades should fit your taste. Customize the light fixtures and bowl to put the finishing touches on your overall design.

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garage! Stick it in the

PRoVIDeD BY GlaDIatoR GaRaGewoRKS

gear

from lumber yards, hardware stores and home centers. “It used to be that people used wooden PRoVIDeD BY GlaDIatoR Ga RaGewoRKS frames and pine shelves. Now, they are getting pretty extravagant with It used to be that garage storage “No one their storage,” says John consisted of pegboard and wooden likes to be disorganized. But, Mehlbrech, general manager of Menard’s shelves, rolling tool cabinets and plastic sadly, disorganization has become in Marion. “We have a whole wall of totes, too, if the homeowner went to the norm in many garages as other products that we call the ‘extreme garage’ the extreme to be organized. But, today, rooms take precedence,” says Mario section of the store.” with garages serving as home for not only D’Ovidio, general manager for Gladiator Mehlbrech says other storage solutions, tools, but also for recyclables, toys, leisure GarageWorks, a manufacturer of garage including systems that hang from exposed gear, exercise equipment and sometimes storage systems. automobiles, finding ways to store The Gladiator system, along with other rafters — large steel shelves, called gorilla racking, and ceiling hoists for ladders everything becomes a priority. storage gear, including Rubbermaid’s and canoes — also are popular, as are Fasttrack system, uses a set more traditional approaches, including of rails, which are screwed permanently-mounted or movable into garage wall studs. A shelving, rolling carts and racks for items, slat-wall product, called such as brooms and shovels. Companies, Extreme Wall Systems, uses a such as Black and Decker, Ulti-Mate and type of paneling for storage. Talon, manufacture both stand-alone and With all of the products, a component storage solutions. variety of hooks, shelves and “I think people are using the garage for even cabinets can then be more than just a place for everything that hung from the rails or slats. doesn’t fit in the house now,” he says. Rubbermaid reports that its “More work is being done in garages than system provides 10 times the ever before, so these areas need to be storage space as screwing hooks into studs, and each rail organized so you can find what you need when you need it.” can hold up to 2,000 pounds. However, having a place for everything Additionally, the storage in the garage does not necessarily mean systems raise items off of the that each item will always be in its place. garage floor, making cleaning “It’s still up to us to put everything (or storing additional items) away,” Mehlbrech adds with a chuckle. easier. These and other — les o’Dell Storage designs mean your garage stays stylish, too. similar systems are available PRoVIDeD BY GlaDIatoR GaRaGewoRKS

But that doesn’t have to mean it has to be a big mess

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artists

Robin Haller Carbondale fabric artist story by Joe Szynkowski photography by Alan Rogers

Robin Haller, a fabric artist from Carbondale, pieces together a design illustrating the Irish countryside at her home studio.

How would you describe your art style? My art style can probably best be described as eclectic because what is produced comes from visions from inside my head. And my methods are whatever works to produce the look I want. ‘leaving Ireland’

About

Robin Haller began quilting in the mid-1980s. Her piece “Coloring Outside the Lines” helped her break through as a renowned artist.

Work

Haller quilts three or more layers of fabric or fiber together. Examples of her work include a series of four quilts on the Aristotelian elements (earth, air, fire and water), and one called “Scrap Lumber,” made of leftover parts from other projects.

Recognition

Haller’s quilts have won awards at the American Quilters Society shows in Paducah and the International Quilters Association shows in Houston. Her work has also been featured in the American Quilter magazine and been shown at numerous museums.

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What art tools, materials and techniques do you use in your work? The same goes for tools, materials and techniques. I stitch mainly on a domestic sewing machine, but embellish with pencil, paint and other surface design materials when needed. Why do you create art? Why do I create art? Because I need to. What or whom do you draw from for inspiration? Inspiration comes from everywhere – a photo, a shadow on a wall, nature, lines in a ceiling or floor, the juxtaposition of light and shadow in angles. Color is probably the first thing that gets me going, followed by line. How do you improve your craft? Do you attend seminars or follow the work of other artists? I do go to workshops and seminars and if not follow at least am aware of other fiber artists’ work. But most of what I do is done in solitude. I belong to a small group of fiber artists on whom I depend for honest, sometimes brutally honest, appraisals of my work. Can you describe your artistic process? How does an idea start and what is the process from the start to the final production of the item? The artistic process is hard to describe because it’s different for every project. The idea may come from a picture in my head, a photo I’ve taken, or from a previous work…

‘Bell Smith Springs’

I work very differently on a landscape than I do on an abstract or geometric piece. Will you create a quilt that is not for display, like for sale or for friends and family? I make my quilts for myself, but obviously can’t keep, store or display them all. I am a member of the Illinois Artisans Gallery and some of my pieces are in the gallery in Whittington and they are for sale. You have won numerous awards and been featured across the country, do you have a particular piece that you are most proud of? Of all the quilts I’ve made, it’s hard to choose the one I’m most proud of. Probably from among my landscapes, it would be “The Cache’ and among the geometrics, “Scrap Lumber #2.” What has been the key to being able to successfully produce quality art for as long as you have? The key to being able to produce great art is to just keep on producing art. I can’t judge whether it’s going to be quality or not while I’m making it, or even after it’s done. Albert Pujols doesn’t hit a home run every time he comes up to bat, but he just keeps swinging, doesn’t he?

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getaways

Memphis The land of the Delta Blues welcomes us with rich history in music, food and culture story and photography by Adam Testa

one of america’s most famous musical streets, Beale is located in the heart of downtown Memphis with three blocks of more than 30 nightclubs, restaurants and retail shops. Music includes traditional blues, R&B, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll. Catch a concert at Handy Park or attend one of the annual festivals or parades.

ufus Thomas isn’t the most famous musician to emerge from Memphis. His name hasn’t transcended generations like those of his contemporaries: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Isaac Hayes, among countless others. But, there’s no denying the crucial role Thomas played in the city’s musical heritage — his release of “Bear Cat” marked the first hit single for Sun Records, he and daughter Carla climbed the charts as a duet at Stax Records, and he became a fixture on WDIA, the nation’s first allblack radio station. Thomas lived and performed at a time when music was different, when racial divides stopped at the door of the recording studio. He stood out as an icon of the era, a relatable face and a recognizable voice. On a brisk December night, friends, family and admirers of Thomas gathered for a reception commemorating the 10th anniversary of his 2001 death. But, they weren’t just honoring one man; they were

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celebrating a legacy that will continue forever, a story of racial resiliency and the birth of a musical artform called rock and roll. “Just like they said in the movie, ‘Just because I’m leaving don’t mean I’m gone,’” said Thomas’ daughter Carla, referencing a new film debuted the night of the reception. “We really are a legacy. We’re not just passed and gone.”

A city of music

While a visit to Memphis by the uninitiated can serve as a baptism-by-fire into the city’s rich heritage, entering the Mecca of musical legend, equipped with historical perspective, allows for a much deeper appreciation of one’s surroundings. A simple drive through downtown exposes a visitor to many iconic sights — from the bright lights of Beale Street to the signage of recording studios, museums and guitar manufacturing plants honoring and continuing the traditions of the past. Head to the other parts of the city and discover more treasures, such as Elvis Presley’s legendary Graceland mansion

and a world-class music academy built on the site of one of the city’s most historic recording studios. But, in Memphis, experiencing history isn’t schoolwork; it’s an opportunity to be part of a living heritage and gain an almost-surreal sense of insight into a generation not long in the past, chronologically, but a world apart socially. Guests can stand in the back room of Sun Studio, on a spot marked with a black X, and pretend to be Elvis, laying down his first hit single, “That’s All Right,” or they can pay homage to “the King” by visiting his gravesite at Graceland, leaving behind flowers and notes, as thousands do each year. Visitors can also walk the slightly sloped floors of Studio A at Stax Records Museum, built in 2003 to celebrate the magic that happened there in the 1950s and ’60s, or they can take in the modern rhythm, blues and rock and roll emanating from nearly every bar, club and restaurant lining the famed Beale Street. In Memphis, opportunities exist for everyone. That philosophy has long

Rufus Thomas and his daughter, Carla, made names for themselves at Stax Records. In the glory days of Memphis, color stopped at the door. Segregation tore the nation apart, but not in Memphis music studios.

PROVIDED BY MEMPHIS TOURISM

One of Elvis’ military uniforms and a guitar are on display in the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum.

A museum has been built on the site of the Stax Records studio.

been a cornerstone of the city, even in the days when whites and blacks were segregated in schools, churches and public businesses. That spirit, possessed by pioneers like Stax Records founders Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, can still be felt today, resonating from the buildings, the instruments and the people of the city. “Stax was a huge cultural phenomenon,” said Tim Sampson, communications manager at the Stax museum. “It was started in the segregated South by a white man. It was integrated completely from the beginning. Musicians were in here together, even when they couldn’t eat at the same lunch counter.” And, Stax wasn’t alone in pushing boundaries and challenging the societal norms of the time, both in the record studio and out.

Rising Sun

Music has been a part of Memphis for generations, with influences mainly imported from the South. In the earliest of days, country and gospel reigned

Sun Records has a rich history, launching the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, among countless others. The studio continues to operate today.

supreme, and those genres influenced the stars who defined a generation of their own. As early as 1912, William Christopher “W.C.” Handy was creating waves with “Memphis Blues,” the first blues song ever published in America. Considered to be the “Father of the Blues,” he followed up with “St. Louis Blues” and “Beale Street Blues.” It was on Beale Street that Memphis’ musical revolution really began, as workers from the cotton fields would bring their chanting songs, called “field hollers” to the establishments there, inspiring more to follow in Handy’s footsteps. The famed tales of Memphis, though, really began with Sam Phillips’ Memphis Recording Studio, where Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats — featuring Ike Turner on keyboards — recorded “Rocket 88,” heralded as the song that gave birth to the rock-and-roll movement, in 1951. A few short years later, a white teenage boy known for begging, and often convincing, security guards on Beale Street to admit him into night clubs and

The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, off Beale Street and adjacent to the Fed Ex forum, contains dozens of displays telling the stories of Memphis.

bars, despite his age, arrived at Phillips’ studio, looking to lay down some tracks of his own. He didn’t exactly blow away Phillips, who had since turned his studio into a full-blown label, but he showed promise. A year later, Phillips invited the boy back. And, just as he was about to give up hope, the young man busted out a sound no one had ever heard before. On July 5, 1954, Elvis Aaron Presley sang “That’s All Right” at Phillips’ Sun Studio in a fashion no one could have even imagined, and a new era of musical history was officially born. Elvis’ tenure with Sun wouldn’t last long, however. Despite his obvious potential and unique sound, Phillips unloaded the singer’s contract to RCA for $35,000, an unheard of amount at the time for such a relatively unknown performer. “Knowing what we know today, that seems like the worst decision in music history, but the truth is that sale saved this studio,” said Jason Freeman, a tour guide at Sun Studio.

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getaways

Of all the rooms in Elvis’ Graceland mansion, none has more color than the Jungle Room.

This piano was the last instrument Elvis played before his death in August 1977.

Elvis acquired a number of gold records during his career. Elvis and the Presley family are buried on the Graceland property. Visitors bring flowers and stuffed The iconic images line the walls of Elvis’ old hangout. animals, leaving them on the grave site in tribute.

Phillips had found himself in dire financial straits, facing the strong possibility of bankruptcy. While selling Elvis’ contract cost him one rising star, it also enabled Sun Records to promote a number of other up-and-comers — performers like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison.

Divisions

By the 1950s, racial tensions had hit a fever pitch in the United States, as segregation kept blacks and whites apart in schools, restaurants and even public restrooms. But, for those in Memphis recording studios, skin color was left at the door. Blacks and whites joined together to create musical sounds ranging from blues to rock, blending elements of each culture and sending shockwaves through a racially tense society. Sun Records not only produced and recorded white performers like Elvis and Cash; they also promoted the works of black singers such as Rufus Thomas, B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf.

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‘Memphis is music, everything that’s done in this city is somehow related to music. I don’t see anything going on without it.’ — Carla Thomas daughter of Rufus Thomas

At Stax Records, the story was much the same. In fact, many of the same artists recorded there, as well, as the labels collaborated and worked together in a fashion almost unimaginable in today’s industry environment. Bands like Booker T and the M.G.’s and the Memphis Horns were biracial, featuring whites and blacks not just sharing a studio space, but playing together and enjoying themselves in the process. At those times, nothing — physical or mental — outside the walls mattered.

“When we were in this room, everything was perfect,” said Wayne Jackson, trumpet player for the Memphis Horns, while attending the Rufus Thomas reception at the Stax museum. “It really was.” Performers in those days were more than friends and colleagues; they were family. No matter what horrid events unfolded in the world around them, there was a sense of solidarity in the Memphis music scene. That all changed on April 4, 1968, when civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed at Memphis’ Lorraine Hotel. The assassination sent shockwaves through the nation, and had powerful and lasting implications right in the city where it happened. The residents of the predominantly black neighborhoods were less welcoming of the white musicians, and racial tensions began to flare. That marked the beginning of the end for Memphis as they knew it. The sense of family began to evaporate, as labels added more and more stars looking to stay afloat. By the end of 1968, Sun Records — the iconic studio — had recorded its last record. That same year, Stax Records lost its

PROVIDED BY MEMPHIS TOURISM

Sun Studio is a recording studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips. Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King and more all have recorded here.

PROVIDED BY MEMPHIS TOURISM

Brandon Santini and His Band perform at Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall on Beale WDIA was the nation’s first black radio station. Based Street. Live music flows from the bars and restaurants of Beale every out of Memphis, the iconic letters represented a night of the week. movement in the musical world.

distribution deal with Atlantic Records, and the company was put under the supervision of a new co-owner Al Bell, who shifted to a more Motown approach, trying to compete with the music coming from Detroit. The label closed in 1975, and, while there was a slight resurgence a few years later, Stax issued its final new material in the early 1980s. The Memphis of old seemed to be no more.

A living legacy

The glory days of Memphis’ recording hot streak had come to a close. Sun Studio was sold to a plumbing company, which in turn passed it onto an auto parts dealer. Stax Records headquarters was sold to a church for $10; and, through the years, it fell into a state of dilapidation and was ultimately demolished. Other small labels folded one by one. So, it continued for several years. But, while the physical nature of things changed, the spirit of Memphis’ musical revolution lived on — and continues to

do so — in the hearts and souls of those who lived, performed and enjoyed the peak times of the era. A desire and passion to preserve that legacy and heritage has motivated a modern-day revitalization of the city’s historical assets. In 1987, 10 years after Elvis’ death, the original Sun Studio was converted back into a recording space and soon became a popular tourist attraction. Today, bands from around the globe continue to record there, coming in after the museum portion of the site closes at 6 p.m. Stax Records has undergone a similar rebirth, though rock bands no longer make music there. A new campus has been built on the site of the original studio, centerpieced by a large museum with a design replicating the original venue. The true highlight of the “Soulsville” campus, however, is the educational programs, including a music academy and charter school. Here, the values and benefits of music are passed on to yet another generation of Memphians.

Skilled luthiers craft some of the world’s finest guitars at the Gibson Beale Street Showcase.

“To see all of this is just wonderful,” said Carla Thomas, who has established scholarships at the schools in her family name. Other attractions like the downtown Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and Graceland offer guests further glimpses into the life and times of the city’s greatest legends. For guests and visitors, the city and venues offer a number of packages and combination deals, allowing one to take in as many of the city’s valuable resources as possible. Three of the sites — Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Graceland and Sun Studio — are connected by a free shuttle, granting easy transportation for a day on the town. With so many sites and sounds, planning a trip to Memphis can be a daunting task for any music lover. Whether spending just a day or an entire week in the city, there will always be somewhere new to visit. If all else fails, just head out on the streets. In Memphis, music is all around.

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getaways

PRoVIDeD BY MeMPHIS touRISM

the National Civil Rights Museum uses informational panels, reconstructed models and interactive displays to teach the history of the movement to end segregation.

welcome to Memphis, just across the bridge from arkansas. this Mississippi River this statue of Rosa Parks sits on a replica city is a vibrant home to some of the world’s most melodious music, tastiest food, bus inside the museum. the panels along authentic culture and you-can’t-find-it-anywhere-else fun. the top of the bus tell Parks’ story.

this view outside the museum shows the view of room 306, where Martin luther King Jr. was shot and killed. the cars out front are replicas of the ones there that day.

culture

Memphis

Museums and other attractions tell the story of a city’s past, present and future Segregated Memphis didn’t offer many places where the white and black musicians of labels like Sun and Stax could gather outside the studio. With no air conditioning, the artists recording for Stax especially had no desire to spend the hot summer days sweltering away. They opted, instead, to head to the one place in town with a pool, where they could mingle, despite racial differences — the Lorraine Hotel.

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The blacks living in the neighborhood were accepting of the white musicians, and it wasn’t an uncommon sight to see people of both races sharing the hotel’s swimming pool. On April 4, 1968, the same hotel would be the site of a game-changing incident that brought racial tensions to the music industry that had escaped the issues for years prior.

That day, while standing on the hotel balcony outside of room 306, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed by James Earl Ray, believed to be positioned in an upstairs bathroom of a dormitory across the street. The blacks in the neighborhood were a lot less accepting of the white musicians in the wake of the assassination. Segregation had finally arrived in the Memphis music scene.

The museum traces the history of civil and human rights back decades. The emphasis is on the racial struggles of the 1950s and ’60s, as well as the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Lansky 126 is the younger, more modern little sister store of the famous Lansky Bros. shop. Elvis wore many clothes from the original Lansky shop.

Logan Hirsh, a graduate of SIU Carbondale, works on a piece at the National Ornamental Metal Museum, where he is an apprentice. There are many connections between SIU and the museum.

The FedEx Forum, the home of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team, also hosts concerts and special events.

Today, the two buildings used in the hate-filled killing represent a memorial to the past and a lesson preserved for the future. “It’s a very engaging — interactive in some ways — but compelling experience,” said Connie Dyson, marketing coordinator for the National Civil Rights Museum. “We need to tell the story, so generations from here on will know the freedoms they enjoy today came with a cost.” The museum houses 25 exhibits in the two buildings. In the hotel, visitors will find a chronological telling of the history of civil and human rights, leading up until 1968. The boarding house displays examine the aftermath and legacy of the King assassination. The stories of the civil rights movement are told through static displays, as well as multimedia presentations. Most of the exhibits are static, though the museum will go through an updating and renovation project later this year. “We are the keepers, the stewards of history,” Dyson said. “We preserve that

through our collections, as well as our exhibits.” But, the museum does more than that; it also advances the societal knowledge of the civil and human rights movements and the key individuals involved. Administrators and staff organize a number of educational events for school children and adults alike. Last year, they began a community forum series focused on different elements of life in the city. The museum also honors a number of individuals each year with Freedom Awards, recognizing their commitment to the advancement of the cause. These individuals come not only from Memphis, but from around the country and the world. “It wasn’t just a Southern problem,” Dyson said. “It’s an American story; it’s for all of us.”

Masters of metal

A visit to the National Civil Rights Museum acquaints guests with Memphis’ past, and several other attractions around

the city provide a glimpse into the present and future of the city. A true highlight of the city, especially for those with an interest in art, is the National Ornamental Metal Museum, a site with deep-rooted ties to Southern Illinois. The museum campus houses three buildings, each filled with various forms of artwork centered on different metalsmithing techniques and uses of metallic elements. Some of the pieces date back centuries, while others are crafted in an on-site blacksmith shop. “We showcase new works, contemporary works, but we also celebrate those traditional ways of making, too,” said Collections Manager Leila Hamdan. Among the works on the grounds and in the halls of the museum are pieces by notable Southern Illinoisans, including John Medwedeff of Murphysboro and Rick Smith, a professor in the metalsmithing program at SIU Carbondale. The ties to Carbondale run deep at the museum, which accepts apprentices to

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getaways

PROVIDED BY PEABODY HOTEL

Plenty to do at the Peabody

The Peabody Hotel is a long-standing icon in Memphis. The luxury hotel, just off Beale Street, is close to many major attractions. The hotel is known for its marching of the ducks, which happens twice a day. What started as a joke has become a tradition and one of Memphis’ most sought-out pastimes.

train. Many are SIU graduates. Mention Carbondale to museum officials or curators, and they’ll respond with nothing but praise for the university and its contributions to the art form. While many of the pieces, especially in the outside garden overlooking a double bend in the Mississippi River, are permanent installations, the inside exhibits rotate and change every 10 to 12 weeks on a staggered basis. So, upon any visit, there will almost certainly be something new to take in. The museum also houses an extensive collection of art books, including several old and rare volumes. These materials are available for researchers and those interested in learning more about metalsmithing to peruse on site. Classes round out the offerings of the museum, bringing exhibition, education and hands-on training onto a single campus and creating a centralized opportunity for anyone with an interest in the art of metalsmithing. “We cover as many aspects of it as we can,” Hamdan said.

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Just a few blocks from the lights and sounds of Beale Street, you’ll find one of the city’s true gems — the Peabody Hotel. The 13-story venue is a symbolic representation of Southern hospitality, a tradition that has lasted since the first guests arrived in the original hotel in 1869. That facility closed in 1923; two years later, the modern one was constructed, with a $5 million price tag. In the hotel’s early days, musicians and radio stations used it as a recording and broadcast studio, tying it to the city’s illustrious music legacy. Other elements of the Peabody’s past remain. Guests can visit Lansky’s, a tailor shop that serviced celebrities, including Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes and B.B. King. Perhaps the most renowned tradition of the historic Peabody Hotel is one that began as a practical joke. In 1932, hotel manager Frank Schutt and a friend returned from an Arkansas hunting trip that included a little too much Jack Daniels whiskey. The duo thought it would be funny to put live ducks in the hotel’s central fountain; surprisingly, they remained there the rest of the day, content to be swimming and receiving much attention from the hotel guests. In 1940, bellman Edward Pembroke, who had experience as a circus trainer, offered to teach the animals to march to and from the fountain from the hotel elevators. He accepted the official role of duckmaster, which he maintained for 51 years until his retirement in 1991. Schutt and Pembroke, as well as their original feathered companions, are long gone, but their legacy remains. Each day at 11 a.m., the ducks emerge from the elevator, coming down from their home on the hotel’s roof, and walk the red carpet to their perch in the fountain. At 5 p.m. each night, they return to their nest. Though the entire ceremony lasts less than 10 minutes, the march of the Peabody ducks has become one of Memphis’ most popular pastimes and attractions.

Take me out to the ballgame

Fine arts and sports aficionados can also find a plethora of activities to pass their time in Memphis. The historic Orpheum Theater was renovated in the 1980s, and is one of the few remaining movie palaces of the 1920s. It continues to host Broadway shows, concerts and film events. For larger events, visitors can head down the street to the FedEx Forum, which opened its doors in September 2004. National touring arena concerts and performances make frequent stops in Memphis, and they’ll more than likely be playing at the Forum. But, the building has another purpose, as well. It’s the home of both the Memphis Grizzles NBA team, which made a playoff run last year, and the collegiate basketball program at the University of Memphis, annually considered a national title contender. In the spring, sports fans can also take in a baseball game at AutoZone Park, found at the end of Beale Street, home of the Memphis Redbirds, the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. No matter the season or the personal preferences, the city of Memphis offers an almost endless array of entertainment possibilities.

PRoVIDeD BY MeMPHIS touRISM

Charlie Vargas’ Rendezvous is a Memphis barbecue institution. the ribs and brisket shown here are only two of the dishes that have made the restaurant internationally famous.

Hundreds of barbecue teams compete for more than $110,000 in prizes and bragging rights at Memphis in May International Festival. elaborate team tents adorn the banks of the Mississippi River, day and night. teams compete in grilling, decor and shirt design.

barbecue Memphis

One statement can be made about Memphis cuisine with a sense of definitive certainty: There’s no shortage of restaurants serving the best barbecue in town. Driving around the city, one will encounter a seemingly endless array of diners, dives and drive-ins, each touting their own savory sauced goods as the best around. They’ve brought home awards and recognition from different contests, magazines and television programs; but, ultimately, the votes that matter come from their loyal patrons. Ask the most avid of barbecue experts, and even they will be challenged to narrow down the options. “I have a tough time putting a ‘This is my favorite place’ on any restaurant because there are so many good ones,” said Mike Mills, owner of 17th Street Bar and Grill and inductee of the National Barbecue Hall of Fame. Some Memphis restaurants, including Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous, have been long-standing institutions in the city, building a reputation through the last several decades. But, Mills said people need to not discredit the smaller mom-and-pop restaurants, as well, as they’re serving up dishes equally as tasteful and satisfying as

It’s no surprise to find an array of places serving ‘the best in town’

their more corporate competition. “There is more to barbecue than the big-name places,” he said. Diversity really is the glory of the Memphis barbecue scene. While the city’s culinary offerings historically have been geared toward pork, a variety of unique dishes and traditional fares are also available. Mark Dolan, an assistant professor of journalism at SIU Carbondale who operates the website BBQ Pilgrim (www. bbqpilgrim.com), said restaurant goers can find unique and special treats like lamb ribs at Rendezvous, barbecued Cornish hens at Cozy Corner Café and barbecue bologna. The diversity isn’t just limited to what’s being barbecued, either. There are different philosophies on preparing meat (dry rub or wet sauce) and cooking methods (charcoal or wood). Each restaurateur’s individual mentality creates a personalized experience for patrons. “When it comes to barbecue, Memphis has really got an embarrassment of riches,” Dolan said. Once a year, the diversity expands even more. Barbecue cooking teams from across the globe descend on the city for the Memphis in May world championships. The name Memphis in May actually

represents a month-long celebration of the city, but it’s become largely associated with the one-weekend cook-off, now in its 35th year. Mills’ first exposure to the competition came in 1990, when the Apple City Barbecue team from Murphysboro participated. The team would do so for the next three years, and Mills would pay tribute to the city when naming his Las Vegas restaurant, Memphis Championship Barbecue. “Just the heritage and the feeling you get there,” Mills said of being surrounded by some of the best barbecue cooks in the nation. “It’s really an honor to be able to cook there.” Now, he continues to be involved on many levels, most notably enabling others to share the experience he had 20 years ago. Each September, 17th Street Bar and Grill hosts a barbecue cook-off in Murphysboro, with the winning team qualifying for Memphis in May. But, do the local teams have a shot when going up against the best of the best? Mills seems to think so. Through the years, the Murphysboro contest has drawn out the best of the region, and the winners are all ready for the next step. “If you can win this contest,” he added, “you’re capable of winning Memphis in May.”

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design

and fun

allison Spence and Kim Dixon.

Women of Dixon Spence Interior Finishes bring style and smiles to paint projects story by Joe Szynkowski Just try to stop Kim Dixon and Allison Spence from having a good time. No matter what the conversation, these business partners will take it to a place that ends in tear-jerking laughter. The women’s dynamic personalities and creative juices combine to form Dixon Spence Interior Finishes, an upstart design business in Marion that offers faux painting, color consultation, sewing and more. Dixon moved to Marion 13 years ago from Omaha, Neb. Spence is from Harrisburg and currently resides in Marion. The two met in the late 1990s and boast a long working relationship through various business endeavors. They officially joined professional forces in June and have been busy with their brushes ever since. Dixon and Spence have worked on many prominent homes and businesses in Southern Illinois, including Your Jeweler in Carterville and the Kokopelli villas in Marion. “We’re specialty painters, but we will straight-paint, as well,” Dixon said. “We can also do custom projects, and we offer color consultation. Some painters want you to have the paint color picked out prior to them working, but we offer consultation to make sure our client will be happy.” Dixon Spence Interior Finishes also helps clients with the tedious tasks of shopping for materials, conceptualizing rooms and placing furniture. The business can paint a new house from top to bottom or do the same to an older house in need of a facelift. “We want people to know that even if they need a simple project, that we are still very obsessed with doing a wonderful job,” Dixon said. “We want people walking in the room and knowing that we did the job.” The strength of Dixon Spence is faux finishing, which can entail a variety of

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Dixon Spence used damask pattern stencils with eight different types of metallic paint in this changing room at lori Sweitzer’s Photography by lori studio in Marion.

decorative painting techniques. It began as a unique way to replicate materials, such as marble or wood, with paint. “Everyone has their own style of faux painting,” said Spence, who once worked on Dixon’s staff of five painters and designers. Now just a duo, Dixon and Spence are happy with the way their business is progressing. “Having four or five people doesn’t make you a whole lot more money than just working as we do now,” Dixon said. “Our schedules are more flexible, it’s less stress and we have a lot more control over our work.” Dixon and Spence work tirelessly to keep up on rapidly changing design trends. A more prepared designer, they say, makes for a happy client in the end. “We always go the extra mile,” Dixon said. “We spoil our clients. We come when they call. We go and do a good job. We like to think they aren’t just clients, but they also become our friends.”

Dixon Spence created a faux marble look on this downstairs pillar in Brad and Melanie Poole’s house in Marion. SteV

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gadgets

easier less stress?

Need and

You’ll find it with the latest high-tech gadgets Sometimes the simple things in life can turn spirits around. Modern convenience and advancements in design and technology have led to some radical revelations, but they’ve also produced some smaller-scale tools with just-aseffective uses. Here are a couple simple items that can make life around the house a little bit easier and less stressful.

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— Adam Testa

SimpliciKey Description: With this handy device, homeowners can unlock their doors with the touch of a button, just like their car. The remote-control electronic deadbolt is operated by a key fob that works up to 50 feet away, as well as by a key pad or a regular key. The wireless key pad can accommodate up to 16 user codes. SimpliciKey operates on four AA batteries and can fit either right- or left-hand doors. The product is available in polished brass, satin nickel (shown) or aged bronze. Cost: $249.99 at www.simplicikey.com

iHome IDM15 Speakers Description: These space-saving, travel-friendly speakers are designed to bring tunes and sounds from your iPad, iPhone, iPod or any other Bluetooth-enabled devices into the home. Cellular calls can also be answered, as the speakers are equipped with a built-in speakerphone and conveniently located answer and end-call buttons on top. Cost: : $100 at www.ihomeaudio.com

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good eats

It’s in the The Sorensens share a passion – and world-class success – in the culinary world

It’s fair to say cooking runs in the Sorensen family’s blood. But it’s also a little too easy — and a little too bland — to say that. Instead, it’s world-class cooking that runs throughout the bloodlines of these three Danish men — father Gert and sons Lasse and Jan. And, truly, bloodlines may not even be the best word to choose. Butterlines, pastrylines, marzipanlines — all would aptly describe the Sorensens. In any case, no matter how they’re described, this family has made its mark

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story by Rob Crow photography by Steve Jahnke

on cooking, both in their native Denmark and right here in Southern Illinois.

From Denmark to De Soto?

For 15 years, Lasse Sorensen has owned and operated Tom’s Place, a restaurant along U.S. 51 just north of De Soto. At first glance — both of the restaurant’s name and its rustic exterior — it would be easy to assume Tom’s Place is just like any stereotypical small-town restaurant, one that specializes in sandwiches, comfort foods, piping-hot coffee and a friendly

staff that has lived in the same town their entire life. That doesn’t tell the story of Sorensen or his restaurant, however. The son of a legendary Danish pastry chef, Lasse has such achievements under his belt as competing for Denmark in the Culinary Olympics. He also worked in top California restaurants before moving to Southern Illinois with his wife, Maryjane — whose family is from Southern Illinois — buying and taking over operations at Tom’s Place.

“Fate just had it where we were at the right place at the right time,” Lasse said. Since then, Tom’s Place has racked up accolades such as a Wine Spectator Award and a five-star Award of Excellence from the North American Restaurant Association. Still, Lasse is far from the only successful chef in his family. “They have very impressive careers,” Lasse said of his father and brother. “Meanwhile, I was just sitting over here in De Soto, Illinois, trying to get Tom’s Place going.”

The family business

At left: lasse Sorensen (left), his father Gert and brother Jan ate up a rare opportunity to cook and bake together in lasse’s restaurant in De Soto. all are master chefs who have enjoyed top-notch careers in the culinary world. a meal celebrating the 15th anniversary of tom’s Place was the reason the Sorensens got together in Southern Illinois. among the special treats were these ladies (above), who wore marzipan hats.

To call the Sorensens’ culinary careers impressive may be an understatement. The patriarch of the family, Gert, is one of Denmark’s most well-known and respected pastry chefs. Along with a career that has included 25 years of culinary teaching, writing several cookbooks and owning a well-known café at Tivoli Gardens, Denmark’s most famous amusement park, Gert also is known throughout the nation for making wedding cakes for Danish royal weddings. Meanwhile, Lasse’s older brother, Jan, is an instructor with the Denmark Culinary Institute, a job he has had for eight years after an illustrious restaurant career. He has also cooked for the Danish royal family. Needless to say, the Sorensens have spent a lot of time in the kitchen. “Other boys get asked, ‘Do you want to be a fireman, do you want to be a policeman?’ We didn’t have any choices. We had no choice at all,” Lasse said. “We never had any time off. We either made pastries or cooked or washed dishes.” And as the younger brother, Lasse got a lot of the kitchen chores that neither his father nor his brother had any interest in. “I peeled a lot of potatoes,” he said. Gert’s parents weren’t chefs, but that didn’t stop him from finding a love for food, particularly pastries, that has led to an illustrious career. And it’s a love he wanted to pass along to his children, and one day hope they would share. “I had a dream that my two sons would be very good chefs,” Gert said. “And they are very good chefs.” Each son said they loved their time in the kitchen, and never seriously considered doing anything else with their lives. And even when Lasse came to the United States, to a Southern Illinois town no one in his family had ever heard of, the rest of the family was supportive as he followed his dreams. “When I saw the place, it was something special,” Jan said. “I think it’s very interesting — to make a fine restaurant … in this area is something special. It’s been very exciting to see it grow.”

Quality family time

At left: Chef lars Kronmark, another Danish Master Chef invited to participate in the anniversary dinner, prepares the first course dish of Danish cod. a Blackand-white Dinner Salad, was pared by Kronmark as a third-course.

Despite all of the time the Sorensens spent together in the kitchen while Lasse and Jan were children, it’s been rare for them to have cooked together professionally. In January, Gert and Jan came to De Soto and joined Lasse in the kitchen for a 15th anniversary dinner at Tom’s Place. That meal, the tickets for which quickly sold out, marked only the second time Gert, Jan and Lasse have worked together in a professional manner. The first time, they produced a then-Guinness World Record 38-foot-tall wedding cake.

Life & Style : Spring 2012 73

good eats Otherwise, most of the professional work done within the family has included two of the Sorensens working together in some fashion. Those experiences, however, have resulted in some of the families’ favorite stories. For Lasse, one of his most memorable moments of his early years came when he was transporting an extravagant wedding cake. On the route, a car pulled in front of him, and in maneuvering his own car, Lasse’s cake was ruined. That’s when a call to his pastry master father “He said, ‘OK, don’t worry about it, just stay there in the forest,’” Lasse recalled. “I stayed there in the forest, and he brought all kinds of stuff from his pastry shop, and we repaired it right there, in the back of a van in the forest. And the people said it was the most incredible cake they’ve ever seen, and I just thought, holy moley. So many of the stories like that are fun after the fact, but not so fun as they happen.” Along with heaping amounts of talent — and vastly varying styles — each chef admits to having a healthy ego in the kitchen, something they say is necessary to reach desired heights in their field. That said, however, none will call himself the best chef in the family, although they all admit Gert makes the most artistic, eyepopping food creations. And despite rarely working together professionally, the three still work together plenty in the kitchen in a casual setting when visiting each other, either in Denmark or the U.S. No matter where the cooking takes place, the feelings and discussions are the same. “When we work in the kitchen together, we start talking about old days, and what used to happen, and people who aren’t here anymore,” Lasse said. “It’s a lot of fun, because you recognize all of those things as part of your life, part of your memories. It’s incredible.”

74 Life & Style : Spring 2012

You can’t run a kitchen without paying attention to all the details, which Gert and Jan discuss at right. Chef lasse and his business partner and wife, Maryjane, concentrate on service of salads. and you won’t see this too often, at least done successfully. In the photo at bottom, Chef Gert opens a bottle of champagne, a French tradition known as sabrage.

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Life & Style : Spring 2012 75

where we live

Beautiful and

Butch Dunn’s Carbondale home exemplifies eco-friendly 76 Life & Style : Spring 2012

to last

story by Joe Szynkowski photography by Steve Jahnke

utch Dunn takes his work home with him. The same tools and techniques that he uses to build homes and structures for customers throughout Southern Illinois, he utilizes at home. Dunn owns Ecological Construction, a building company in Carbondale that implements eco-friendly strategies into its work. The buildings that comprise his professional portfolio are equipped with top-of-the-line spray foam insulation, geothermal units and insulated concrete forms. Dunn’s home on the south end of Carbondale is no different. His

the Dunn house near unity Point School south of Carbondale features high ceilings and large windows. a glass window (right) allows visitors to the home a glimpse inside the walls, specifically the straw that is used for insulation.

walls enclose 3,200 square feet of ecofriendliness. His custom-built windows are positioned to get the most out of the sun’s natural heat. His geothermal heat pump utilizes the earth’s consistent temperature to efficiently heat and cool his home. And, Dunn is always looking for ways to improve his home and the homes of his customers. The more he learns about building in an environmentally sustainable way, the better his work becomes. “I think it turns into an obsession,” said the Murphysboro native. “You start doing more and more until you’re just constantly looking for ways to build differently and more efficiently.” One of the most impressive, and unique, aspects of Dunn’s three-bedroom, threebathroom home is something you cannot

even see. That is, unless you look to the right when you walk in his front door. “That’s the truth window,” Dunn said. “It shows people that the walls are actually made with straw bale. That’s one of the traditions of straw bale homes. If I tell you that the walls are straw bale and you can’t see them, then it might not make any sense. That’s when people can look at the truth window.” The truth window is a square hole in Dunn’s wall that he framed with lightcolored wood. It offers visitors a peek into what makes up his exterior walls. In the initial stages of the building process, Dunn stacked straw bales to form the outer structure of his home, then sprayed them with concrete for support and texture. It is a technique he learned while living in Washington in the 1990s. “A friend of mine was getting ready to build a house, and we went to a seminar with a hands-on thing where we actually built a big barn that weekend out of straw bale,” Dunn said. “I just thought that was really cool and made a lot of sense.”

Dunn’s home has been featured on the Heartland Solar Tour for the last five years. The event represents part of a national effort to promote solar electricity and other eco-friendly lifestyles in more than 3,000 communities across the nation. During the tours, Dunn fields the most questions about his straw bale structure. “Most people on the tour are impressed with the straw bales,” Dunn said. “A lot of people have never seen that before. It really is a great material to use. It’s a waste material and is very slow to decompose.”

Custom built

Dunn grew up around construction — his father was a contractor in Murphysboro — and he joined the Army out of high school in 1986. He was stationed in Washington, where he stayed after his military service. He started a business and learned many tricks of the building trade by buying houses, improving them and selling them. “We were probably flipping houses before it was called that,” Dunn said,

Life & Style : Spring 2012 77

where we live

a hand-made rail constructed from a downed tree outside the home accentuates the main entrance to the Dunn home. Right: a wood-burning stove is the focal point of the living room.

laughing. “We probably did that four or five times. I learned a lot from doing that.” In some of the first houses he built, Dunn also learned by paying attention to more experienced contractors. “It’s one of those things, the first building I built, I hired a lot of work out,” Dunn said. “I would hire someone who knew what they were doing on certain things and learn from them.” Dunn became interested in ecofriendly building techniques while living out west, where he said many of the industry’s trends get their start. He and his family moved to Carbondale in 1999 and bought a house down the street from his current home. “When this place was for sale, it was an old garden center,” he said. “There was nothing but a barn and a bunch of old greenhouses. We tore all that down.” It took Dunn about a year to build his house, which features many creative touches. He custom built his front door out of fir and his staircase out of limbs from a downed tree.

78 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Dunn also created his eyecatching kitchen countertops out of concrete. “They really get some people’s attention,” Dunn said of the dark tan countertops. “We grind the top of them off to expose the aggregate and then stain them. I saw some people doing it and just decided to try it.” Below one section of Dunn’s countertops are his stained oak cabinets with silver hardware, creating a halfmodern, half-traditional appearance. His dining room table is Amish built, and its top matches the light-colored floor beneath it. Nestled between the large windows, Dunn built for the far wall of his home, hang three canoe paddles from Peru. Equally interesting are the various

pieces of artwork and decorative displays sprinkled throughout the home. Dunn’s favorite part of the house is his master bathroom, which features an enormous shower with every feature imaginable. The smooth marble tile, numerous bath jets and large radio make it easy to see why Dunn favors his bathroom. “We splurged a little bit in the bathrooms,” he said. “It’s worth it.”

Above: the master bedroom. Right: a ladder leads to a sleeping area in one of the downstairs bedrooms.

The eco pieces

Walking through Dunn’s front door reveals the rest of his home’s eco-friendly aspects, including the luxurious and lightcolored bamboo flooring. “Being a grass, bamboo is the ultimate sustainable material,” Dunn said. “When you cut it, it grows right back. It’s not like you’re cutting down a tree to get your flooring. It’s also pretty, easy to install and fairly cheap. It’s about one-third of the cost of a lot of hardwood options.” Below Dunn’s floor is his full basement, which contains one of the home’s most eco-friendly rooms — the mechanical room housing Dunn’s geothermal heat pump. The system draws the natural heat from the ground’s consistent temperature through a pair of pipes that extend from the unit to Dunn’s yard and back. “Geothermal is the way to go,” he said. “It’s a little more expensive, but it pays for itself within a few years.” Dunn’s utility bills average about $100 a month, a total brought down by the insulated concrete forms that serve as the home’s structural foundation. His walls and 17-foot ceilings are also treated with cellulose spray insulation to nearly eliminate the chance for outside air to penetrate his eco-friendly haven. “I’ve also got the capability to hook up my solar panels for hot water and to heat the floor of my basement,” Dunn said. “I

Life & Style : Spring 2012 79

where we live don’t have them all connected because my utility bills are so low that I haven’t been too worried about it.” Along with lessening the impact on the environment, Dunn says that lower utility bills are the major benefit of building a green home. “You see a lot of these houses out west, where people have been focused on this kind of stuff for a while now,” he said. “It’s gaining popularity here, but their power bills were going up before ours were and they kind of took the lead on some things.” From his geothermal system to the spray foam behind his walls, Dunn believes in his work so much that he employs many of the same strategies in his business. He bought the spray foam insulation portion of Ecological Construction from a subcontractor two years ago. “It has really taken off,” he said. “It’s a big investment as far as the equipment that you need, but it’s worth it.” Dunn is happy with his home, but he is already looking toward the future. What could possibly be better than $100 utility bills for a 3,200-square-foot house? How about zero-dollar bills? Dunn has designed floor plans for his next eco-friendly project — a type of “earthship” house that has already gained popularity in the western portion of the country. An earthship is a passive solar house made out of natural and recycled materials, including earth-filled tires. The homes feature a special type of thermal mass system to naturally regulate internal temperature, and they are typically “off the grid.” In

Custom cabinets and stainless-steel appliances are featured in the kitchen.

other words, they depend on natural resources, like the sun, instead of public utilities and fossil fuels. “Now you would be talking no utility bills,” Dunn said. “People are out there doing it. Why not?”

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Life & Style : Spring 2012 81

entertainment

Hitting the

right

notes

Carbondale’s Varsity Center for the Arts adds ‘music venue’ to its list of offerings

story by Brent Stewart

W

hen the Varsity Theater closed in 2003, residents of Carbondale and its many other patrons from around the region were disheartened. Would the historic building be just another empty building on Carbondale’ infamous Strip? For how long? What could be done to save this local landmark? After all, it was long a beloved part of downtown that held special significance for generations of moviegoers. Although it took a few years, those questions were answered. And now, as the Varsity Center for the Arts, the historic structure has become a home to not only film, but many different types of artistic endeavors — plays, improvisational comedy and art exhibits. And, as of April 2011, they can also see live music. According to audiences and musicians, it’s one of the best venues to carry a tune in town. “We definitely love playing there,” said Josh Plemon of local roots music combo The Swamp Tigers, who has performed at the Varsity three times. “The sound there is great. The intimate atmosphere — people are there to listen. They’re just there to hear music.”

T

he Varsity was built by Rodgers Theater Circuit in 1940 with a single screen and 1,100 seats in

alaN

S

eR RoG

a two-tiered auditorium. After its purchase by Kerasotes Theaters in the late 1960s, the main theater was split into two, with one screen placed at the foot of what used to be the balcony. During renovations to add a third screen in 1981, a construction worker’s blowtorch caught fire, gutting the main auditorium and causing $250,000 in damage. When Kerasotes decided to consolidate their movie house operations into a new, modern facility at the University Mall in 2003, the Varsity was closed. The theater did not only hold sentimental value to the generations of Southern Illinoisans who saw their first big-screen film in its seats, or took their future spouse there on a first date — it also was the site of what could be considered national history. In the early 1950s, then SIU Carbondale track star and future comedian and activist Dick Gregory pushed against Carbondale’s rigid racial boundaries and it began in the Varsity. At the time, black moviegoers were allowed to sit in the balcony only. One night, Gregory decided he was going to sit downstairs. “We went in and sat down, just me and a girl, and man, they held the movie up, and they didn’t know what to do,” Gregory said in 2009. “So then they brought the police in. The police weren’t about to arrest the great Dick Gregory!” Eventually, the manager asked Gregory to make a deal. The theater was about to begin showing “The Robe,” a film the Varsity had paid a great deal of money for. “He said, ‘I promise you, if you will not try to integrate this theater until after “The Robe” finishes playing, then I’ll integrate it,’“ Gregory said.

I

n November 2007, Mayor Brad Cole revealed that Kerasotes Theaters was donating the old Varsity Theater building to the city, and it would be used as the permanent residence for The Stage Co., whose prior residence was condemned and demolished in 2005. The Stage Co. accepted the keys to the building in February 2008. The Stage Co. quickly announced a partnership with Carbondale Community Arts to form the Varsity Center for the Arts. Plans were also quickly made for renovating the structure to become more than just a movie theater. Peter J. Pirmann, president of the Varsity Center for the Arts, said their effort to present the performing arts expands monthly. Pirmann pointed to the Stage Co.’s theatrical endeavors and art exhibits and receptions hosted by Carbondale Community Arts, as examples of the diversity, in addition to a ten-year commemoration of the events of 9/11 in Sept. 2011. “As we continue to grow our variety of performing arts presentations is ever increasing, which is most unique, and that is something we at the Varsity Center for the Arts are very proud of,” Pirmann said. Although the VCA had expanded the theater’s artistic pallet, it wasn’t until 2011 that live music first graced its stage, the brainchild of local promoter Curtis Conley. Conley had already begun bringing nationally touring artists to town — alt-country legends such as Robbie Fulks and

Josh Plemon, left, and andrew Staff, opposite page, performed with the Swamp tigers in November at Varsity Center for the arts in Carbondale. the band was opening for the Bottle Rockets.

82 Life & Style : Spring 2012

the Bottle Rockets, as well as a nowinfamous uncompleted two-night stand by songwriter Todd Snider — but he began looking past local venues such as PK’s and the Skybar. “I was really just testing out different venues, getting different feedback,” Conley said. “150-200 people shows is something I think is doable in this town, and I’ve had some success and failure with that, but that’s the target area I was shooting for.” Conley hadn’t been in the Varsity since movies were shown there, but when his mother, Roxanna, took a job there as director, she brought him in to see the building. “I had no idea how nice it looked in there,” Conley said. “I knew the sound was going to be amazing, because you couldn’t hear anything else in there. You could hear a pin drop. And it’s a seated venue and there’s definitely a demand for that. It doesn’t work for everything, but some of the bands I’m into, the crowd likes to sit down.”

C

onley immediately knew he had to give it a shot. He knew the Varsity could be a different kind of music venue in Carbondale — as immediate as a club, but with the majestic sound of Shryock Auditorium. The first event Conley promoted featured local artists with a country flavor — “Live at the Grand Ole Varsity,” featuring Bosco and Whiteford, the Swamp Tigers, Giant City Slickers and Stace England and the Salt Kings. The bands donated their time to offset the cost of renting the theater for that inaugural show, but it proved that the space would work. Throughout 2011, many different kinds of local artists performed at the Varsity — from rock to folk to bluegrass to blues. Bands also performed all day during two days of the Carbondale Rocks Revival in September. “Musicians are really blown away,” Conley said. “I knew they’d like it once they got in there and heard it. They don’t get to play on a stage like that too often

— with professional lighting and all that stuff.” Conley then took his idea one step further by bringing in a nationally touring act to the Varsity’s stage when Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit performed Sept. 1 to a packed house. Two months later, Isbell — a former member of the band DriveBy Truckers — debuted on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” He then began opening solo for acoustic rocker Ryan Adams in large theaters such as the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis. The Bottle Rockets performed at the Varsity on Thanksgiving weekend. “I do this because I’m from here and you hear people talking about the Carbondale scene, saying it isn’t what it used to be and I get irritated with it, because I know there are a ton of great local acts around here,” Conley said. “People will tell you you can’t do something, but it’s clearly possible. I just do it to see it happen. There’s nothing more exciting than when you come the night of a show and everybody shows up and everybody’s having a good time.”

1940: In June, the Varsity theater opens with a single screen and 1,100 seats in a two-tiered, racially segregated auditorium. the first movie shown is the film adaptation of “our town,” the popular thornton wilder play, starring william Holden. 1953: “the Robe,” the first CinemaScope film, was released, opening at the Varsity after an upgrade of a 32-by-18-foot screen with additional speakers and special projection equipment. Future comedian and activist Dick Gregory, then an SIu Carbondale student, refuses to sit in the blacks-only balcony and persuades management to integrate the theater. Late 1960s: Kerasotes theaters purchases the Varsity from Rodgers theater Circuit. 1972: the main auditorium is split into two theaters, with one screen placed at the foot of what used to be the balcony. 1981: During renovations to add a third screen, a construction worker’s blowtorch catches fire, gutting the main auditorium and causing $250,000 in damage. 2003: on May 14, Kerasotes closes the Varsity upon completion of the Showplace 8 theaters at the university Mall. the last movie shown is “Bend it like Beckham.” later that month, 100 people attend an open forum by Mayor Brad Cole to gather ideas for possible use of the theater. In June, the ad hoc citizens committee, Save the arts and Varsity for everyone, is formed. 2005: the Stage Co. loses its former residence, the old Bank of Carbondale building. 2007: During his State of the City address in November, Cole announces that Kerasotes theaters will donate the Varsity to the city and it will become the home of the Stage Co. 2008: on Feb. 29, Cole hands over the Varsity to the Stage Co. and renovation work begins. today, it is announced that Carbondale Community arts will become a partner in the project and the theater will become known as the Varsity Center for the arts. the first production by the Stage Co., “the Star-Spangled Girl” opens oct. 30, along with an exhibit of work by local artists. 2009: the SI Improv Fest takes place for the first time on March 20 and 21, featuring FuseBox theatre from Nashville, tenn.; Cult of the Stage Monkey from lafayette, la.; aphasia and Michael Pizza from Chicago, as well as Community Floss, a Carbondale-based group. In october, Dick Gregory, a former SIu Carbondale student who is credited with helping to integrate Carbondale, is the first inductee into the Varsity Center for the arts Hall of Fame. 2011: the Varsity begins hosting live music on april 21 with “live at the Grand ole Varsity,” featuring local musicians Bosco and whiteford, Swamp tigers, Giant City Slickers and Stace england and the Salt Kings. the Swamp tigers would return to play New Year’s eve with the whistle Pigs. Jason Isbell and the 400 unit performs Sept. 1 to a packed house. two months later, they perform on “the late Show with David letterman.” local music is also spotlighted at the Varsity during two days of the Carbondale Rocks Revival, Sept. 8 to 11. the Bottle Rockets, a nationally touring band from St. louis performs thanksgiving weekend.

alaN RoGeRS

The Varsity: A storied history

Life & Style : Spring 2012 83

in our backyard

The

order

Cultivate a backyard that takes less work, less money and is friendlier to the Earth story by Les O’Dell

From top: Sour gum flowers; American Beautyberry; rattlesnake master; and crested iris. Right: Coneflower.

84 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Everyone wants a yard that is the envy of the neighborhood with lush grass, beautiful flowers and thriving landscaping. No one, however, wants to spend countless hours and lots of money to achieve a showpiece yard. Area experts say a great backyard can be simple, inexpensive and good for the environment. The key, professionals say, is to carefully choose the plants for your landscape, make sure you have the right plants in the right places, and take the right steps for a perfect lawn. “I tell people that they need to work at keeping it simple and plan ahead,” Trent Mohlenbrock, owner of Changing Seasons Landscape Center in Marion, says. “Careful designing will save you money and a lot of time down the road.” He says it is important to put the right plants in the right spaces, matching the characteristics of plantings with the area in which they are being planted. “If you have a dry shady area, just because you pick out a shade-loving plant doesn’t necessarily mean it is also dry-loving,” he explains. “You have to find plants with both qualities. When you do and the plant is happy, you’ll have to do less.” To avoid the need to give plants lots of care and attention, Margie Rehagen, garden center manager at

Plantscape in Herrin, says to consider plants that have thrived in Southern Illinois for centuries. “There’s been a big focus lately on native plants,” she says. “These plants are usually more adapted to this area, so they can survive the droughts and are less susceptible to stress. They require less maintenance, and they can take the heat, the humidity and the droughts when they come.” Rehagen recommends shrubs, such as native viburnum. “They’re a large-growing flowering shrub that can get up to 10 feet tall,” she explains. “The birds love them. They have flowers in the spring,

berries in the summer and great color in the fall.” She also recommends viburnum nannyberry and American beautyberry as shrubs, pin oak, bald cypress and sour gum as native tree species, adding that the sour gum

is unrelated to the oftendetested sweet gum. Rehagen says coneflowers, rattlesnake master and crested iris are all examples of native flowers. She actually converted an area of her own yard, where grass did not grow well, into a native plant area with many of these varieties. “The area attracts all sorts of beneficial wildlife and insects; it’s environmental and brings back the natural order of things. In a way, you’re developing the whole life cycle. Plus, it creates a very naturallooking landscape that is indigenous to the area and one that will take care of itself,” she explains. For areas near structures, sidewalks and driveways, Andrew Robinson of Carbondale’s Greenridge Landscaping suggests homeowners consider how plants will look at maturity.

“Look at hybrid plants that are smaller,” he says, “A lot of the new varieties of shrubs and plants are dwarf varieties. A lot of the high-maintenance part of landscaping was the need to prune things that get too big, so with smaller plants, the maintenance is cut dramatically.” And, for lawns that are thick and green, apply a 12-12-12 fertilizer or weed-and-feed in April, late May and November, says Doug Corzine, owner of Grassworks of Marion. He says a crabgrass preventative should be applied in March. “Make sure you keep your grass cut at a height of 3 to 3 1/2 inches,” he explains. “That will keep the grass healthier and greener long into summer.” He adds that a sharp lawnmower blade will make clean cuts, keeping grass more resistant to disease.

Easy and great-looking Stone and rock

How do you get a great-looking yard without a green thumb? Consider using stone and rock. “Lots of people are using natural stone for outcroppings or areas with a few plants on top,” says Andrew Robinson of Carbondale’s Greenridge Landscaping. “It’s part of our palette in creating a pretty picture.” Daryl Burkholder, co-owner of Burkdell Mulch in Benton, Carbondale and Mount Vernon, says rock works well alone or in a lawn. “They are a very good compliment to a lawn,” he says. “Boulders with grass around look very natural and can be quite unique. There’s quite a range in color, as well — from earth tones to multicolored granite. There are quite a lot of choices.” He explains that rocks, from pea-sized gravel to boulders large enough to serve as benches, can be used to add character and aesthetic interest to an otherwise drab exterior. Every season is planting season for rock, which is not the case for plants and flowers, Burkholder says. “The good thing about rocks is that they are completely nomaintenance,” he adds. “Rocks don’t die.”

Synethetic lawns

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SYNLawn, the maker of residential synthetic grass, has teamed with Lowe’s to provide the look of a perfect lawn for weekend warriors who want to be the envy of their neighborhood. The company provides rolls of synthetic turf in the most popular sizes, along with basic installation tools for customers who need smaller amounts of turf and want to install it themselves, according to a press release. SYNLawn has been testing the program in some Lowe’s stores for a couple years. Online, you can find it in fescue, zoysia and Bermuda textures, as well as pre-cut putting greens. The pre-cut pieces of synthetic turf can be used for a variety of projects ranging from landscaping areas, pet areas, play areas, common areas, garages, basements, roof decks and outdoor patios. Costs for the stock rolls range from $130 to $300. The synthetic turf comes with detailed installation instructions, and Lowe’s carries all tools needed for the project. The turf eliminates mud tracking, is washable, non allergenic and comes with a warranty whether you have it installed or do it yourself. “SYNLawn turf products save millions of gallons of water each year, reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption from lawn equipment, and keep fertilizers and pesticides away from pets and out of the ground water supply,” says George Neagle, vice president of sales and marketing for SYNLawn. “The uses are only limited by the imagination of the customer.” SYNLawn products have replaced petroleum-based polyurethane with soybean oils in the manufacturing process, utilize secondary backing materials made from recycled plastic bottles, and are 100 SYNlawn, the maker of residential synthetic grass, has teamed with lowe’s to provide the look of a perfect lawn for weekend warriors who want to be the envy of their neighborhood. percent recyclable.

Life & Style : Spring 2012 85

cheers to beer

warmed up Haven’t

to beer yet?

If you think you don’t like it, you might want to try again story by Shawn Connelly

Seasonals offer a new take on beer flavor and challenge assumptions about how beer tastes. Seasonals to try include Bell’s oberon (an american wheat ale), or Sierra Nevada’s Glissade (a maibock). Both are available locally, this spring or summer for some user-friendly seasonals.

86 Life & Style : Spring 2012

As a columnist for one of the leading beer magazines in the U.S., and as a beer educator and brewer, I have been asked countless times, “What’s your favorite beer?” Seems a simple enough question, but it is nearly impossible to answer without a litany of stipulations and qualifiers. For me, the answer depends on the season, my mood, what food I am eating and even the location where I’m imbibing. Beer, and its appreciation, is a rather subjective affair. There are more than 140 recognized beer styles, according to the Brewers Association, and choosing just one is a daunting task at best — an impossibility at worst. So, what of the people who declare to me, often apologetically, when they find out what I do for a living, that they simply don’t like beer? Typically, I respond by assuring them that beer isn’t for everyone, and tastes differ, and that’s OK. Then, I challenge them with the notion that there are so many beer styles out there that it is conceivable that they just haven’t come across a beer they like yet. Stating “I don’t like beer” is awfully definitive, especially when many who make this claim have tried only one or, maybe, two kinds of beer. If you think about it, this is not unlike saying you don’t like movies because you saw a bad one or wine because you happen to dislike Riesling. As the weather warms up outside, I thought it might be useful to offer a few simple suggestions to those of you who might have glanced at my column before but dismissed it because beer just leaves you cold. Perhaps a fresh perspective to go along with the newness of spring will help brighten your opinion of beer and encourage

you to give something new a try. It is important to note that what most nonbeer drinkers think of as beer represents only one out of more than 100 styles. Some people are perfectly content with light American lager beers, and that’s fine. But, if you have tried the ubiquitous cans of suds and they just don’t do it for you, maybe — just maybe — the world of craft beer has something for you. So, on that assumption, here are a few suggestions based on the way I determine what beer to enjoy and when that might just help you warm up to the idea of a cold beer this year!

For everything, there is a season(al)

Many fans of craft beer — beer made by small, independent breweries — look forward to the release of special beers commonly known as seasonals that are available periodically throughout the year and only for a limited time in conjunction with the season. Focusing on unique styles or ingredients makes these beers stand out and frequently attract drinkers, who would not otherwise gravitate toward “regular” beer. There are spiced beers in the fall and winter, including pumpkin beers and winter warmers; and, in the spring and summer, many breweries offer lighter, refreshing ales and lagers, such as fruity wheat beers or the malty, yet crisp, German-style maibock — a lager traditionally brewed in the month of May to enjoy during warm weather months. Seasonals offer a new take on beer flavor and challenge assumptions about how beer tastes. Try Sierra Nevada’s Glissade (a maibock) or Bell’s Oberon (an American wheat ale), both available locally, this spring or summer for some userfriendly seasonals.

try both complimentary and contrasting approaches. For instance, a hop-heavy India pale ale is a classic pairing with spicy curry dishes, or you can match one up with a rich, tangy lemon cheesecake. Likewise, a big, malty English barleywine is equally at home with Stilton cheese as it is with pecan pie! Often, a beer you may not enjoy on its own will taste significantly different when paired with the right food.

Better with friends

Finally, if you’re still in search of the elusive taste for beer, why not try attending or even hosting a beer tasting? Such an event allows you to try multiple styles of beer without the commitment of buying an entire six-pack and being stuck with a beer you don’t like. Further, this forum allows you to draw on other people’s experiences with beer and get their opinions on favorites. Chances are, you will find a few people with palates similar to yours, and this is often the best way to zero in on a beer style or two you will enjoy. Several craft and specialty beer retailers around the

Southern Illinois region host beer tastings these days. They are generally free and a great way to broaden your beer horizons without the guesswork. Hosting your own can be a lot of fun, too. Just invite a handful of friends over, serve some appetizers and ask each of them to bring their favorite beer or something unique or unusual. I suspect that you’ll learn a lot about beer in the process, and you may even find yourself offering more cheers than jeers toward beer in the future.

Connelly

SHAWN CONNELLY writes for Beer Connoisseur magazine; he is a craft and specialty beer retail consultant and an award-winning home brewer. Read his blog at beerphilosopher.com.

Food for thought

Like wine, beer enjoys a close relationship with food. In fact, it really is food. “Liquid bread,” as it has been called, is typically made from a base of cereal grain (usually barley), making it exceedingly foodfriendly in terms of ingredients. Add to this the fact that beer is carbonated, and you’ve got a beverage that can go places with food that even wine fears to tread. When pairing beer with food,

Life & Style : Spring 2012 87

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luxury

Let it

Rain People have been bathing under falling water for decades, but showers are now luxurious retreats. “They are becoming a sort of oasis,” says Kathryn Taylor of Design Gallery in Carbondale. “Showers and bathrooms, in general, are definitely larger now.” In fact, Taylor says many of her clients are looking for showers that are roomy with easy access and numerous features. She says body sprays — multiple water-dispensing units mounted in the shower walls — are popular, as are handheld sprayers, showerheads that simulate rainfall and multiple showerheads. Walk-in showers and seats are also frequent requests. Forget the acrylic and fiberglass stalls, too. Today’s homeowners are looking for glass block, frameless glass and tile for their showers. Lots and lots of tile, says Beth Worthen, kitchen and bath designer at Wright Do-It Center in Murphysboro. “We do still sell some one-piece and three-piece enclosures, and we do some custom marble in shows, but tile is a huge percentage of what we do,” she explains. Worthen says natural stone and large-body tiles are especially popular; while most are porcelain or ceramic, new technology has led to the development of ink jet-printed tile. “It’s become very popular in the last six months, and it’s less expensive and easier to maintain,” she adds. “What they have done is put the image of marble or granite on a porcelain tile. The technology is way different than your ordinary printer.” Taylor says many of her clients select tile from a manufacturer only a few hours away. “Crossville tile comes out of Tennessee, and it is ecologically friendly in the sense that they use clay from right near their factory, and they are within easy shipping distance to Southern Illinois,” she says. She adds that consumers looking to be ecological in their showers should consider faucets that help conserve water. “Flow restrictors or aerators can reduce water volume by half and still give plenty of water pressure,” Taylor says. She adds that tankless water heaters are also an efficient choice. “If your bathroom is a long distance from your water heater, you are going to run a lot of water before it gets hot,” she says. “A tankless water heater, in or near your bathroom, heats only what is needed when it’s needed. It’s more energy efficient.” The main focus for showers, however, remains on looks and function. “People want their showers to be more luxurious,” Taylor says. “People want them to look nice and to be nice.”

alaN RoGeRS

alaN RoGeRS

Form and function are at the top of the list for showers

Above: Debbie tindall’s Murphysboro home has a custom-designed shower in the master bath. the shower has seven individually controlled shower heads and water jets. the guest bathroom’s shower area is tile-lined and highlights elegant, vintage-style fixtures.

— les o’Dell

Life & Style : Spring 2012 89

work spaces

WORK SPACES

autographed sports memorabilia, including a football signed by Joe Montana and a basketball inked by Michael Jordan, are on display in Morgan’s office.

Robert Morgan Robert Morgan launched Morgan Commercial Structures in 1969 as an industrial and commercial design organization. Nearly three decades later, in 1996, Robert retired from the business, leaving it in the hands of his son Jim. In 2009, Jim Morgan decided to branch out his business operations, adding 1 Source Contracting to his portfolio, with that branch focusing on residential projects. The nature of Morgan’s work keeps him out of the office for about half of his day, but that hasn’t stopped him from adding some personality to his Murphysboro-based work space. Looking around his office, it’s easy to tell the things that are important to Morgan. Well, sort of. The first thing most guests will notice is a plethora of sports memorabilia; but, while he’s a fan, Morgan points to the other elements in the office as the finer things in his life. “My family and my relationship with Jesus are the most important things in my life,” he said. — Adam Testa

photography by Paul Newton

‘In the office, we use plans and scales, and pencils and calculators, to do estimates and come up with bids and proposals for customers,’ said Morgan.

the Dallas Cowboys and St. louis Cardinals are Morgan’s sports teams of choice.

90 Life & Style : Spring 2012

‘It’s a nice cliché for the construction business; but, for me, it’s been the cornerstone of my life and how I’ve tried to raise my family,’ said Morgan, a member and life Group leader at Vine Community Church in Carbondale.

these hand prints were taken when Morgan’s children were young. Now that they’re older, he tries to be involved in their lives and interests by taking an active role, such as coaching his son’s little league baseball team.

this statue of SIu Carbondale mascot Grey Dawg represents Morgan’s alma mater. Born and raised in Murphysboro, Robert Morgan completed his bachelor’s degree at SIu and remained in Southern Illinois. Building plans for past and current projects hang from this rack in the back of Morgan’s office. these designs are the backbone of his company’s business.

Pictures of Morgan’s family — his wife leslie; daughter Danielle, 14; and son Jacob, 12 — sit by the phone and computer on Morgan’s desk.

Morgan Commercial Services has been in the family for more than 40 years in Murphysboro. Morgan expanded the business started by his father in 1996 to include 1 Source Contracting.

Morgan has kept this Bible, the first he ever really used, as a memento of his father. the book is filled with page markers and notes that he’s taken through the years.

Life & Style : Spring 2012 91

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Life & Style : Spring 2012 93

wine

Don’t be embarrassed; go ahead and

blush

The term ‘blush’ is becoming synonymous with rosé, French for ‘pink.’ But whatever name you give these wines, the results are satisfying and your choices are many. grape as Red Zinfandel; what makes it a blush is the style in which it is made. If you have a taste for sweeter wines, Winemakers can blend wines to create a a blush might be your favorite. And you blush, or it can be created in fermentation. don’t need to be embarrassed about that. The fermentation method utilizes only “A lot of people have a sweeter palate, the juice from the red grapes; seeds and so certain blushes are good for them,” said skin aren’t left in for much time, if at all. Barbara Bush, owner of Kite Hill Winery “Leaving the seeds, skins and must is in Carbondale. what gives red wine its dark color,” said But that doesn’t mean all blushes are Scott Sensmeier, owner and winemaker at sweet. A blush can range from sweet to StarView Winery in Cobden. “In creating dry, with fruity aromas and flavors. But a blush, you don’t allow any pigment to what makes a blush a blush? Color, mostly. darken the wine.” A rosé – traditionally the ‘old world’ name With the blending method, winemakers – or blush is a type of wine that has some blend a white wine with a red wine but of the color typical of a red wine but only only enough to produce the beautiful, enough – if any – to turn it pink. pink, blush color. Think of White Zinfandel, one of the Sensmeier uses the blending method first blush wines produced in the United to produce Venus, a semi-sweet rosé. “It’s States. It’s actually made from the same created by blending a white Chardonel with red Chambourcin,” Sensmeier said. Alto Vineyards in Alto Pass uses both methods. The Not for aging: Rosés and blush wines are “young” Alto Festa they are currently wines, and, for this reason, it’s best to drink these offering is a blend of white wines within several months of their release. Villard Blanc grapes with Tiny bubbles? Sometimes. Rosés and blush Chambourcin. “It’s a semi-dry wines can be made still, semi-sparkling or wine that can be compared to sparkling. Regional wines are generally still wines. a White Zinfandel,” said Seth Keep your cool: Blushes and rosés are served Blickhan, sales manager. chilled. Bush, whose White Just ask: We’ve said it before, but it’s worth Chambourcin took the Doubleremembering. Winemakers like talking about Gold and the Governor’s Cup their wines, so don’t hesitate to tell them your at the 2011 Illinois State Fair, preferences. Do you like your wine sweet? Get created it in the fermenting what you want by expressing it. process instead of blending.

story by Cara Recine

94 Life & Style : Spring 2012

“It’s a cold fermentation process, like a white wine,” Bush explained. “The skins and seeds weren’t left on during the process; only pulp was used. The state’s head winemaker told us when we won that the White Chambourcin could rival any rosé out of France.” Kite Hill also bottles the White Chambourcin cold, which Bush said creates a tiny bit of bubbly. “It’s not sparkling, but it is effervescent,” Bush said. “It’s an amazing wine, with white strawberry on the nose but finishing dry.” The winery also produces Sweet Rosé, made from Chambourcin grapes, which is, well, sweeter. If sweet is what you prefer, Alto uses the fermenting process to create Heartland Blush, one of the first of its kind and still one of the most popular wines in Southern Illinois. And while many wines are always best with food, one of the best things about a blush is its versatility. “They’re great stand-alone wines,” Blickhan said. “But because they have a lighter body and crispness of a white wine, they’re good with food. Our winemakers recommendations? Try a blush with barbecue, fish and seafood without cream sauce, poultry and spicy food. CARA RECINE is editor of Life & Style in Southern Illinois and features and special projects editor at The Southern Illinoisan. E-mail her at cara.recine@thesouthern.com.

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96 Life & Style : Spring 2012

Mitette La Faver of Murphysboro plays with a bottle of bubbles during Carbondale Main Street’s Downtown Art and Wine Fair. The event, which takes place in May and October, brings together vendors for wine, beer, art, music and food.

Life & Style : Spring 2012 3

4 Life & Style : Spring 2012

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