Life & Style - Spring 2015

Life & Style I N

S O U T H E R N

I L L I N O I S

Spring 2015

2015

ways to

Refresh andRenew hair, skin and body this year

 Social Seen: See who you know!  15 Questions: With Tyler Edmonds  Where We Live: At home in the Victorian Age  Getaways: Tropical escape to three Caribbean islands Life & Style : Spring 2015 1

Now is the time for a fiscal checkup No more excuses for not knowing how your finances and investments line up with your life goals and retirement expectations.

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Spring 2015 Publisher .................................John Pfeifer Editor ...................................... Cara Recine Circulation Director ...............Kim Fowler Distribution .................. Mark Romanowski

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Life & Style : Spring 2015

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. © 2015 by The Southern Illinoisan. All rights reserved. For more information, call 618-529-5454 or 618-997-3356.

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Letter

from the publisher

Renewal and health, close to home ‌It seems appropriate that our spring Life & Style magazine, which is focused on renewal, was chosen by Southern Illinois Healthcare as the venue to reveal its new cancer center to our readers.

Spring is the season I most easily associate with renewal and health, and I appreciate the convenience and peace of mind of local cancer care because three years ago, I did not have access to it.

I was living in south-central Idaho when my regular wellness checkup revealed an elevated PSA count. A second office visit and a biopsy later, the initial suspicion was confirmed with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. I met with a local physician — one I quickly nicknamed Skippee — who was proud to tell my wife and me that he had “assisted” on more than 60 prostate surgeries while in residency — none of them using the minimally invasive da Vinci® system.

No, thank you.

Get it delivered!

I chose, instead, to drive two hours for the preliminary checkups, surgery and follow-up visits. I’m thankful for finding Dr. Todd Waldmann, who had been performing da Vinci prostatectomies for years and completed mine the morning of Jan. 9, 2012. I was back in the office a few days later with the luxury of wearing sweats my first few days back. Happy times.

I captained our paper’s Relay for Life team later that year and was introduced as a cancer survivor, but to this day I feel that an asterisk should be placed alongside that designation. I was never sick. I had no lingering side effects, and 36 months later am completely cancer free with a PSA level that is barely detectable.

But everything still happened two hours from home.

For those who have endured more protracted battles with cancers, a two-hour drive for treatment and follow-up makes a frightening situation exponentially more daunting. As I mentioned, I feel like I cheated cancer. Others live with it and battle with it for years.

The opening of a state-of-the-art center devoted exclusively to cancer treatment and care is, to me, a very tangible expression of the revitalization that is associated with spring. We should all be thankful.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Life & Style, but, more importantly, that you enjoy the season that is about to begin and the Southern Illinois amenities we enjoy.

John Pfeifer LIFE & STYLE IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS‌

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Phone Email For additional information or to place your order, call (618) 351-5035.

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Clip out this card and mail your payment to: Life & Style in Southern Illinois PO Box 2108, Carbondale, IL 62901

Life & Style : Spring 2015 5

2015 15 WAYS

CONTENTS

SPRING 2015

Refresh and renew hair, skin, body this year

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Artists All things bright and beautiful, Tim Shepherd creates them all

10 20 15 questions 38 how to 50 cheers to beer 60 scenic beauty

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social seen Check out who you know

in one of our most popular features

Find out what you know and don’t know about Tyler Edmonds

Where we Live Randy and Gaye Auxier are at home in their Murphysboro Victorian

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cover photo

This issue’s cover was created by Lori Baysinger of Photography by Lori in Marion.

Clear water, rock formations and dense forest at Bell Smith Springs

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Find your tropical dreams on these three Caribbean islands

Life & Style I N

S O U T H E R N

I L L I N O I S

Spring 2015

2015

ways to

Refresh andRenew hair, skin and body this year

Non-toxic, easy-to-use paint brings new life to your projects

These alternative brews up the ante for gluten-free drinkers

Getaways

 Social Seen: See who you know!  15 Questions: With Tyler Edmonds  Where We Live: At home in the Victorian Age  Getaways: Tropical escape to three Caribbean islands Life & Style : Spring 2015

this issue trends wine country gear good eats self

36 52 64 66 68

business buzz décor backyard apps parting shot

70 82 84 86 88

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Investment counseling to grow, protect and transfer wealthsince1854

Right now is a great time for a Financial Review.

If it’s been a while since you’ve sat down with your Financial Advisor to re-evaluate your investment and savings goals, now is the time to do it.

Call us today. We’ll be happy to help reassess your financial situation and make appropriate recommendations.

Pictured left to right: Michael Barnett | Financial Consultant Laryssa Allen | Client Service Associate Kathy Gulledge | Client Service Associate Ben Bruce, CWA® | Senior Vice President | Financial Consultant 200 Tower Square | Marion, IL 62959 618-997-4608 | 800-997-4608 ©2015 Securities offered through J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC. Member of NYSE, FINRA and SIPC.

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

Make her season bright by custom m designing d her forever ring. Stop by for a con nsultation and discover how easy it can n be b to make hers uniqu ue.

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

SALES Kim Fowler sales and audience director 618-351-5035 kim.fowler @thesouthern.com

Monday - Saturdayy 10 10:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m. tjsfinejew welry.com • 618-351-1200 1010 0EM Main Street, Carbondale IL

TO SUBSCRIBE Subscription 8 issues for $17.95 rates: 4 issues for $9.95 618-351-5049

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Retired Williamson County resident Robert Bordenave had diagnostic imaging to shed light on his severe stomach discomfort. As it turned out his stomach issue was easily resolved, but the imaging did uncover a tumor on his kidney.

Thankfully, interventional radiologists were able to help!

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social seen

SPLASH & DASH HOLIDAY PAINT PARTY

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‌ lto Vineyards in Alto Pass was the site of a fun A Holiday Splash and Dash on Thursday, Dec. 4, where participants enjoyed a three-hour holiday art session directed by Lisa Hicks, a Cobden High School art teacher. Guests painted a pair of wine glasses while sipping wine, laughing and having a good time!

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PHOTOS BY RHONDA M. MAY

1 Makenzie Housman and Crystal Housman of Anna with Allison DeField of Jonesboro 2 Kimberly Prater of Cobden, Becky McCalla of Dowell and Ashley Will of Herrin 3 Kathy Stegle and Gail Webb, both of Anna

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4 Kathy Hileman of Jonesboro and Andrea Feloni of Carbondale 5 Lori Rich and Barbara James, both of Anna 6 Erin Downs and Jillian Miller, both of Cobden

7 Daniel Presley of Carbondale and Rhonda May of Elkville 8 Lisa Hicks, instructor at Cobden High School

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FALL BALL AT BLUE SKY ‌ he annual fundraiser to benefit Two Rivers Children’s Advocacy T Center in Anna was hosted in Blue Sky Vineyard’s Tuscan Sun Pavilion in Makanda on Nov. 15. The evening featured dinner, live music by Diamond Dog, dancing and a silent auction. All proceeds raised will go toward providing child abuse prevention education.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RUTH DUNN‌

1 Carl, Kenzie and Suzanne Dillow of Anna 2 Jim and Shirley Harris of Anna, Tom and Elaine Dunn of Cobden, Angela and Robert Chambers of Herrin 3 Marganne Dazell of St. Augustine, Florida; Judy Simpson of Carbondale; and Winnie and Rodney Howell of Makanda.

4 Ginger McBride of Vienna and Keith Webb of Goreville

5 Becky Simpher and Beth Baugh of Cape Girardeau 6 Janna and Jenna Harner of Anna 7 Scott and Carla Harvel of Jonesboro 8 Brent Stewart and Heather Heaslett of Murphysboro 9 Carla Eads of Jackson, Missouri; and Kendra Eads of Cape Girardeau

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ART OVER EASY ‌ rt lovers had the chance to support the SIU A School of Art and Design and add valuable works of art to their collections. The Art Over Easy gala, which annually attracts hundreds, included a live and silent auction, along with live music and catered food from Cristaudo’s, at the Glove Factory on Dec. 5.

1 Denny and Leslie Pankey, Terri and Mike Henry and Carol Good, all of Carbondale 2 Trish Guyon and Jerry Brooks of Carbondale 3 Tim Durique and Julie Clausse of Carbondale 4 JC and Kara Taylor of Warsaw, Missouri 5 Debra Tayes of Alto Pass and Teresa Fix of Carbondale 6 Shane and Sarah Kandell of Murphysboro 7 Jane Adams and D. Gordon of Carbondale 8 David Opalinski of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Ray Zivkovich and Mark Kennedy, auctioneer 9 Keely and Linda McMillen of Carbondale, Freida Kimes and Gary Hill of Makanda 10 Daniel and Susan Doolin of Murphysboro 11 Mark Amos, Kristen Hutchins and Don Barth, all of Carbondale 12 Jo and Glenn Poshard of Murphysboro 13 Stacy and Paul Sloboda of Carbondale 14 Eric and Tracy Fidler of Carbondale 15 Rosslind Rice of Carterville and Alice Mabrey of Salem 16 Jacob Haubenreich and Yasuko Taoka of Carbondale 17 Larry Weatherford of Carbondale and John Medwedeff of Murphysboro 18 James Ferraro of Carbondale and Lisa Schmidt of Makanda PHOTOS BY RHONDA M. MAY‌

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Get a little r & r.

Revive yourself with award-winning wines from the Heartland.

8 Illinois 127, Alto Pass, IL 8515 ((618) 893-4898 · altovineyards.net Life & Style : Spring 2015 13

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RLC FOUNDATION DINNER ‌ he Rend Lake College Foundation 2014 Annual T Dinner celebrated the “Pathway to Success” through higher education at the RLC. The program starts with the RLC Foundation’s Children’s Center and works through college student, alumnus of the Year and donor. The event was hosted Dec. 4 at the Holiday Inn in Mount Vernon. For more information about the RLC Foundation, visit www.rlc.edu/foundation.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY REND LAKE COLLEGE‌

1 The Rend Lake College Concert Choir performs under the direction of Sara Alstat, RLC associate professor of music 2 Rend Lake College Foundation CEO Shawna Bullard addresses the audience.

3 Employees from Continental Tire of the Americas accepted a plaque from RLC President Terry Wilkerson and RLC Foundation CEO Shawna Bullard for being the lead donors on the “Pathway to Success” campaign with

a $25,000 donation. Also pictured are CTA employees (from left) Ed Code, Wilkerson, Jonathan McCoy, Barbara Hoppa, Heather Bicanich, Josh Polk, Benny Harmse and Bullard.

4 RLC student Gwendolyn Upton of Texico talks about the challenges of returning to school later; through a scholarship, Upton is a full-time student in nursing.

5 Fletcher Farrar spoke on behalf of his mother, Marjorie Farrar, who was the lead donor for the Children’s Center project in 1995; he also

announced a $100,000 donation from his mother to help expand at the Children’s Center.

6 Benny Harmse (right), vice president of Manufacturing at Continental Tire of the Americas in Mount Vernon, was awarded the President’s Award for going “above and beyond” as a RLCF board member. With Harmse is RLC President Terry Wilkerson and Shawna Bullard, RLC Foundation CEO. 7 College President Terry Wilkerson thanks donors to the RLC Foundation.

618.998.9747 Be the envy at every Party.

14 Life & Style : Spring 2015

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COME FLY WITH ME ART RECEPTION ‌ he opening reception for a new exhibit at Longbranch T Café in Carbondale took place Friday, Jan. 9. The photography exhibit by SIU student Kiriti Gowda, called ‘Come Fly with Me,’ featured locations around the world. All proceeds were given to World Vision’s Gifts of Education in India, where the artist is from.

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PHOTOS BY RHONDA M. MAY AND CARA RECINE‌

1 Kiriti Gowda of Bangalor, India, and Corinne Carlton of Goreville 2 Don and Vonda Carlton of Goreville

3 Rhonda May of Elkville and Brien Hays of Carbondale 4 David and Debbie Anderson of Carbondale

5 Shaylin and Corbin Carlton of Carbondale 6 Sheethal and Dandur Veeresh of Carbondale 7 Cara Recine and Brien Hays, both of Carbondale

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 15

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MARION CHAMBER AUCTION AND AWARDS BANQUET ‌ embers and guests of the Marion Chamber of Commerce M gathered Jan. 16 at The Pavilion of the City of Marion for the organization’s 94th Auction and Awards Banquet. Social hour was followed by dinner and presentation of awards.

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PHOTOS BY RICHARD SITLER‌

1 Kathy Metcalf, Jaime Reynolds and Lynne Campbell 2 Amber Lipe, Keith Fowler, Kim Fowler and Autumn Phillips 3 Rebecca and Bernie Paul, Judge Dan Kimmel and Barbaral Kimmel 4 John and Linda Rains, Stacie and Lee Crisp 5 Jenna Caraway and James Eliet 6 Jeff and Angie Rushing 7 Livy Webb and Kaitlynn Kulich 8 Nicole Monchino and Judy Attebury 9 Herb and Melissa Voss, Mindy and Josh Combs, Kay and John Dosier 10 Lynn Holmes, Jay Rix and Mikie Holmes 11 Angie Porter, Steve and Barbara Mason 12 Kevin Pyle, Mindi Kolts and J. David Thompson 13 Jennifer Lee, Matt Lee, Nancy Skovgaard,

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Christine Booth, John Drake and Staff Sgt. Beau Detrick 14 Bob and Cheri Romonosky 15 Allison and Chuck Schumacher 16 KImberly and Chris Walker 17 Mindy Reid, Angie Porter, Jessica Force, Kenya Garner, Liz Lively and Leigh Caldwell 18 Steve and Teresa McNeill 19 Allison Schumacher and Sarah Arseneau 20 Ashley and Amanda Gott 21 Ruth and Ray Hancock, Mary and Doug Kimmel 22 Lindzey Barger, Toni Perkins, John Markley and Gail Lannom 23 Tammy Beasley, Joni Barwick, Deborah Hogg and Andy Sisulak 24 Tim Petrowich, Amy Petrowich, Aaron Petrowich and Maria Petrowich

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 17

social seen

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

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‌ he 16th annual celebration took place T Jan. 18 at the Carbondale Civic Center. The theme was ‘Your Vote Is Your Freedom,’ in honor of the 50th annivesary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The event included music, dance, readings and fellowship.

1 Marietta Clark and Deborah Shaffer (standing), Constance Shaffer and Elmer Robinson, all of Murphysboro 2 The Rev. Sonja Ingebritsen and Dona Reese, both of Carbondale 3 Christopher Swims of Carbondale, Larry Rayford of Murphysboro 4 Ralph Tate of Carterville and Matt Baba, Pat York and Tom Hensold of Carbondale 5 Carolin Harvey and Ryan Gougis, both of Carbondale 6 Alan and Connie Rhein, Carbondale 7 Michael Savage of Carbondale, Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens, Arlene Norvell, Murphysboro 8 Clara McClure and Stan Harris of Carbondale, Janet Harris of Murphysboro 9 Martha Shum and Kamran Mogharreban, Carbondale 10 Bill and Elena Sasso, Carbondale 11 Terry Moore of Carbondale and Ralph Tate of Carterville 12 Len Williams and Esther Hughes, both of Carbondale 13 Aziza McNeese and Harmony Stancil, Carbondale 14 Jacie Simon of Marion, Cordell McGoy of Murphysboro, Marilyn James of Carbondale 15 Daneshia Hawkins and Kaja Hood, both of Carbondale 16 Linda J. Flowers and grandson, Jordan, Carbondale 17 Darius, Don’nayiah, Darius Jr. and Brittany Bell, Carbondale 18 Julia Rowe, the Rev. Leroy Lockridge and Martha Lockridge, all of Carbondale 19 Nija Harvey and Ashley Shields, both of Carbondale

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15 questions

Getting to know

TYLER R. EDMONDS Tyler R. Edmonds, a fifth-generation Union County native, has served as Union County State’s Attorney since 2008. After graduating from Vanderbilt University Law School and working at a large international law firm, he came back home to Southern Illinois hoping to serve his community.

His interest in public service was instilled by his grandfather, the late J.D. Aldridge of Cobden.

“He lived his life to help others and serve his community,” Tyler says. “He showed me the impact one person can make and that we are all in this together.”

As Union County State’s Attorney, Tyler has worked to expand services to crime victims, promote local government transparency and focus law-enforcement efforts on domestic violence, child abuse and methamphetamine addiction.

He also is an advocate for earlychildhood education and juvenile justice reform.

Tyler resides in Anna with his wife, Jordan, first-grade son, Graydon, and one black Yorkie-Poo, Teddy.

1. What is your current state of mind?

Optimistic.

2. What is your favorite avocation/hobby?

Following the St. Louis Cardinals.

3. What historical figure do you most identify with? I admire Grover Cleveland and Harry Truman.

4. Who has been the greatest influence on your life? My late grandfather, J.D. Aldridge.

5. What is your most treasured possession? My grandfather’s United Mine Workers pocket knife set.

6. What is your most marked characteristic? Dependable.

7. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Right now, I am wishing I could come up with clever answers to these questions.

8 What qualities do you most admire in others? Humility, dedication, loyalty, kindness.

9. What is your greatest extravagance or self-indulgence? Trying to catch every St. Louis Cardinals game I can on TV or radio.

10. What is your favorite journey?

Watching my son grow up.

Thanks for the idea, Mr. Proust.

Marcel Proust was a 19th century French writer who believed that people must know and understand themselves before they could know or understand others. He developed a list of subjective questions he felt would help reveal to people their true selves. We’ve based our questions on some from his list.

11. Which words or phrases do you most over-use? I have been told I overuse “How’s it going?” and “Actually, …”

12. What natural gift would you like to possess? I am amazed at people’s ability to draw and paint.

13. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Convincing my wife to marry me.

14. If you were to die and come back as a person or an animal, what do you think it would be? Hopefully any dog who is treated as well as my wife treats our dog.

15. What words do you live by? Did I do something today to make things better?

Tyler Edmonds, Union County State’s Attorney, says he was inspired to public service by his grandfather, the late J.D. Aldridge of Cobden.

Edmonds took a few minutes out of his busy schedule for this portrait, photographed in his office at the courthouse in Jonesboro.

PHOTO BY RICHARD SITLER‌

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MEET THE ARTIST

ALL THINGS

bright beautiful AND

Glass artist Tim Shepherd creates them all

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Life & Style : Spring 2015

CHANDA GREEN Tim Shepherd is a glass artist, but embodied in that brief description is a world of swirling colors and truly breathtaking art, something most of us can only stand back and admire.

But, to Tim, this is his world. He lives in it almost every day, as he heats and shapes and creates his work, and almost every night, as he dreams about his next designs.

“I love the luminescence of glass, the way that it catches, refracts and reflects light,” Tim said. “I am fascinated by the history of glass, as well as the chemistry involved in formulating it and ... the physics of shaping it. But what really attracts me to glass is the process.

“The process is almost a dance with the molten glass. It is incredibly exciting and both mentally and physically engaging to manipulate 2,000-degree glass. Utilizing heat, gravity and a variety of metal and wooden tools to coax your intended form out of the glass is such a visually and conceptually amazing process, it almost defies description.”

‘In my current work I am making large vessels with intricate patterns in the glass,’ reads the artist’s statement.

‘I am interested in the canepatterning techniques that come from medieval Venice,but I am working on creating new applications for the techniques ... to create graphic images in the patterns.’

OPPOSITE PAGE: The artist with one of his blown-glass pieces.

The final step in the process includes placing the final product in an annealer, an oven that cools glass at a controlled rate. It must be cooled overnight to avoid breaking.

The first step is to gather the molten glass on a hollow steel tube, or blowpipe, from the furnace. Tim trims the hot glass from the blowpipe.

Tim shapes the pliable glass with a wet newspaper.

Once the shape of the gathered glass is determined, the artist rolls it in crystals of various colors. These crystals blend into the molten glass, creating streaks of color.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 23

MEET THE ARTIST

Tim has been fascinated by glass art since he started working with it at Carbondale Community High School, as part of a 2003 workshop at SIU’s Craft Shop. That’s when he first started to torchwork glass.

“Torch-working glass is the process of shaping glass using a torch, usually burning propane and welding oxygen, which allows you to apply heat in precise places and do very detailed work.”

Torch-work is different from the furnace-worked FOR MORE glass that Tim has focused INFORMATION on for the last eight years.

You can see Tim’s Most American torch-workers work on Pinterest use tools and techniques and on the developed in the last Douglass Art Place Facebook page. He century, but the tradition and techniques of blowing sells his pieces at glass out of a furnace have Dayshift Boutique developed over the past 2,000 in Carbondale and at Visions Gallery in years in Europe and Asia, so this method of shaping Makanda. He also glass has a very long history. exhibits and sells And furnace-worked glass his work at local can be produced on a very craft sales. large scale.

Tim’s technique and talent developed through his studies at SIU from 2005 to 2010 as he earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts, specializing in glass working. Then, through his work at Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, he studied under glass artist Tom Rowney of Australia and explored the creative use of glass in art and design.

Since then, Tim has worked at Lincoln City Glass Center in Oregon, and, currently, at Douglass School Art Place in Murphysboro, affectionately known as “The Doug.”

Tim’s style and skill have grown immensely since that first SIU Craft Shop class.

“I have learned many techniques and styles of working with glass that give me the ability to make what I design,” he said. “I began my career focusing on shaping glass and spent several years developing those skills and knowledge. Then, studying at SIU and Pilchuck made me realize that my design, and the capacity to express my ideas through my medium, is an equally important skill to refine. Since graduation I have developed the awareness that my message — the concepts expressed in my art — are what define me as an artist.

Now I would say that I am developing my message and my capacity to express it.

Those are my current goals as I work.”

This teal glass pumpkin features a beautiful, intricate golden stem.

PHOTO COURTESY TIM SHEPHERD

24

Life & Style : Spring 2015

‘I love the luminescence of glass, the way it catches, refracts and reflects light.’

TIM SHEPHERD, glass artist

FROM TOP: Tim demonstrates how to blow air into the vessel he is creating. Creating blown glass objects is tricky. It must be reheated in the furnace several times during the process, and the rod must be rotating at all times. One of the final steps is creating an opening in the vessel and finishing the piece. This requires a transfer of the piece to another rod called a punty, seen in the artist’s left hand. It is one of the trickier parts of glass-blowing.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 25

WHERE WE LIVE

At home in the

Victorian age 26

Life & Style : Spring 2015

Murphysboro couple continues to renew one of the region’s most historic homes JOE SZYNKOWSKI

A

fter living in two nationally registered historic houses, Randy and Gaye Auxier knew exactly what they were looking for when they moved to Southern Illinois in 2000.

Architectural integrity, historic pedigree and distinctive characteristics — these are the calling cards for a rich relic of a house. The Auxiers check all three off their list when describing their Murphysboro Italianate Victorian home, the main parts of which were built in 1880.

And unlike their previous two homes, their current estate is not presently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, just as it wasn’t when they moved in. This omission opens up artistic and structural freedom when it comes to putting their own unique spin on the home, and that’s exactly what they’ve done for the past 14 years.

Sure, there is more work to be done on the home. But it is hard to notice with your attention so focused on a wide-open floor plan, handcrafted decorative pieces from across the globe and sophisticated carpentry work done by a talented group of contractors.

“This is not just about the quality of the workmanship, but about the artistic value of the outcomes,” as Randy articulates it.

‘I HAD TO HAVE IT’ Randy is an expressive, demonstrative tour guide, walking through his home’s rooms with stories behind every paint shade and piece of art. It’s that attention to detail and reverence for significant history that helped him land his dream job at SIU as a professor of philosophy.

While explaining the meaning behind an item, Randy touches on many pillars of philosophy, including reality, values, aesthetics, reason and mind.

His wife, Gaye, a computer programmer with Automatic Data Processing, is Randy’s opposite. She is candidly straightforward and happy to let Randy have the floor. That’s why they work so well together, they say.

The Auxiers’ yard features 19 red buds on the property and a gigantic spruce that was a Christmas tree planted in about 1910.

Randy and Gaye Auxier collaborate well together. ‘I don’t know how, but we always agree,’ Randy says.

Life & Style : Spring 2015

27

where we live

The Auxiers collect many artifacts and interesting pieces from across the world.

Their visions may take time to mesh, but it’s their patience and understanding of each other’s outlook that has kept their relationship strong, since they met as church camp counselors in Tennessee more than 30 years ago.

“I didn’t like the house at first. I didn’t want to live in a hotel,” Gaye said, laughing from the upstairs balcony of the home that boasts more than 4,000 square feet of living space.

“And I did want to live in a hotel,” Randy echoed. “It was the coolest house I’d ever seen. I had to have it.”

THE MASTER PLAN‌

Clocks chime throughout the house. Gaye’s father has refurbished many of them.

28 Life & Style : Spring 2015

After living in Oklahoma City for eight years, the Auxiers moved to Murphysboro when Randy was hired within SIU’s philosophy department.

The couple became only the fourth owners of their home, even though parts of it are more than 130 years old.

The house was built by the prominent engineer, business and civic leader George Kennedy and it once had a “twin” a few

The master bedroom conveys Gaye’s fondness of quilts and is a favorite hangout of the couple’s four cats.

This photo image viewer and photo cards are among the antiques in the home.

Hosts of the popular radio shows ‘Folk Fiasco’ and ‘TGIFolk’ on WDBX, Randy and Gaye store their CD samples from bands in this hidden room.

blocks west, built by his son, William.

All of the previous owners had expanded the house, with major additions in the 1890s, 1920s, 1940s, 1950s and the late 1980s.

In a way, the design and layout of the Auxiers’ “new” home was already finished — in their minds — before they moved in. The Auxiers had collected works of art and furniture pieces throughout the years, and many of them guided the early aesthetic decisions that needed to be made.

Choosing the pieces that tied the house together, including the fluting, rosettes, crown molding and types of wood, was the easy part.

“All of this was suggested by the house itself, by the way the spaces were already configured,” Randy said.

It was the structural work and electrical rewiring that took some heavy lifting.

One of the first changes to the home was the installation of a new heating and cooling system. A $945 electric bill for the first cold month guided the Auxiers’ decision-making process.

“The old system was a mixture of radiators and baseboard heating with central in certain parts of the house,” Randy said. “It was very inefficient.”

Four new hotel-style units in some of the home’s larger rooms have worked to make the heating and cooling bills more manageable, and were installed without damaging the old plaster and wood lath walls. Further electrical work was also complemented by floor refurbishments and minor ceiling repairs that together represent a labor of love for the Auxiers.

“Our guiding norm was that we wanted everything done in such a way that the house itself would become a work of art that would capture the best that this area had to offer during our time,” Randy said. “And we wanted everything done in such a way that no one would ever want to change it.”

Life & Style : Spring 2015 29

where we live A chandelier fashioned out of organ pipes and a 150-year old Conestoga wagon wheel serves as the centerpiece of the Auxiers’ spacious dining room.

MAKING IT HAPPEN‌

The Auxiers are drawn to art from the Matriarchal period. This piece features fertile women as its focus.

30 Life & Style : Spring 2015

Behind every great artistic mind is an executor of those visions. Enter the Auxiers’ team of professional contractors that made the magic happen.

Most of the original work including the custom library and early reimagining of the stairway was done by Toby Sarrge, a good friend of the Auxiers from Oklahoma. When health issues sidelined him, Lawrence Johnson and his crew (Paul McFadden and Jason Sanchez) stepped in to take on the remaining projects.

Johnson is an independent contractor from Carbondale and has been building, renovating and repairing homes since he was a teenager.

To complete the aforementioned radiator system removal, Johnson diligently tunneled through hardened dirt under the house that was likely undisturbed for more than a century.

He was also responsible for building the bookshelves under the stairway

and enhancing much of the woodwork throughout the home.

His passion for the Auxiers’ home is evident.

“This is such an amazing home with so much history and so many nooks and crannies,” he said. “There have definitely been challenges, but that’s what makes homes like these fun.”

Other local contributors to the home’s renovation include Ray Maring of Makanda on the sunroom’s new windows and woodwork, along with remaking the challenging roof line, and John Medwedeff on the custom iron stair rail that snakes up to the second floor.

“The iron people we’ve had come through the home just gawk at the stair rail,” Randy said. “They said it uses about every technique possible. It is an exceptional work of art.”

“We have had some tremendously talented people working right alongside us,” Gaye added. “Their work is amazing.”

THE LIBRARY‌ After the electrical and structural work was completed, the Auxiers moved on to one of the most impressive rooms of the house — the library.

Sarrge lived with the couple for six months to complete the project, dealing with issues that included a room that was out of square nearly four inches from the floor to the ceiling in certain spots.

“They just built that room guided by their eyeballs back then. It drove Toby absolutely nuts,” Randy said. “He spent days just sitting in the floor staring at the walls, trying to figure out how he was going to structure the shelves.”

Artifacts and trinkets in the library were gifted to Randy throughout his years of teaching in Oklahoma and Carbondale. ‘I have items in here from all over.’

The home’s library — Randy’s pride and joy — took six months to complete and features an extensive collection of philosophy literature.

This large table in the home’s library hosts many graduate-level seminars. Randy is a professor of philosophy at Southern Illinois University.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 31

where we live Sarrge’s planning paid off, resulting in an impressively intuitive room that features strategic lighting for easy reading of top-shelf titles and ample space for Randy’s large volume of philosophical literature.

“It’s not just that I have a book problem,” Randy said, laughing. ‘”Way back in my undergraduate studies, I knew I would eventually need a library that could support the research that I needed to do at a higher level. That’s what this library does for me.”

The shelves are lined not only with books, but also artifacts and mementos from Randy’s past students – pewter salt shakers from Thailand and a brass camel statue from Burma, to name a couple.

“Thirty percent of my students in Oklahoma were from Asia, and they give gifts to their teachers as a requirement of their culture; to refuse them is culturally insensitive,” Randy said. “So I have items in here from all over.”

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE‌

Walking into the home through its back door reveals what Randy calls the best room in Southern Illinois. Elongated windows invite natural light to flood the sunroom in which the Auxiers spend so much of their time.

The room gives way to the narrow, but strategically utilized, kitchen that features plenty of counter space for cooking pasta or pouring wine.

From the kitchen you can choose your own adventure. Walk straight to foray into the home’s massive combination of dining room and living area. Or you can take a quick left to end up in the extra bedroom featuring a unique backlit stained-glass window.

There is a hidden room on the other side of that window, accessible only through a heavy, custom-built red oak door, disguised as a shelf, that glides open seamlessly despite its weight — also designed and built by Sarrge.

This hidden room beneath the main staircase is tabbed “Harry Potter’s bedroom” by the Auxiers and holds a collection of CDs Randy and Gaye have received from artists who send materials to their radio shows Folk Fiasco and TGIFolk on WDBX. Music is a critical cog of the Auxiers’ life – as they both play instruments, Randy in the popular Bone Dry River Band.

This room of music and mystery also showcases some of the home’s original architecture and samples of old wallpaper.

“We left it unfinished in case a

32 Life & Style : Spring 2015

ABOVE: More quilts are on display in one of the Auxiers’ guest bedrooms.

LEFT: The walls of Randy’s office feature black-andwhite photographs of many of the people who have influenced him.

historian ever wants to come in and study the house,” Randy said.

The home’s history extends beyond its walls to the yard, which features a gigantic spruce that was a Christmas tree planted in about 1910. There are 19 red buds on the property that featured even more prior to the May 2009 derecho. The yard lost five large trees from the storm and a number of smaller ones.

And whatever presence the giant trees give the yard, certain supernatural qualities do the same inside the home.

The Auxiers have felt things themselves and have heard many stories from guests detailing specific feelings, sounds and

sights within the home, including one who described an actual encounter.

In other words: “This house is definitely haunted,” Randy said, smirking.

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION‌ Spirits aside, Gaye’s affinity for quilts is apparent throughout the home, especially within the couple’s bedroom that features walls adorned with artistic marvels collected from antique shops domestic and abroad.

Folk art is also a major theme, including painting, crafts, sculptures and carvings from local artists.

“We visit antique stores, flea markets

and estate sales, looking for one-of-a-kind items that we find interesting,” Randy said. “And then we integrate them with our decor.”

The home features three main ceiling fixtures that demand immediate attention upon arrival into their respective rooms.

On a trip to Venice, the couple found the modern Murano glass chandelier, now centered in one of the home’s spare bedrooms.

They fell in love with its blue color and design, and chose to build the rest of the room around it.

The dining room’s centerpiece is a suspended collection of organ chimes from the Methodist church in Murphysboro that the Auxiers attend.

The chimes are affixed to a 150-year-old Conestoga wagon wheel.

The design was a collaboration between the Auxiers and the team led

by Johnson, who had been using the wrought iron wheel to stake out a fire pit in his own yard. Medwedeff refurbished the piece and finished it to match the stair rail. The enormous presence of the piece gives power to the room painted in various shades of peaceful yellow and teal.

The home’s final fixture of prominence greets guests at the top of the staircase. It features antique craftsman windows engineered together, almost giving the sense of a stationary ceiling fan.

The couple bought the windows from an antique store in Virginia and came up with the design for the piece from the ceiling architecture at the tasting room of Walker’s Bluff.

“I considered replacing the distressed and broken panes with newer ones, but Gaye was strongly opposed to that,” Randy said. “Lawrence and the fellows all agreed with her, and she was right.”

Listening and collaborating. these lifelong learners apply their openmindedness not only to their artistic tastes, but also to their marriage nearly three decades in the making. From decisions on structural changes, furniture and everything in between, the Auxiers always end up on the same page.

“I don’t know how we know, but we always agree,” Randy said. “There has never been a single disagreement between me and Gaye on this point: Hire people who do interesting things and let them do what they do.”

JOE SZYNKOWSKI is a freelance writer for Life & Style. Reach him at joe@jskiwrite. com or follow him @JoeSzynkowski.

This extra bedroom — dubbed ‘the blue glass room’ — is built around a modern, Murano glass chandelier centered within it.

The chandelier is from Italy.

The bathrooms of the house have a distinct vintage feel, with colorful touches.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 33

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Pantone’s color of the year is Marsala ‌Marsala is going to be very popular this year, and for good reason: It makes everybody look good and goes with just about everything.

Named after the wine produced in the region surrounding Marsala, Siciliy, this complex color makes wearing it or featuring it in the home so simple – and flattering.

“Sultry Marsala is highly compatible with amber, umber and golden yellows, greens in turquoise and teal,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

“This color most definintely flatters a lot of skin tones,” said Tresa Storto, owner of Perfectly Posh in Marion.

Lauren Craig, owner of Eccentrics Boutique in Carterville, is already seeing the color show up in clothing, jewelry and other accessories.

“It’s going to tie in with black, browns, and will mix well with lighter blushes or a darker purple,” Lauren said. “And, blonde, redhead, brunette, it won’t matter. It will be a great go-to color for spring, and I also see it transitioning into fall.”

Like Lauren and Tresa, Beth Moore, owner of Gypsymoon Boutique in Harrisburg, has seen the color popping up since the holidays.

“We have a few pieces in the store,” Beth said.

A color this popular will be also be plentiful in home furnishings and interiors.

It provides a nice little pop of color in the kitchen, especially in small appliances. And don’t expect to see it only in solids; check out the florals, stripes and patterns this year on placemats, dinnerware, bedding and throws.

Essie Reds Nail Polish in Bordeaux, $8.50 Kohl’s‌

This photo provided by Rolex shows a Oyster Perpetual Day-Date Rolex watch. Marsala, the wine-influenced, red-kissed color of 2015, was chosen by Pantone. Pantone’s yearly picks can herald a marked presence of a color in fashion, beauty, housewares, home design and consumer packaging, though some years the influence is stronger than others.

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36 Life & Style : Spring 2015

An L.K. Bennett fur scarf in marsala, $325, lkbennett.com.

Photo courtesy L.K. Bennett/ TNS‌

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This Michael Kors tie uses several shades of Marsala.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 37

how to

Tricia Mueller’s store, The Painted Chest, is on Walnut Street in Murphysboro and is where she offers classes in using mllk paint. Depending on the product and technique, milk paint can produce different finishes, from stain-like to crackled.

GOT MILK

(PAINT)?

This safe, non-toxic technique has a history and new applications CHANDA GREEN

The Painted Chest is a lovely little store on Walnut Street in Murphysboro, where you can buy handmade items from local artisans, natural lotions and soaps, along with some hand-sewn scarves and quilts. But the reason most people

38 Life & Style : Spring 2015

stop in is because of the owner’s skill in transforming furniture into beautiful pieces of art, using a product called Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint.

That may sound like something out of a fairy tale, and that’s appropriate because the pieces created by store owner Tricia Mueller look like something out of a storybook.

‘It really is an amazing line of products, requiring very little prep work. It’s completely self-leveling, so you don’t have to worry about paint strokes, and it has very durable finishes. Depending on the product and technique, you can produce many different looks from stain-like to chippy, from a wash to a crackle finish.’

TRICIA MUELLER, The Painted Chest, Murphysboro

The Painted Chest has been open since November, but Tricia has been painting and selling furniture for more than four years.

“I first became interested when I was on bed rest, pregnant with my son, Ethan,” Tricia said. “I’ve always loved everything vintage and antique, and I’m a do-it-yourselfer. I follow all the blogs.

When I was in bed for six months, I found Miss Mustard Seed’s blog. I looked at her pictures; she did such beautiful work. I really, really wanted a piece, but she lived in Gettysburg, so it just wasn’t practical.

“Later, after Ethan was born, I bought my first can of Annie Sloan’s chalk paint (a product similar to Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint) in St. Louis and painted my first piece of furniture. Pretty soon, there were family members and friends who wanted pieces.”

Tricia set up a booth at the annual Blue’s Junk and Primitives Show in Creal Springs in the fall of 2012 to show her pieces. That annual show is a very big deal, drawing in literally thousands of people in the spring and again in the fall.

In no time at all, Tricia sold every piece she brought.

“I spent the next year doing commissioned pieces” she said. “I set up another booth at the Fall Walk in Murphysboro, and, a little while later, I was offered space in a small boutique in Murphysboro. Once I had that, my husband encouraged me to apply for a paint line.”

By then, Tricia’s do-it-yourself blogger hero, Marian Parsons, aka Miss

Need some know-how?

Mueller paints a chest with milk paint, which ‘is completely self-leveling, so you don’t have to worry about paint strokes.’

Mustard Seed, had come out with her own line of paint, and Tricia lost no time becoming an authorized dealer.

“It really is an amazing line of products, requiring very little prep work. It’s completely self-leveling, so you don’t have to worry about paint strokes, and it has very durable finishes. Depending on the product and technique, you can produce many different looks from stain-like to

Using milk paint requires a little know-how. That’s why Tricia Mueller teaches her Milk Paint 101 classes almost every month at her store, The Painted Chest, 1340 Walnut St., in Murphysboro. Sign up for Tricia’s classes online at thepaintedchest.com.

Registration is required.

And check out her work on her Facebook page at facebook.com/ thepaintedchest. For more information, visit thepaintedchest.com and missmustardseed. com or call Tricia at her store at 618-565-8404.

chippy, from a wash to a crackle finish.”

Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint comes in a powder form. It’s odorless, completely natural, eco-friendly with no volatile organic compounds, and it comes in 18 colors (with six new colors coming soon).

“I love my milk paint!” Tricia exclaimed, and she really means it.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 39

Built for the community— by the community.

What happens when you gather a nationally accredited cancer treatment program with the physicians, nurses, oncologists, surgeons and scores of other care providers under one roof? Powerful healing.

It is with a feeling of joy and accomplishment that we welcome you to a closer look at a regional gem: the first dedicated cancer center in southern Illinois.

This effort started out as a seed, branched out with financial support from hundreds of individuals, and blossomed into a living testament to the willingness to care for our friends and families in our own backyard.

HOpe IS HOme. Join us in celebrating this paradigm shift in cancer treatment today and in decades to come.

Thank you

Only SIH and YOU cOuld brIng HOpe HOme We are humbled by the outpouring of support for the SIH Cancer Institute. Without question, the new comprehensive cancer center is made possible by the great contributions of many in our community.

From behind-the-scenes technology to the beautiful healing gardens to the signed beam of support that silently rests above the radiation oncology entry; these contributions come from that place inside us all‌the mission to give strength to our family and friends battling cancer.

While our work is not done, we honor those that have helped infuse the SIH Cancer Institute with so much love. Š2015

The Patient Path prImary clInIc SIte SpecIalty clInIc dIagnOStIc ImagIng labOratOry OncOlOgy SpecIalty clInIc SIte SpecIFIc team nurSe navIgatIOn patHOlOgy cancer preHab InterventIOnal radIOlOgy Surgery InFuSIOn tHerapy radIatIOn tHerapy cancer reHab pHarmacy SuppOrt SurvIvOrSHIp cancer regIStry

FOr any SIngle cancer patIent, tHe

Patients will not be alone. Nurse navigators serve as advocates and friends who provide guidance through the complex world of cancer treatment.

jOurney IS dIverSe, tOucHIng many veInS OF treatment alOng tHe way.

Š2015

One Cancer, Treated By a Team

Mayo modeled it from the very beginning. One person’s disease, analyzed and treated by a team of physicians and specialists; putting the greatest minds in the same room to solve the problem. That is the model used by the SIH Cancer Institute Affiliated Physicians. tHe team IncludeS: Hematology/Oncology

Breast Surgery

Neurosurgery

Gastroenterology

Radiation Oncology

Colorectal Surgery

Diagnostic Radiology

Urology

Surgical Oncology

Pathology

Breast Imaging

Pulmonology

Thoracic Surgery

Dermatology

Otorhinolaryngology

General Surgery

Palliative Care

Interventional Radiology

Nurse Navigation

There are a variety of ways to treat any specific cancer. It’s never just black and white. The cancer type, stage, location of tumors, and much more, determine the course of action to take. At the SIH Cancer Institute, five teams meet regularly to discuss breast, lung, head/neck, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary cancer cases.

Together they formulate the best plan of care given all the variables. As part of the BJC Collaborative, and our affiliation with Simmons Cancer Center in Springfield, the teams have access to additional cancer specialists and best practices when needed.

Physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses providing services at and admitting patients to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Herrin Hospital and St. Joseph Memorial Hospital are not employees of the hospital. Physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses exercise their own independent judgment regarding medical care and treatment and the hospital is not responsible for their actions. ©2015

Doctors at the Cancer Center Seven cancer specialists have clinics inside the new center, making visits more convenient for the patient.

“I am looking forward to the opening of our cancer center to streamline care pathways for our patients and make it easier for them as they go through treatment. This will represent a significant step forward in our fight against colorectal cancer.”

Satyadeep bHattacHarya, md SIH medIcal grOup cOlOrectal Surgery

“I am really excited with the opening of the SIH Cancer Institute. I make one commitment to my patients: that we will go through the journey to fight cancer together and leave no stone unturned.”

manSOOr ul Haq, md

SIH medIcal grOup HematOlOgy/OncOlOgy

“23 years ago, one of my patients told me, ‘Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.’ I’ve remembered that quote watching this dream of the cancer center become real — a place where patients are treated with respect and kindness; and have the best cancer treatment in the area.”

geOrge kaO, md radIatIOn OncOlOgy

“Undergoing radiation treatment is challenging enough without considering the travel time for other appointments. This center will immediately improve that aspect. Perhaps, even more so, it’s a message of hope for the people of southern Illinois.”

mIcHael lIttle, md radIatIOn OncOlOgy

“Combining services into one center will enhance the patient treatment experience. It will also enable the cancer care treatment team to provide a better comprehensive care for the patient.”

deepak malHOtra, md

SIH medIcal grOup HematOlOgy/OncOlOgy

“Being able to have a comprehensive cancer center comparable to a metropolitan area will add to being able to provide the best quality of care for our patients in our own backyard.”

muHammad jawad pOpalzaI, md SIH medIcal grOup HematOlOgy/OncOlOgy

“SIH Cancer Institute is going to have a great impact on overall cancer care in southern Illinois. It will make travel to patient appointments easier since all the involved physicians will be under the same roof. The collaboration will lead to unsurpassed patient care.”

Suven SHankar, md

SIH medIcal grOup SurgIcal OncOlOgy

In addition to these physicians, other SIH Cancer Institute Affiliated Physicians share clinic days at this location. ©2015

Improved Radiation Therapy Services Means Fewer Visits

New radiation technology at the SIH Cancer Institute helps doctors treat patients more accurately with fewer visits.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) utilizes a specially designed coordinate system to find the exact location of a tumor in the body. It is extremely precise and involves the delivery of a few high dose radiation treatments, usually five or less. For patients with brain tumors, Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) will be available.

SRS delivers treatment in a way similar to SBRT, but it is usually accomplished with a single treatment.

The two radiation therapy machines feature SBRT, SRS, and Rapid Arc therapies as well as the conventional therapies of IMRT and 3-D Conformal.

IntereStIng FactS radIatIOn tHerapy treatment vault • Each vault has an area of 1450 square feet.

• The vaults are formed of concrete, including walls, floor and roof.

• The concrete has a density of 147 pounds per cubic foot.

• Calculations for wall thickness take into account things like number of patients treated per day, photon energy of the equipment, and the adjacent spaces.

• The thickest vault door weighs 4,709 pounds.

• Penetrations through the walls for air conditioning must be specially designed using a maze in order to limit radiation. ©2015

A Room With a View Using nature’s elements to inspire healing is the theme of the 4,050 square feet Infusion Center.

The area is surrounded by a large expanse of floor to ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful natural landscape of the Crab Orchard Wildlife Preserve. A man-made pond and walking paths are also in view.

Patients have opportunities to receive treatment in a private setting, or in open “pods” that allows for interaction with other patients. Each infusion station includes a comfortable recliner, access to wi-fi, and individual TVs. Seating for family members at each patient station encourages family involvement in the patient healing process.

The natural light filters into the space while patients receive their intravenous treatments.

The amenities of the Infusion Center are intended to provide a warm, welcoming, comfortable and healing environment for patients, their loved ones, as well as staff.

Staff members have access to state of the art technology and work space that will improve the level of care patients receive, while maintaining patient privacy.

©2015

Rehabilitation Is a Part of Cancer Treatment An active lifestyle including exercise can enhance a patient’s preparation and recovery through the cancer journey. Rehab Unlimited provides outpatient cancer rehabilitation services onsite at SIH Cancer Institute.

Cancer rehabilitation is an important part of the cancer fighting arsenal. Research suggests that beginning rehabilitation before cancer treatment can help improve a patient’s health and ability to tolerate many side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical procedures. The cancer therapies at Rehab Unlimited are designed to help patients minimize the fatigue and impairment that often accompany oncology treatments.

cancer reHabIlItatIOn can Help patIentS SuFFerIng FrOm tHe FOllOwIng ISSueS: • Feeling weak or fatigued • Experiencing pain or stiffness • Numbness or tingling • Having trouble balancing or walking • Lymphedema (or swelling in the arms or legs)

IndIvIdualIzed treatment An individualized program developed by the rehabilitation team addresses each patient’s functional limitations and concerns to help achieve the patient’s goals.

• Memory problems • Swallowing difficulty • Difficulty dressing, bathing or other daily activities

Using Data For Good Once diagnosed at an SIH facility, all cancer cases are tracked for the purposes of data analysis. The Cancer Registry role is to collect this data, check for accuracy and submit it to local, state and national agencies for the purpose of education, research, and outcome measurement. Confidentiality is strictly maintained.

This information is used to help government agencies to make important health decisions, such as what programs would make the most impact on our population. This is particularly helpful if that area has limited public health funds.

©2015

Come Help us Celebrate a New era iN CaNCer Care april 17, 2015

at siu studeNt CeNter ballrooms •abbreviated Program •extended social time •Collection of gourmet tastes •Raise Your glass to Hope — Presented in a Mixology, Wine tasting station atmosphere & Beer tasting •live Music & Dancing •Black tie Optional

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The Extra Touches Everything about the SIH Cancer Institute is designed with the patient in mind, addressing a well, thought-out set of needs. We’ve wrapped it all with nature’s elements for the purest form of reflection, healing and wholeness.

HealIng gardenS The Healing Garden is situated in the SIH Cancer Institute’s interior courtyard. The garden offers heavily landscaped views including natural plant life and water features that provide tranquil, calming sounds. The garden includes a series of meandering paths, symbolizing the journey patients and families often travel and large boulders representing patients’ challenges and struggles along the way.

green leaF caFé The Green Leaf Café promotes health and wellness by providing healthy food and beverage choices for patients, visitors, and staff. The café features coffee/ beverage service, vending, made to order items, as well as, grab-n-go treats. Patrons can dine in the large open dining with floor to ceiling windows that showcases the beautiful southern Illinois landscape. During the warmer months, patrons will have the opportunity to dine outside on the landscaped patio overlooking the lake.

beauty wItHIn bOutIque The Beauty Within Boutique helps cancer patients and survivors look and feel their best. This unique shop offers a wide variety of products designed to enhance appearance, boost self-confidence, and make the recovery process as comfortable as possible. The beautiful and spacious Appearance Center ensures privacy and comfort for those being assisted during consultations and wig fittings.

tranquIlIty cHapel The Tranquility Chapel is a non-denominational chapel that provides an oasis for meditation and reflection. The chapel overlooks a heavily landscaped courtyard with water features. With the inclusion of comfortable seating and use of natural materials such as walnut veneer and limestone, visitors have a place of respite to retreat to while dealing with stressful and difficult diagnosis. ©2015

reSOurce center The Resource Center provides educational material for patients and families looking for more information on specific types of diagnosis and treatment options.

Research and information gathering can be done in a comfortable “living room” atmosphere equipped with soft sofa and lounge chair seating arranged around a fireplace setting. A Resource Specialist will be available to answer questions as needed.

InSpIrIng HOpe tHrOugH art Expressions of strength, life and courage are represented all throughout the SIH Cancer Institute thanks to the work of local southern Illinois artists.

Varying pieces; some using glass, metals, textiles, paint and more, adorn the center giving a unique appeal meant to inspire healing and bring cheer to cancer patients.

©2015

cheers to beer

ALTERNATIVE BREWS Specially processed beers, hard ciders up the ante for gluten-free drinkers SHAWN CONNELLY

‌Although experts tell us that only about one in 100 Americans have celiac disease, a condition that results in damage to the small intestine when gluten is consumed, there are many others who have some sensitivity to gluten or are looking to avoid or minimize it in their diet for other health reasons.

A diagnosis of celiac disease means avoiding foods and beverages containing barley, rye or wheat. For the beer lovers, this has often meant giving up their beloved beverage entirely or settling for a gluten-free alternative.

Fortunately, alternatives abound. However, they are often less than ideal replacements for traditional beer. Why? Beer is made from barley, hops, water and yeast. Some beers also contain other fermentable grains, such as corn, oats, rice, rye or wheat, although these typically comprise far less than 50 percent of the fermentable grains in beer. Barley, and Apple Knocker Hard Ciders are from Owl Creek in Cobden. The ciders are available at the winery/ brewery and in many retail outlets in Southern Illinois and elsewhere.

Shawnee Health Service

to Southern Illinois Healthcare on your new comprehensive Cancer Institute in Carterville.

50 Life & Style : Spring 2015

www.shsdc.org

to a lesser degree wheat, is what makes beer beer.

So, if an essential ingredient is missing, do you still have beer? Well, maybe.

Several popular brands of gluten-free “beers” are available locally, such as Green’s, New Planet and Redbridge. These brands replace barley with sorghum — a grain that is safe for celiac sufferers.

The upside to these beers is that they’re safe to drink and don’t utilize glutencontaining ingredients. The potential downside: They just don’t taste quite like “real” beer. Like replacing sour cream with yogurt on your baked potato, it may be the healthy choice, but it’s just not quite the same. No matter how well a sorghum beer is made, you will know the difference.

In 2012, the folks at Omission Beer (part of the Craft Brew Alliance) introduced something new — a beer brand made from barley, hops, yeast and water (i.e., real beer) that has undergone a proprietary process using a special enzyme to remove gluten. This gluten-removed beer is, for many, the best of both worlds. The beer is tested using the R5 Competitive ELISA (a mechanism to test for gluten proteins) and shown to be well under the threshold the FDA has established for gluten content while maintaining all of the flavor of a genuine craft beer. Omission Lager and Omission Pale Ale are available locally at your favorite beer retailer. The company describes the experience of trying an Omission beer for the first time an “O” moment, because many people are trying real beer (rather than sorghum-based beer) for the first time or they enjoy an Omission beer without realizing it is gluten-removed beer in the first place.

Another viable alternative to traditional beer is hard cider, of course. Hard ciders have enjoyed a massive spike in popularity in the last couple of years; and cider, made from apples, is naturally glutenfree. In addition to national brands like

Angry Orchard, Johnny Appleseed and Woodchuck, several local and regional hard ciders have gained followings. Try Apple Knocker Hard Ciders from Owl Creek in Cobden, Crown Valley Strawberry Cider out of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, or Von Jakob Streakin’ Johnny in Alto Pass.

Whether your aversion to gluten is medically necessary or you’re just seeking a health-conscious alternative to glutenheavy beers, your options are more plentiful — and tastier — than ever in Southern Illinois.

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.

‌Besides being gluten-free, one of the best things

about locally produced hard cider are the names.

This one — Streakin’ Johnny — is from Von Jakob Winery & Brewery in Alto Pass.

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Williamson County • (618) 988-8731 Jackson County • (618) 351-8731 Franklin County • (618) 438-8731 Life & Style : Spring 2015 51

wine & spirits

Spring spritzers

Refresh your palate with a fun, creative wine spritzer JOE SZYNKOWSKI

W ‌ hat’s your idea of a refreshing drink? Maybe it’s a salt-rimmed, limefilled Margarita or a peach lemonade that packs a sneaky punch. How about a fruit-infused daiquiri or a cucumber gin and tonic? All delicious options indeed, but there is one drink that tops them all when it comes to the perfect bite complemented by a refreshing zest: The wine spritzer.

“Spring is a great time for a spritzer because you’ve got the warmer weather and people are just itching to get outside,” said Regina Morrison, one of the owners of StarView Vineyards in Cobden. “Sitting on your porch with a nice, light spritzer is about as relaxing as it gets.”

WHAT IS A SPRITZER?‌ The most basic version of a wine spritzer is a stimulating combination of white or red wine, sparkling soda and ice. They are gaining in popularity because of their light caloric makeup and invigorating taste. If you’re a regular party host, they also provide a great way to conserve your wine supply.

A spritzer transforms any white or red wine into a sparkling creation that can be served at a brunch, book club meeting or bridal shower.

PHOTO BY RYAN MICHALESKO‌

This freshly made spritzer at StarView begins with the winery’s Moonlight White, a sweet wine.

StarView Vineyard’s White Wine Spritzer Moonlight White (sweet) wine‌ Sprite or other citrus soda‌ Mixed fruit on a skewer‌ Fill a wine glass half full of wine, then top with soda; add skewer.

52 Life & Style : Spring 2015

WHEN TO DRINK ONE‌ Morrison says that even though the springtime is the most popular season for spritzer requests from her customers, any occasion can be enhanced by one.

“We always urge people to try out a spritzer,” she said. “They are very popular for warm weather get-togethers or at New Year’s parties.”

FOR THE SWEET DRINKER‌ The majority of spritzer sippers like to use a sweet wine as their drink’s base, Morrison said. For that she recommends StarView’s 2014 Indy International silver medal winner, Moonlight White, made with honey, melon and tropical fruit notes. The vineyard’s signature Silver Star is also wildly popular for spritzers.

“We mix them with a little Sprite to really set it off,” she said.

FOR THE DRY DRINKER‌ If dry wine is more your taste, Morrison urges the combination of StarView’s Seyval, boasting a noticeable acidity and a lingering white grapefruit flavor.

“We serve it with a tonic water,” she said. “Even though it’s a dry, it’s still a very refreshing drink.”

ADD SOME SKEWERS!‌ For sweet and dry drinks alike, Morrison says a frozen fruit skewer can take your spritzer to the next level.

“Frozen raspberries, strawberries or grapes are the most popular,” she said.

“They keep the drink cold and give the spritzer a nice pop of flavor and color.”

PHOTO BY RYAN MICHALESKO‌

Regina Morrison is co-owner of StarView Vineyards in Cobden.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 53

COVER STORY

2015

ways to refresh and renew hair, skin, body

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Life & Style : Spring 2015

CHANDA GREEN

A

few weeks have passed since you so sincerely promised to transform yourself, body and soul, into some new and improved version. You made those New Year’s resolutions with such fervor, swearing that this time, you wouldn’t give up until you saw the changes that you were looking for in 2015.

If you’re in the majority, you probably bit off a bit more than you could chew, trying to make too many major life changes at once, without enough of a plan to keep you going after life kicked back into gear, and what

you had to do got in the way of what you wanted to do.

If all of our goals could be accomplished in a month, we would all be wildly successful, fit, rich and happy, but research shows that more than half of our resolutions fail to materialize after a few months.

But, take heart.

This list just may be your salvation if your resolutions included improvements to your body, skin and hair.

We’ve compiled it from local experts who offer a few simple steps that can help you renew and refresh yourself.

Try a few. Go on. What do you have to lose?

1. START WITH THE SCALP Scalp massages help stimulate blood circulation and reduce stress. Those looking to promote hair growth should consider performing scalp massages regularly. Daily scalp massages have been proven to boost hair growth. Just like our skin, our scalp needs to be pampered and moisturized. Good circulation is an important element in the natural hair growth journey, and scalp massages are an enjoyable way to relax and boost your hair’s ability to grow and renew itself.

A beautiful, healthy head of hair always starts with a healthy scalp. If your scalp is “sick,” your hair does not have a healthy foundation. Julie Rushing, stylist, makeup artist and owner of Clique Hair Design in Marion, likes Davines Natural Tech, a line of products that contains eight scientifically developed treatments formulated for many scalp issues, including thinning hair, dehydration, brittle hair, dandruff, irritated scalp, lack of tone, oily scalp and maintenance.

2. BOTANICAL HAIR THERAPY

Infuse your hair with an amazing shine with naturally derived color, created with an environmental and social conscience, so you can feel good about using plant power instead of petrochemicals.

Botanical hair therapy treatments can work wonders for hair that often becomes dry and brittle over the winter months. It penetrates hair strands to condition from the inside out.

Using the proper products will help protect from heat damage as well as add protein and shine, helping to renew your strands. Rachel Bonner, stylist and owner of Salon Euphoria in Carbondale likes the Damage Remedy line and the Dry Remedy line with several rinse-out and leave-in options to create the perfect cocktail for your hair. Still, removing the dry and damaged ends from your hair is an essential part of keeping hair healthy.

If you’re maintaining your length, Rachel recommends trimming every four to six weeks. If you’re growing your hair, she suggests every 10 to 12 weeks.

Stylist Danielle Smith performs a reinvigorating scalp massage for client Tracy Bruce at Clique Hair Design in Marion. On the shelf behind them are items from the Clique featured product line.

PHOTO BY RICHARD SITLER

Life & Style : Spring 2015

55

COVER STORY 3. CHOOSE PRODUCTS WISELY During the winter, your hair and skin are drier. You can deep-condition your hair once a week to revitalize or use a weightless conditioning product that will silken and smooth the hair, says Sherry Almaroad of Cheveux Salon in Marion.

Sherry says you’ll want to use a lighter styling product such as a styling whip.

She likes those that are infused with plant-based argan oil. It is a good idea to change your hair and skin products seasonally.

4. ADD A LITTLE COLOR Brighten your look with some help from a certified hair colorist. Make sure he or she uses only organic color systems in order to avoid the harsh and sometimes toxic chemicals that many salons use. Ask a lot of questions and make sure you know what to expect when the treatment is finished. There are many kinds of color treatment, from all-over color to glossing to highlights and lowlights. By working with a professional, you’re sure to come out of the salon feeling so much brighter.

5. SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE SUN

Sun protection is your biggest antiaging weapon, according to Southern Illinois Healthcare Medical Group Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery staff. Sun damage and prolonged sun exposure causes the skin to look more aged and have more uneven skin pigmentation.

Protection against these harmful ultraviolet rays is the key to more youthfullooking skin. The Carbondale staff recommends using a daily sunscreen, one with an SPF 30 or greater, which contains zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is a mineralbased ingredient responsible for broad-spectrum coverage. Make The SIH group’s sure you protect favorite sunscreens every day, even in are from EltaMD because they are winter and on cloudy super lightweight days, and reapply and tinted, and they every two hours if contain powerful outdoors. The group’s antioxidants. favorite sunscreens are from EltaMD because they are super lightweight and tinted, and they contain

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Life & Style : Spring 2015

Rachael Bonner, stylist and owner of Salon Euphoria in Carbondale, applies color to the hair of Chelsea Kasten of Carbondale. Inset: Chelsea’s finished look.

powerful antioxidants.

6. DRINK MORE WATER Healthy skin starts from the inside out. Drinking more water is extremely beneficial for skin renewal.

The average adult human body is made up of roughly 60 percent water, Julie says.

Proper hydration is necessary to maintain

a healthy balance of body fluids, but it also improves the appearance of skin.

If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration can cause it to become dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling. Drinking at least eight glasses a day also will help the body and skin rid itself of toxins.

7. A LITTLE FACE TIME

Facials have come a long way from the thick, gloppy white goo that women slathered on before bedtime years ago.

Specialty treatments deal with special needs of problematic skin conditions such as acne, clogged pores, hyperpigmentation, rosacea and congested skin. Facials made of natural ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, dairy and whole grains can be used to cleanse and gently exfoliate while revitalizing your skin and delicate eye area. Some facials are designed to help aid in relief of allergy and sinus symptoms and include aromatherapy, a facial cleanse, steam and herbal compresses. Or just run in for a 30-minute facial, a quick pick-me-up.

speak to your provider about which one could be right for you.

The SIH group recommends the SkinMedica peel line and reports great results with it.

9. STAY MOISTURIZED Moisturize often with a good product matched to your skin type. That’s the

advice of Riki Jenkins of Green Door Spa in Mount Vernon. This, she says, will help with dry skin, especially in the winter. Try to avoid hot baths and showers as this will further dry out your skin. Hot showers also dry out your scalp, which will make your head itchy.

Using tea tree oil daily will help cure this naturally. Dry air also sucks the

IgnIte your PassIon for Great Food and Spirits

The SIH group recommends the SkinMedica peel line and reports great results.

8. GET RID OF THOSE OLD SKIN CELLS Every 28 days, skin renews itself with a fresh layer of skin cells. The older we get, the more this process slows down, leaving us with fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin texture.

Exfoliation stimulates new cell growth by removing the cells your body is no longer shedding.

According to staff at the SIH facility, there are many benefits to exfoliation, such as removal of the top layer of dead skin cells, unclogging your pores, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, improved texture, healthier-looking skin, radiant-looking skin and providing a foundation for absorption of skin products.

Chemical peels are focused treatments using chemical solutions that smooth and even the skin by removing damaged layers. This is a rapid form of exfoliation that addresses many concerns. By removing those damaged skin layers and stimulating new skin growth, they say, you can achieve many benefits such as improved appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improved skin tone and texture, a brighter appearance, reduced pore size, improved acne and acne scarring and improved skin discolorations.

There are many types of peels in varying strengths, so make sure you

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 57

COVER STORY moisture from nails and leaves them dry and brittle. Olive oil can help with this.

Just add some to each nail every night and this should help with absorption.

love, we see beauty in the world and in ourselves. Nurturing our feelings of selflove brings deep ease and relief.

14. SPENDING SOME TIME AT THE SPA

10. START A RETINOL REGIMEN

Using a retinol product daily is essential in an anti-aging regimen.

Retinol or retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives that stimulate collagen production, improve fine lines and wrinkles, even skin tone and texture, minimize pores and keep them unclogged, reverse some of The SIH group likes your sun damage, SkinMedica Retinol Complex because it is and prevent and and has fewer treat certain acne effective side effects. breakouts. Always use a moisturizer with a retinoid to help alleviate some of the side effects such as slight redness, irritation and flaking. It’s always important to start a Retinol regimen gradually and increase to nightly use as you become more accustomed to using it. The SIH group likes SkinMedica Retinol Complex because it is effective and has fewer side effects.

11. HOW ABOUT A YOGA CLASS?

Research has shown that yoga offers a multitude of psychological and physiological benefits. Yoga helps you become more aware of your body’s posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the most stressful environments. Practice yoga regularly – no matter the variation – and you’ll feel more fit and energetic, and be happier, healthier and more peaceful.

12. LASHING OUT Almost all of us want fuller, longer eyelashes. Latisse is an FDA-approved product to treat sparse upper eyelashes by increasing their growth in length, thickness and darkness. Rachel says it takes about 16 weeks to achieve the optimal results with consistent use of the product, but most people report improvement in six to eight weeks. If you 58

Life & Style : Spring 2015

Many spa treatments are designed to make you feel, well, all-over wonderful.

To name a few, they include a hot, aromatic oil wrap with warm oil applied from neck to toes; salt glow or sugar polish; invigorating full-body exfoliation treatment; hot-towel facial, using skincare products and massage to improve skin and relieve stress; soothing foot scrub; paraffin hand dip to ease pain and stiffness and add moisture; and foot massage – mmmm – to relieve tension.

Or just book a manicure or pedicure, or both, as a special treat for yourself.

Start with a soak, some cuticle therapy and exfoliation; add some strengthener and polish, and finish it off with a tension relieving massage. You’ll feel like a million bucks, guaranteed.

PHOTO BY RICHARD SITLER

Rachel Wasson, a hairstylist and technician at Cheveux Salon in Marion, applies individual eyelashes for a client. Looking over Wasson’s shoulder is Salon owner Sherry Almaroad.

have to discontinue therapy, your lashes will just return to baseline. Latisse comes in several sizes of kits and is very easy to use. Latisse is only available by prescription, so talk to your doctor about this first.

If you want to avoid the application process, Sherry recommends Xtreme Lashes Eyelash Extensions. Each lash is individually applied to your lashes, resulting in a gorgeous, natural appearance.

13. THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

It’s not a new concept, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But we like the way Peter Russell, author, physicist and meditation teacher, puts it: Beauty is to perception as love is to feeling.

Beauty is the heaven of perception, that deep aesthetic appreciation that stirs the soul.

And love is the heaven of feeling, that profound sense of connection that enthuses our being.

Both are reflections of our true nature, qualities of our essence. The perception of beauty resonates with the feeling of love. Our hearts open and, bathed in

15. A GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED RUB-DOWN

Nothing feels better than a rejuvenating massage, gently relaxing your muscles, releasing the stress you hold in your body and stimulating circulation, but it’s not a one-sizefits-all therapy. There are many types of massage, and you should choose the one that feels the best to you or provides the specific relief you need.

There are sports and prenatal massage sessions; Swedish massage, which gently relaxes muscle tension, provides stress relief and stimulates circulation; and deep tissue massage, which uses slower, more direct pressure to relieve chronic tension patterns and affect deeper structures of the musculoskeletal system.

You can also get a hot stone massage, which relaxes muscle tension and detoxifies your body, improves sleep and increases energy.

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505 Rushing Drive - Just Westt of o Logan Park on Rt. 13 | Herrin | www.villasofhollybrook.com Life & Style : Spring 2015 59

SCENIC BEAUTY

This is the payoff many hikers look for when they make the short trek to Devil’s Backbone.

Bell Smith Springs STORY AND PHOTOS BY LES WINKELER

THERE MAY BE NO PLACE IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS THAT FEATURES SUCH A PERFECT MIX OF CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS, MASSIVE ROCK FORMATIONS AND DENSE FOREST. AND, MID-WEEK VISITORS MAY FIND SOLITUDE, AS WELL. These barrens are found at Bell Smith Springs above Devil’s Backbone.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015

Reflecting pools, crystal clear streams and towering trees are all part of the allure at Bell Smith Springs.

Bell Smith Springs is located in the heart of Shawnee National Forest.

Indeed, finding it is an adventure in itself. The easiest way to reach this slice of heaven on earth is to take U.S. 45 to Ozark, turn east on Ozark Road and follow the signs as the roads devolve from divided highway, to oil and chip, and then to gravel.

In this case, the ends certainly justify the means.

The trailhead is located atop the bluffs, and the trip winds down to the banks of Bay Creek. Except after periods of heavy rain, Bay Creek is a lazy rockstrewn creek, shallow in most places, but punctuated with deep pools filled with crystal clear waters.

Walking along the banks of the creek, you will be serenaded by dozens of species of songbirds that call this remote region home.

Following the bluff line takes visitors to Bell Smith’s signature formation, Devil’s Backbone. The formation consists of two massive triangular-shaped boulders surrounded by the amazingly Rock overhangs provide a bird’s eye view of Bay Creek.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 61

SCENIC BEAUTY

The pool at Devil’s Backbone is perfect for a refreshing dip in the summer.

clear water. It doesn’t take much imagination to view the boulders as oversized vertebrae.

The trail to Devil’s Backbone meanders down stone steps constructed decades ago, under massive rock overhangs and across a gravel stream or two. In the meantime, oak and hickory trees tower overhead. Continuing 62

Life & Style : Spring 2015

past Devil’s Backbone, you’ll find an upland glade area that is unique in Southern Illinois.

During the spring and summer, visitors have been known to cool off in Bay Creek’s deep pools and in the water surrounding Devil’s Backbone.

Visitors that opt to follow the creek will soon discover a natural bridge. In

either direction, the scenery is wild and unspoiled.

A word to the wise: Although Bell Smith Springs is remote, it can be crowded on weekends.

LES WINKELER is sports editor and outdoors writer for The Southern Illinoisan.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 63

GEAR

LATEST GADGETS ENHANCE OUR OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES ‌Southern Illinois’ love for the outdoors is no secret. The region prides itself on its natural amenities and scenic beauty.

From lakes and rivers to forests and a wetland, Southern Illinois offers something for every outdoors enthusiast.

Hunters, fishermen, hikers, geocachers, nature photographers and birdwatchers spend countless hours taking in everything

CHAOS CLIMBING HARNESS‌ As rock climbing continues to grow in popularity, especially in Southern Illinois, outdoors enthusiasts might be looking for basic equipment, and at the top of any list is a safety harness. This model from manufacturer Black Diamond combines aesthetics, usefullness and durability to create a safe, comfortable experience for climbers of all experience levels.

The harness is made with a thin layer of Vectran fibers in place of traditional webbing to evenly distribute weight.

Other features of the design include four pressuremolded gear loops to hold cams, slings and on-route essentials. The front two loops are oversized for optimized racking. While perfectly suited for a short climb, the harness is also designed to endure both long climbs and long climbing careers.

Price: $125 at blackdiamondequipment.com Recommended by: Shawnee Trails, Carbondale

YETI ROADIE‌ Perfect for the outdoorsman on the go, Yeti coolers have become the standard-bearers for durable, portable coolers. The Roadie is Yeti’s personal cooler model, capable of holding 14 cans of beer, 20 pounds of ice or any equivalent combination of other desired items. Built with durable one-piece construction and ice-retaining insulation, the Roadie features a stainless-steel handle for easier portability and self-stopping hinges to keep the lid open. Yeti says its coolers’ durability can withstand almost any natural force, including an attack by a grizzly bear.

Price: $250 at yeticoolers.com Recommended by: Shawnee Trails, Carbondale

KESTREL 120 ROTO KAYAK‌ With hundreds of kayak designs on the market, choosing the right one can be hard. This Current Designs model is designed for recreational use, featuring a long and roomy cockpit that doesn’t feel restrictive for new kayakers. The Swede design form has a longer and more slender entry, adding to touring speeds and maneuverability. Shorter-length frames

64 Life & Style : Spring 2015

the region has to offer. And as the spring settles in, more and more people will give mind to heading out into nature and experiencing its power for themselves.

Representatives of two Southern Illinois outdoors retailers shared lists of recommended items for those looking to venture forth. These are some of their suggestions:

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CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS | FURNITURE | LIGHTING | FLOOR COVERINGS | ACCESSORIES Life & Style : Spring 2015 65

GOOD EATS

Kathy Bryan, owner of Kiki’s CoffeeHouse in Anna, began living the vegetarian lifestyle 24 years ago.

GREEN SCENE Eating vegetarian goes mainstream in Southern Illinois

DEBBIE MOORE

It is easy to be a vegetarian in Southern Illinois, where thousands of acres of crop production are in fruits and vegetables. We are surrounded by beautiful fresh produce, which helps make this healthy plant-based lifestyle even healthier!

A true vegetarian eats no meat, dairy products, eggs, poultry or fish. Different levels of semi-vegetarians add some of 66 Life & Style : Spring 2015

those products into their diets.

The strictest vegetarians, Vegans, also exclude animal products like honey or gelatin. They also exclude all animal-based products from their lives, including the use of wool, leather, down, silk, fur, soaps or cosmetics. And, they exclude all products which have been tested on animals.

For many, health issues prompt the choice to be a vegetarian. For others, economic reasons drive their diets. The

formula is simple: Beans and legumes cost less than meat. But the most passionate reason for the choice seems to be the desire to preserve natural resources and the belief that it is cruel to eat animals.

In many cultures, religious beliefs have guided individuals to eliminate meat and meat products from their diets.

The vegetarian movement in the United States was made much stronger in the 1860s, when the Seventh Day Adventist Church began presenting a message of wholeness and health, recommending vegetarianism. Early advocates introduced

Stanley Tucci’s Quinoa with Pomegranate and Pistachios‌

Sautéed Tofu with Broccoli and Red Peppers in Chili-Orange Sauce‌

In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, water, hoisin, soy sauce, chiligarlic sauce, cornstarch and sesame oil. Set aside.

2 cups quinoa Salt and pepper to taste 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon for drizzling 1¾ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 6 tablespoons pomegranate seeds, plus 2 tablespoons for serving 3 tablespoons salted pistachios 3 green onions, chopped 1 orange, peeled and sliced into rounds (optional)

14- ounce package extra-firm water-packed tofu ¼ cup fresh orange juice ¼ cup water 2 tablespoons hoisin 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce 1 tablespoon cornstarch ½ teaspoon sesame oil 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided 1 red bell pepper, cored and cut into thin strips 6 cups medium broccoli florets, blanched until crisp-tender, then drained 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger 2 teaspoons minced garlic Brown rice, cooked, to serve Toasted cashews, to garnish

In a large nonstick or stick-resistant skillet over medium-high, heat 1½ tablespoons of the vegetable oil. Add half of the tofu pieces, sprinkle with salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the tofu to a medium bowl. Repeat with another 1½ tablespoons of oil and the remaining tofu. Return the skillet to the heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the red pepper and cook, stirring, until it is almost tender, about 3 minutes.

Add the broccoli and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk the sauce in the bowl to make certain the cornstarch is dissolved, then add to the skillet, whisking. Bring to a boil to thicken, then add the tofu and cook just until heated through.

Arrange a mound of rice on each of 4 serving plates, then top with the tofu mixture and cashews.

Rinse the quinoa in cold water to remove its bitterness. Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Dress with the olive oil and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and set aside to cool. Gently mix the pomegranate seeds, pistachios and scallions into the quinoa.

Taste and adjust the seasoning with sliced oranges dressed with olive oil, if desired.

Makes 6 servings; per serving: 191 calories (53 percent from fat), 11.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated, 7.1 g monounsaturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 4.6 g protein, 18.7 g carbohydrate, 3.3 g fiber, 53 mg sodium.

— Source: aarp.org.

breakfast cereals into American diets.

John Harvey Kellogg was one of the early founders. He and his brother, William, founded the corporation that has been putting cereal boxes on American breakfast tables for more than 150 years.

Eating vegetarian is more than a diet. It is a lifestyle that promotes overall health, physically and mentally.

Trish Welch, an SIU professor emeritus and registered dietitian, has worked on numerous projects regarding vegetarians, including studies of the elderly and the creation of vegetarian diets for teenagers.

Welch said that while vegetarians certainly benefit from the extra vitamin intake from eating increased amounts of vegetables, they run the risk of missing calcium, zinc and iron in the diets. Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, found in meats, are certainly missing from their diets. Welch encourages anyone considering the vegetarian diet to meet with a dietitian and study the nutritional content of foods to clearly understand how to balance the diet.

Kathy Bryan, who came to Southern Illinois in 1988 to attend SIU, has been a vegetarian for 24 years and considers it a lifestyle more than a diet. After graduation, she found a job and stayed. Bryan and her husband live in Anna, where they opened Kiki’s CoffeeHouse in April 2013.

Bryan says it is easier to be vegetarian

Cut the block of tofu in half horizontally to create 2 thick slabs. Wrap each slab in a clean kitchen towel and place on a plate.

Place a second plate on top of the tofu, then weigh it down with several heavy cans. Press in this manner for 30 minutes to drain water from the tofu and firm it up. Unwrap the tofu and cut each slab into ½-inch pieces. Set aside.

Makes 4 servings; per serving: 490 calories; 230 calories from fat (47 percent of total calories); 26 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 49 g carbohydrate; 8 g fiber; 8 g sugar; 18 g protein; 580 mg sodium.

— Source: Sara Moulton/AP

Pita Alley in Carbondale’s Murdale Shopping Center boasts a 50 percent vegetarian clientele.

The menu features Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare.

today than it was when she first began.

There are many more meat substitute products to choose from. Restaurants known for burgers and steaks often offer vegetarian options.

Deb Geiger, who lives in Murphysboro and is a self-employed medical oncology transcriptionist, has been vegetarian for 15 years and says her favorite restaurant is Longbranch Vegetarian Café in Carbondale. Geiger says it isn’t difficult to shop for products she uses in preparing meals at home. She frequents Carbondale’s Neighborhood Coop and Towne Square Market. One of the biggest changes she has noticed is how easy it is to eat in

restaurants now, compared to 15 years ago when she depended on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or grilled cheese from the kids’ menu.

Imad Samarah opened Pita Alley in Carbondale’s Murdale Shopping Center in 2012, and vegetarians already make up almost half of Samarah’s customers. The majority of items on the Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean restaurant’s menu are vegetarian.

So, whether you enjoy cooking and eating at your kitchen table or dining with friends at local restaurants, following a vegetarian discipline is easy to do in Southern Illinois.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 67

self

NEVER TOO LATE

Finding faith is possible at any age ADAM TESTA

‌Gary Stanhouse’s story began like countless others.

As a young child in Du Quoin, he attended church with his mother, a Methodist. He learned Bible stories, knew the traditions and willed himself through service each Sunday morning. At age 15, about the time his father died, Stanhouse’s interest and commitment to the church began to wane.

“I’d just sit there and get nothing out of it,” he said. “It never did stick. Finally, I just quit going altogether.”

For more than the four decades that followed, Stanhouse never made his way back to the church. He engulfed himself in a coal mining career and raising a family.

He said he was never a bad person, though he certainly had his sins — smoking, drinking and cursing atop the list.

That life seemed to be enough — or so Stanhouse thought. In 2007, Stanhouse’s oldest son asked his mother to join him for church at First Baptist Church of Du Quoin for Mother’s Day. While he invited his father, too, Stanhouse at first declined because of a standing tee time.

But that changed. Stanhouse isn’t exactly sure why he decided to break his routine on the links, but he did, and he joined his wife and son for church. He hasn’t looked back.

“For the first time, I sat there and listened to the whole sermon, and I got something out of it,” he said. “I’ve been in church every Sunday since. When I walked through the church that day, I was different.”

He officially joined First Baptist that fall and was baptized in January 2008.

Stanhouse, now retired from the mines, serves as a deacon, greeter and trustee, devoting much of his free time to projects around the church.

Reflecting on his past, Stanhouse sees the effects his decisions made on his life and the lives of those around him. He continues to struggle with the occasional slip of the tongue; after all, habits of an old coal miner die hard.

But no matter how long it took him to rekindle his relationship with God, Stanhouse said the important thing is that he made the decision to do so, as his 68 Life & Style : Spring 2015

PHOTO BY RYAN MICHALESKO‌

Gary Stanhouse is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Du Quoin. ‘I don’t believe it’s ever too late’ to find your faith.

father had done on his deathbed.

“I don’t believe it’s ever too late,” he said. “I have a lot of friends who are in their 70s, and I tell them they need to have something to believe in.”

up for?

“They don’t have much time, but they know it’s probably short,” Goldman said.

“They say there are so many things they haven’t done or they should have done.

Invariably, it comes back to faith.”

THROUGH THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Sam Goldman sees many begin their search for faith when life deals them a less positive hand. Goldman, best known for his prominent roles in civic activities and the Jewish community of Southern Illinois, most often finds himself deep in conversation with the sick or dying, as he ministers to them as a chaplain at regional hospitals.

Calling the service “a most fascinating time,” Goldman said he doesn’t let himself worry about the patient’s religious affiliations, instead reveling in their willingness to turn to faith of any denomination. Whether Christian, Jewish or Muslim, the talks of faith focus on the same basic questions: What do you believe in? What guides you? What will you stand

With the answers to Goldman’s questions inevitably come more questions from the patient, questions that have likely been brewing in the backs of the minds for years, but become a louder voice as time passes by.

“Many will ask, ‘Where am I going?’”

Goldman said. “The answer is in what kind of life they led on Earth.”

Often times, such personal discussion and introspection can bring out feelings of guilt and thoughts of wasted or missed opportunities. Yet, as Goldman said, life goes on. As much as people strive for perfection, no one can live up to those standards, and no one is expected to.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t achieve success, which can be measured with one

question: What legacy will I leave behind?

“When they reach that question, that’s when they start leaning to faith,” Goldman said. “Of that I’m certain. That question haunts you.”

NEVER TOO EARLY Many of the perspectives and views on the journey of faith cross denominational boundaries. While different vernacular or customs might exist, the message at the core resounds throughout. All accept older members of the population joining the journey late in life, but encourage individuals to begin the introspective adventure as early as they feel comfortable.

Imam Abdul Haqq of the Carbondale Muslim Center summed it up with a Muslim belief that worshippers should live every day as if it could be their last, while also approaching the challenge of preparing for a better tomorrow. The key, he said, is realizing that the final call isn’t as distant as it might feel at times.

“Some people see the judgment as something that’s far off,” he said, “but we see it as something that’s near.”

When one accepts that philosophy, he or she becomes more mature and develops a concern about moral conduct and pleasing God. With the realization and desire for the nearing judgment, hopefully, comes changes to behavior, Haqq said.

The Quran says memory fades as worshippers grow older, so it’s important to develop a relationship with God while the mind remains strong. The younger days of life are intended to help one prepare for the later and final days in life.

“Repentance is very strong in Islam; God

PHOTO BY THE SOUTHERN‌

Abdul Haqq, Imam of the Carbondale Muslim Center, says ‘God is all forgiving, most merciful. These are all things we want to encourage people not to leave to old age.’

is all forgiving, most merciful,” Haqq said.

“These are all things we want to encourage people not to leave to old age.”

Muslim prayer and many of its holy days are based around the theme of renewal and recommitting oneself to God, to doing what is right and to treating people better. Through these actions, believers gain experience and become empowered to share with others in need of accompaniment on their spiritual quest.

PHOTO BY THE SOUTHERN‌

‘Many will ask, “Where am I going? The answer is in what kind of life they led on Earth,”’ says Sam Goldman, Jewish community leader.

“They look to you as someone who has been on a journey,” Haqq said. “The older we get, the closer we come to seeing the journey come to an end. Some of us don’t live to be old; some of us die young.

If we live as if it’s near, we’re prepared, whether young or old. We should always be prepared.”

Much like Stanhouse, who admitted to continuing to struggle years after accepting Christ into his life, others – regardless of denomination – face similar challenges.

The key to success, Haqq said, is building a support network of individuals who endorse the effort. Three other important steps include: understanding forgiveness is always available and asking for it, repenting of wrongdoings and continuing to fight through the struggles to improve one’s life.

“When we make a mistake, we often throw our hands in the air and say, ‘I can’t do it,’” Haqq said. “No, we want people to keep asking for forgiveness and move ahead. It’s not without difficulty. Strength is built upon resistance.”

Southern Illinois’ diverse demographics create a number of opportunities for people of all ages to learn about various faiths and find the right path to start, continue or resume their journey of faith.

Whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or of another background, the community is filled with those willing to share their experiences, those like Stanhouse, Goldman and Haqq, who have endured the walk themselves and are prepared to lead others down a path of their own.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 69

business buzz

CLEAN BODY, CLEAR MIND Natalie Furman is passionate about affecting and enhancing the health of her customers JOE SZYNKOWSKI

Natalie Furman had every opportunity to emotionally and physically shut down when her father died two years ago. The experience was a grueling one that, upon recollection, still brings tears to her eyes.

But knowing her 19-year-old sister needed her support and guidance, Furman stayed strong.

King’s “My father died of Way Health complications from a surgery, Food Store but his lifestyle habits were 321 S. Main St., what caused him problems,” Benton she recalled. “He was making 618-439-4021 changes, but it was too late.”

During the grieving process, Furman took a long look at herself, struggling with her own weight, and decided to make an immediate change.

She incorporated healthier eating habits, slimmed down and focused on her Seventh Day Adventist faith’s eight components of holistic health: fresh air, exercise, water, rest, abstinence, diet, sunshine and divine power.

While grieving for her father, Natalie Furman looked at her own weight and lifestyle and decided to make an immediate change. She also took over King’s Way Health Food Store in Benton. ‘I wanted to be here for a She also took over King’s Way Health long, long time,’ she says.

Food Store in Benton, serving a Southern Illinois community that is looking to make lifestyle changes of its own. customer Sherri Lawrence of Benton. at the age of 18. Processed foods, dairy Gloria Bain had owned the store for “She has stepped right in and is making and sugar catalyzed her rapid gain of more 16 years when Furman took it over last Gloria proud.” than 50 pounds in less than three years.

September. Bain had built up a dedicated While not a doctor or certified Now refocused on her health, Furman customer base — not only from Benton, nutritionist, Furman’s understanding of is trying to pass along her knowledge and but across Southern Illinois. the body and its needs is extensive. She experience to impact and enhance the Furman, who worked part time for Bain also can empathize with people struggling lives of her customers. on and off since 2005, has done her best to with their weight.

“My big passion is to help support make the ownership transition as seamless Furman said despite healthful families in making powerful changes and as possible, especially for her customers. encouragement from her mother and continue the work that Gloria started,” “She is so knowledgeable and passionate grandmother, she decided to divulge in she said. “The more we take charge of about helping us out,” said longtime what she calls the standard American diet ourselves and our children in terms of 70 Life & Style : Spring 2015

food choices, the better we will perform at work, the better frame of mind we’ll be in, and the better financial choices we will make for our families.”

The shelves at King’s Way are lined with healthful food options, supplements and vitamins. Furman conducts diligent research when deciding what products to bring into her store. Additionally, she has received help from her mother, Sonya Simkin, a retired intensive care unit nurse who lives in Washington. Simkin spent the latter part of 2014 in Benton to support Furman in taking over the business.

From elderberry to green powders, Furman offers a variety of products aimed at supporting holistic health.

“Green powders are great as a scoop or two into your smoothies,” she said. “I’ve had customers report that within two to three weeks, they are noticing immense energy boosts without the highs and lows associated with caffeine.”

Located just a short drive from Benton’s downtown, Furman’s business could look different very soon. The entrepreneur in her is fueling the addition of sandwich and soup bistro, as well as a juice bar.

“I want to be here for a long, long time,” she said.

The shelves at King’s Way are lined with healthful food options, as well as supplements and vitamins.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 71

getaways

Tropical Dreams Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is one of the most popular beaches in the Caribbean.

72 Life & Style : Spring 2015

Three island getaways are a great place to find them STORY BY DIANA LAMBDIN MEYER • PHOTOS BY BRUCE N. MEYER‌

They called it a Tropical Dream. It was all mango-y and salty and made me all happy and relaxed. I was so relaxed, there’s a chance I was snoring.

It sounds like a good name for a beach drink with a little umbrella in it, which I had later.

Instead, this Tropical Dream was the name of the signature massage at the spa of Barcelo Bávaro Beach Resort near Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

It was cold at home — the polar vortex making its first appearance of the season — but my toes were warm in the Caribbean sand, and my shivering shoulders relaxed and happy after 90 minutes on a massage table with tropical scents filling my dreams.

Once the holidays are over, isn’t that what all of our dreams are made of? Drinks with umbrellas, palm trees, turquoise blue water, temperatures in the 80s, a massage on the beach?

Oh yeah, sign me up. While there are lots of options out there for warm getaways in the cold of winter, here are three that I’ve tested with my own little piggies, and they were very happy indeed.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 73

getaways

After Hurricane Ivan in 2004, tons of debris washed ashore.

Someone nailed a couple of mismatched flip-flops to this tree on South Church Road in Grand Cayman. Since then, contributing a flip-flop to the dead tree has become of the things to do while there. The Cayman Shoe Tree even has its own Facebook page.

74 Life & Style : Spring 2015

Some of the best scuba diving and marine wildlife can be found in the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands When we married, my husband and I pledged to visit all of the Caribbean Islands in alphabetical order. So we started with the Cayman Islands. Go figure. Over the years, we’ve returned many times and still enjoy Seven Mile Beach and Rum Point on Grand Cayman as much as anywhere in the tropical waters.

Located in the Western Caribbean about 500 miles south of Miami and 200 miles north of Jamaica, the Caymans are about the closest and easiest of the Caribbean Islands for Americans to access. They are also renowned for being among the safest and cleanest of island nations for visitors.

Three islands make up the Caymans, although about 90 percent of travelers find their way only to Grand Cayman, and most of them via a one-day port of call at George Town by way of a cruise ship.

That’s a shame, because the little sisters of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman have equally beautiful beaches, dive spots and relaxation.

We usually choose smaller, boutique properties, so I recommend the Sunshine Suites in George Town, right across the road from the Westin. Sunshine Suites has a nice restaurant, and the bar is known for a drink called “The Painkiller,” which makes the best use ever of Pusser’s Rum and fruit juices. Because Sunshine Suites is not right on the beach, you save a little money on your room rate. Famous Seven Mile Beach is just across the roadway, and you’re within walking distance of many good restaurants and services.

Over the years, we’ve become dismayed at the traffic in George Town, particularly on days when cruise ships are in port.

But you can still find solitude if you take Bodden Town Road northeast out of George Town. The Reef Resort has more resort amenities, if that’s what you need, and is close enough to drive into George Town for dinner or easily spend a day at Rum’s Point. Settle back with a CayBrew or a Mud Slide and enjoy what is easily the most beautiful view the Caribbean has to offer.

If you want to experience a quirky little part of the Cayman culture, look for the Shoe Tree on South Church Road. After Hurricane Ivan in 2004, tons of debris washed ashore, including lots of shoes and flip flops. Somebody just haphazardly nailed a couple of mismatched flip-flops to a dead tree. Since then, contributing a flip-flop to the dead tree has become one of the things to do while on Grand Cayman. The Cayman Shoe Tree has its own Facebook page.

If you are a diver, you already know about the Cayman Islands, where some of the best SCUBA diving in the world can be found in the waters around these islands.

The USS Kittiwake, scuttled in 2011 in the Marine Park off of Seven Mile Beach, is one of the most popular dive sites in the Caribbean. These Islands are also a good place to take your first SCUBA lesson, to test these fabulously clear and colorful waters. Nearly every resort offers a dive program. Just make sure it’s a PADI-certified dive shop.

Life & Style : Spring 2015 75

GETAWAYS

76

Life & Style : Spring 2015

Barcelo Bávaro Beach Resort near Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic

No matter which way you go in the islands, you’re bound to find a spot that’s just right for you.

The important thing to remember about traveling in the Dominican Republic is to pack your St. Louis Cardinals gear — T-shirts, hats, flip-flops. Albert Pujols is revered, and many still sob at the mention of Oscar Taveras. Baseball is the national sport here, and every time I’ve donned my Redbirds hat, the locals have opened up in a way not possible with even the most generous tips.

Book your flight into Punta Cana, which just debuted a new, more efficient airport terminal this fall. No need to rent a car because the Dominican Republic is not a place where you’ll do a lot of independent site-seeing. The smaller, boutique properties that my husband and I usually prefer are not the norm in the Dominican Republic. Therefore, you have your choice of numerous large-scale resorts that offer just about every experience you could want in escaping the cold of Southern Illinois.

The Barcelo Bávaro Beach Resort is where I had that magnificent Tropical Dream massage and body scrub. Besides one of the most delightful spa experiences I’ve ever had, I like the Barcelo Bávaro Beach because it offers a distinct section for families traveling with children and an entirely separate area for adults who prefer their getaway away from the energy of children on vacations. The family area includes a water park and childcare center, adjoining rooms and suites, and familyfriendly dining options. The transition

to the adult area is palatable, offering a distinctly more mature and sophisticated environment.

Either way, the Barcelo Bávaro Beach Resort has more than two kilometers (1.2 miles) of some of the Dominican’s best sand beach. The Barcelo is one of the first resorts in the Punta Cana region; therefore, the developers had their choice of the best beaches on which to develop.

As a result, more than 80 percent of the rooms directly face the ocean.

The Punta Cana region decidedly has an international flair to it. This is where fashion designer Oscar de la Renta called home. Bill and Hillary Clinton have a vacation home here as well. The resorts in this region, particularly the Barcelo Bávaro Beach Resort, are frequented

by French, Italian, Spanish and Russian travelers. You’ll hear all languages spoken around you, but if English is your only tongue, you’ll have no trouble in the resorts.

A popular day trip for guests at many resorts is an outing to Sanao Island, a federally protected nature preserve surrounded by the most calm, clear and beautiful of Caribbean waters. Catamaran boat trips leave the fishing village of La Bayahibe and stop in shallow waters frequented by starfish. Picnics and massages on the beach, palm trees and lounge chairs at the water’s edge. Yep, that’s what tropical dreams are made of.

Life & Style : Spring 2015

77

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getaways

Anguilla During the day, Sandy Ground Beach is tranquil; at night, a couple of hot spots rev things up.

Catch reggae music star Bankie Banx at his Dune Preserve on Rendezvous Bay on Anguilla.

Bankie plays the house on weekends and anytime during a full moon.

If we had started our alphabetical check list of the Caribbean Islands with A, we might not have ever explored any other islands because, hands down, Anguilla is our favorite of the 20-plus islands we have visited.

Anguilla, pronounced “an-gwilla,” is way out there east of Puerto Rico. Look for St. Maarten and then look for a little dot three miles north. That’s Anguilla. For sailors, this is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.

The good news is that it’s not that hard to get there. Although Anguilla

80 Life & Style : Spring 2015

has an international airport, you’ll save a lot of money by flying into St. Maarten and taking the 20-minute ferry ride to Anguilla.

The island is just 17 miles long and three miles wide, yet it is home to 33 perfect white-sand beaches, all open to the public. White sand is the best sand because it doesn’t hold the heat like beige and pink sand, thus no burning tooties as you walk barefoot. The Travel Channel recently named the beach at Shoal Bay the Best Beach in the World.

An ideal day on Anguilla includes

choosing a new beach to explore and then selecting from one or two beachside restaurants for lunch. Most places allow you to use their chairs and umbrellas at no charge as long as you buy lunch.

One of the least visited beaches of the 33 is Captain’s Bay on the northeast end of the island. It’s quite possible to have the place entirely to yourself all day. Our favorite was Mead’s Bay, for no other reason than it was perfect.

Anguilla has no McDonald’s or Hard Rock Cafes or tacky tourist shops selling mass-produced souvenirs made in China.

You will not find Disney-sized resorts.

Instead, most properties are locally owned and most with fewer than 100 rooms.

We recommend either Frangipani or the Anacaona.

One of Anguilla’s most famous residents is reggae music star Bankie Banx. His Dune Preserve on Rendezvous Bay is an experience in itself — sort of a driftwood beach shack that grew into a tree house, creating odd little crevices and viewing spots to watch the performance below. Bankie plays here on weekends and during the full moon. Yep,

that’s right, the full moon.

A couple of hot spots near Sandy Ground also get hopping at night. The Pumphouse is where the locals go along with Elvis’ Beach Bar nearby. Johnno’s Beach Stop also has live music every night, but schedule your travel dates to allow for a Sunday afternoon jazz session at Johnno’s.

DIANA LAMBDIN MEYER (pictured right) is a freelance travel writer originally from Wolf Lake in Union County. She lives in Kansas City.‌

Life & Style : Spring 2015 81

dÉcor

5

easy pieces

Looking to refresh your décor?

Designers give us their top tips

‌1. Windows

Angela Rowe of Decorating Den, Harrisburg: A new window treatment can change the way light comes into the room and, therefore, change the look of the room completely.

Shutters can give a cleaner look, but it’s not as soft. A new window treatment can modernize the room. Some of the new shutters have a divider rail, which allows privacy when the louvers are shut on the bottom, but allows light to stream through on the top.

Brian Norman of Norman Carpet One Floor & Home, Marion: I recommend Duette Honeycomb Shades from Hunter Douglas with their wide array of fabrics, pleat sizes, colors and textures. The Architella Collection – honeycomb within a honeycomb design – offers luminous colors and true, crisp pleats, and their patented design provides the industry’s highest energy-efficiency rating. If you like the look of hardwood blinds, but want something practical for less money, consider EverWood X-tra alternative wood blinds from Hunter Douglas. They resist fading, yellowing, warping, bowing and cracking.

2. Flooring and rugs

Angela Rowe: If you don’t have an area rug, I would definitely add that. It will define the space, especially if you have an open floor plan.

Denise Fann of Deloufleur Décor and Designs, Carterville: Change your flooring.

Carpet and wood flooring is expensive to change out, but you can get a new look with area rugs. Area rugs add color, change the look of the whole room and create warmth with little expense.

3. Pillows, pictures, lamps

Distinctive Interiors staff, Marion: New pillows, pictures and lamps are an easy pick-me-up for any room. Changing those will allow you to change the color scheme of all of your other accessories.

In a basically neutral room, changing pillows, throws, plants and other colorful

82 Life & Style : Spring 2015

Shutters add another dimension to window treatments, especially those with divider rails, which allow privacy when the louvers are shut on the bottom but open on the top. This window and room design is from Angela Rowe of Decorating Den in Harrisburg.

Rebecca Norman, co-owner of Norman Carpet One Floor & Home in Marion, with some of the window treatments the store carries. A new window treatment can make all the difference in a room, not only because of the window covering itself but because of the way the treatment affects the light coming into that room.

4. Wow your walls

Denise Fann: I think one of the things that can completely change the look of a room is paint. Bringing in a new color makes for a new room. Then building everything around that color can give a whole new look. Go opposite in color from what you originally had if you want a change, and go strong with that change or it won’t be satisfying to the eye.

Angela Rowe: Take a focal wall and add wallpaper to that one wall. Wallpaper is definitely coming back, but it’s changed a great deal from the wallpaper we remember from 10 to 15 years ago. And it’s easier to take down when you’re ready for a change.

5. Mirror, mirror on the walls LEFT: The staff at Distinctive Interiors in Marion tells Life & Style that using a patterned or graphic area rug adds color and definition to the room. RIGHT: Denise Fann, designer and owner of Deloufleur Décor & Designs in Carterville, has several suggestions for jazzing up a room. The red lamp and paisley and print fabrics — suggested for pillows — are a great jumping off point for the rest of the room. ‘You can do just about anything with your other pieces in the room because the paisley fabric has so many colors in it,’ Fann says.

decorative accent pieces can give a new look and keep the room interesting throughout the year.

Denise Fann: Lamps in a room are very important. The shades need to be changed out periodically to freshen them up and get a new look. Adding new

lamps is a very inexpensive way to update a room.

Angela Rowe: Of course, changing the throw pillows on your sofa can change the whole look of a room and the whole color scheme, especially if you have a solidcolor sofa.

Denise Fann: Every room needs a piece of black and a mirror of some sort. Black enhances everything in its surroundings.

Mirrors reflect, open up, and help create space and warmth.

Distinctive Interiors: Adding a painted or mirrored accent piece will give color and reflective accents to a room. They mix well with almost any wood finish and can add spice to an otherwise simple room.

Also, by simply adding a mirror, you can add depth and give the illusion of a larger room.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 83

IN OUR BACKYARD

Low-voltage post and stair lights, as well as solar cap lights, are from Deckorators and are available at Wright Do-It Center in Murphysboro.

illuminate and inspire Subtle, strategic lighting can

your favorite outdoor areas JOE SZYNKOWSKI

Sprucing up your backyard doesn’t have to mean large installations like a custom brick fire pit or luxurious in-ground pool.

Sometimes a little bit of light will do the trick. And thanks to local retailers and their broad range of lighting products, illuminating your backyard has never been easier.

“We have a ton of items for the backyard,” said Jami Lee Wright, sales manager of Wright Do-It Center in Murphysboro. Wright said adding lighting to your deck railing and posts can be an easy job that reaps major benefits.

Wright Do-It Center offers products from many imaginative landscape companies sure to fit your style and backyard décor. One such company, Deckorators, boasts a vast line of balusters, post caps, post covers, railings and accessories that can transform your outdoor entertainment area. Check out www.deckorators.com for the deck visualizer tool that can help get your creative juices flowing.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015

When lighting your deck, choose a stored for future gatherings. couple of spots that require the most If you’re turning to professionals to light, such as your outdoor install a custom landscape this kitchen or grilling spot. More spring or summer, don’t forget wattage may be necessary the lighting. in these areas, which “We offer night lighting Solar gazing ball available require you to see clearly for our landscape jobs,” said at Sears, while cooking or doing Margie Rehagen, longtime $59.99 prep work. manager of Plantscape Railings and seating Nursery in Herrin. “And, areas are also great spots we have many decorative to illuminate, but this pieces for gardens such as lighting can be dimmer fountains, statues, gazing to create a laid-back setting globes, brass sundials or and mood. garden cottages.”

For a lighting option meant Whatever your purpose, lighting to spotlight some of your patio’s placement can make the difference in more architectural features, you can a successful installation, so talk with a aim a wide beam of light at a wall to lighting professional to avoid what some create interesting highlight and shadow. experts call lighting pollution. You want These types of wall washes are also to position your lights without shining great for accenting nearby plants or light into indoor rooms or creating an design features. annoying glare for your guests.

Lighting up your yard for a party?

Proper aiming and wattage can usually Temporary lighting options can include help mitigate these concerns, as can using some simple string lighting or DIY Mason controlled lighting on timers, dimmers or jar candles that can easily be removed and motion sensors.

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Life & Style : Spring 2015 85

apps

Ready to change direction? ‌Every journey has a beginning, and choosing to embark on an adventure of self-discovery is no different. Whether one has simply been curious about the depths of his or her personality or driven by the desire to change life’s path, the quest begins in the same time and place: the here and now. The tools to make it happen are in the palm of your hands, in the form of digital apps for smartphones and tablets. aSleep: A good night’s sleep is important to keeping one’s body refreshed and operating at maximum function, but how often does the mind wander during the night? This sound-emitting app helps sooth the body to sleep and comes equipped with timers and alarms to ensure optimal sleep times and levels. A library of sounds covers nature, life, music, lullabies and more.

Buddha Box: Physical Buddha boxes, equipped with a number of chants, are given out for use when worshipping at a temple isn’t possible. This app puts the tools in the hands of anyone with a digital device.

The app contains a variety of meditational devices, including boxes in an array of colors, 36 Zen images, 39 different chants and more.

Career Patterns: Ever question employment choices or wonder if a different field might be a better fit? This app uses a survey measuring three dimensions of personality corresponding to seven occupational dimensions — from adventurous jobs to helping professions — to determine the best career field for any user.

86 Life & Style : Spring 2015

Gratitude Stream: Maintaining a positive spirit and mind through the course of a rough day can be especially hard. This app creates a message stream of gratitude and reminders of the small things in life to be grateful for. Users can simply follow along or contribute their own additions by using the hashtag #LiveHappy on Twitter. iThoughts: Everyone’s mind has felt scattered at one point or another. With this app, users can map their minds and organize thoughts, ideas and information in a visual format that can then be exported for other digital use.

Practical applications include making task lists, brainstorming, goal setting and other helpful means of getting life back on track.

Know Yourself: The first step to improving oneself is really knowing oneself. The test on this app evaluates different aspects of psychological thinking in four opposite dichotomies, with a resulting 16 psychological types. Users will discover basic qualities, a description of character, a list of famous people with similar personalities, relationship compatibility and more.

Here’s help getting it done

Self Help Classics: Users can take selfimprovement into their own hands with this app, which contains more than 60 of the most noted self-help books ever written. Authored by famous writers, thinkers and business professionals such as Andrew Carnegie, Ben Franklin, Albert Einstein and Henry Ford, these books cover a wide variety of topics for all individuals.

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88 Life & Style : Spring 2015

Golfing has plenty of passionate fans in Southern Illinois, including this gentleman playing the course at Crab Orchard Golf Club in Carterville.