Features,  Animals for Adoption,  Out and About,  Other travel news,  Other home and garden news

Features

[APRIL 7, 2001]  Spring has sprung, and now it’s time to get your garden growing! Your local garden centers will be coming alive with new products and information. The ICN Pro at your local garden center will be anxiously awaiting your visit. He or she will be able to answer your gardening questions and offer great advice.

There are many things to do in your yard and garden in April. Following is a short list of reminders.

• Your bulbs will continue to pop up and bloom. After they bloom be sure to let their foliage ripen. That means you should allow the foliage to die away on its own — do not cut it back, tie it in knots or otherwise destroy it. The foliage provides food for the bulb, allowing it to grow and produce a flower the next season. Once the foliage is completely brown, then it is time to cut it back.

• If you are planning to install a new garden area or revamp an old one, now is the time to do your bed preparation. If your soil is poor, you should work an organic material (like mushroom compost) into the soil when your do your bed preparation. Application rates can vary depending on your soil type. An ICN Pro at your local garden center will be able to help you determine the amount your soil requires.

• Perennials will be arriving at your local garden center throughout the month of April. Most of the perennials can be planted beginning in April. Some perennials will tolerate cold better than others, so to be absolutely certain ask the ICN Pro at your garden center. Visit your local garden center frequently to see what new perennials are in bloom. There will be something new almost every week.

• When planting your annuals you need to think about the danger of frost. Some annuals, like Johnny-jump-ups and pansies, can tolerate a frost; others will not. Most annual planting should be delayed until the frost-free date for your area passes. Your ICN Pro will be able to tell you which ones you can plant now and which ones you should wait on.

[to top of second column in this article]

• Crabgrass treatments should be applied BEFORE the crabgrass can be seen. A common practice is to apply lawn fertilizer and crabgrass preventer at the same time. This is a granular formulation that can be applied with a spreader. Some garden centers will have a spreader available for you to borrow or rent.

• April is a good month to sow your grass seed. Remember that you CANNOT apply crabgrass preventer on your newly seeded areas!

• Toward the end of April you can spray the weeds that are growing in your yard. It is a good idea to wait until the end of April to spray weeds because by then most of the weeds are actively growing.

• Fruit trees need to be sprayed before they bloom and then again after they bloom. It is very important that you DO NOT spray while the tree is in bloom. Spraying at this stage will kill the pollinating insects, including honeybees, and severely reduce your fruit production.

• April is the month to treat for peach leaf curl. If you have cherry, apricot or other Prunus species, they need to be sprayed before the buds break. Products that are effective are lime sulfur and captan. If you have questions, an ICN Pro at your local garden center will be able to help you.

For more gardening information, visit your ICN Pros at your local garden center! While you’re there, be sure to check out the spring blooming perennials, shrubs and trees! We’ll be back next month for May’s Gardening Tips.

["Gardening Tips" is provided monthly
by the Illinois Nurserymen’s Association,
1717 S. Fifth St. in Springfield.]

[MARCH 24, 2001]  The number of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren is on the rise. In Illinois, about 70,000 children are raised in homes where a grandparent is the sole caregiver.

"Grandparents who have become parents again come from all walks of life and from all cultural and economic groups," explains Molly Hofer, family life educator with University of Illinois Extension. "They often feel overwhelmed and alone when they take on the parenting role."

In an effort to address concerns that grandparents face, U of I Extension is offering a free newsletter, Parenting Again. This monthly newsletter offers practical tips on issues like finding support groups and resources, helping grandchildren succeed in school, taking care of your own health, effective discipline, and unique challenges for second-time parents.

[to top of second column in this article]

"The newsletter also covers seasonal topics like summer activities, holiday gift-giving and school enrollment," says Hofer.

To find out more about the Parenting Again newsletter, contact the U of I Extension office in Logan County. You can subscribe by phone, (217) 732-8289; fax, (217) 735-5837; or e-mail, lock@mail.aces.uiuc.edu.

[University of Illinois Extension]

[MARCH 24, 2001]  The widespread use of the Internet for online travel arrangements may have had an impact on most local travel agencies’ business, but customers still seem to prefer a personal touch.

Travel agent Becky Grapes of World Travel in Springfield said her customers may shop around for travel deals on their personal computers, but they come back to her for booking and purchases.

"People are using the Internet, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting us. They like the personal service and know that if they have a problem, they have someone to come back and talk to. On the Internet, there is no one to talk to. People are very leery of that," she said. "Customers are still going to use a travel agency in a lot of ways."

Technology has definitely changed the way people plan their vacations, with everything from electronic tickets, online price wars and an abundance of websites devoted to all aspects of the travel industry.

But despite the wealth of information now available which allows consumers to compare prices and find the best deal, local travel agents are hearing complaints from dissatisfied customers who used the Internet to make their own travel plans. Most of those former customers have returned to a brick-and-mortar travel agency after going it alone. The unique aspects that make up a wireless world of travel seem to be the same things driving consumers back to their local travel agents.

"We hear that once or twice a day — complaints from people booking travel plans through websites, and then customers not getting what they were promised. There’s no recourse," Grapes added.

Customers find more advantages dealing with a travel agent than through the Internet, she said.
"It’s (Internet) very restrictive. Often tickets purchased online cannot be exchanged or
returned. With us, if there is a cancellation, they still have credit. That still means a lot to people," she said. "Customers use the Internet for research and find out what they want, and then call us. They feel more comfortable by having a person to talk to and an actual ticket."

Despite the downfalls, however, shopping for travel online has proved useful not only for
customers but also for the travel industry. Grapes uses the Internet for research so she can offer her customers more information. She says it has worked to her advantage, because customers really appreciate the fact she can offer them additional information and point them to websites for virtual tours, photos and details she once had to look through brochures or make numerous phone calls to obtain.

She said most agents don’t use the Internet for airline fares, which are booked through the airlines, but do utilize it to book hotels, packages and tours.

"It’s definitely helped us with research. It’s nice to be able to tell someone what the website is at the resort they are looking at. Some are very informative, with pictures and virtual tours," she added.

A survey of travel agencies conducted by Travel Weekly found about 78 percent of U.S.
agencies now can access the Internet on-site, and indications are that number will continue to grow.

Jean Martin, manager of Bergner’s Travel in White Oaks Mall, said her business has decreased about 10 percent due to people making travel plans online. Most of those customers, however, have returned to her agency after bad experiences and dissatisfaction. "They know they can come back [to us] if there’s a problem," she said, which often isn’t the case when making travel plans online.

Martin said she’s noticed a decrease in the volume of business during the past few years,
with many former customers saying they now use the Internet to make travel plans.

However, many of those customers have been unhappy. "They thought they were getting one thing, and they were getting something else," she said.

[to top of second column in this article]

According to Forrester Research, online travel sales are predicted to reach an estimated
$7.4 billion in 2001.

One of the biggest concerns for travel agents trying to compete with this increase in online sales is the growing number of suppliers enticing travelers with offers that can be found only on Internet sites or in weekly e-mails.

Grapes acknowledges that it’s hard to compete with those offers but isn’t worried that the computer age will replace the hands-on art of doing business with a travel agent.

Patricia Groves, owner of Monique’s Travel in Springfield, agrees. "At first, maybe the Internet had a negative impact [on our business]. But now what we’re seeing is that consumers do research and then come to us," she said. "The Internet is a powerful tool that sometimes makes it easier, but sometimes you’re [travel agent] just an order-taker."

Groves said about 85 percent of people who do research on the Internet then call her office to buy tickets, if she can match the prices. "More people are doing that. A lot of tour companies and vacation-package companies offer information on the Internet. Then customers ask me about what they’ve seen and come in and book with us," she said.

"I think it’s confusing. Recently, an elderly woman purchased a ticket on the Internet.
When she got the ticket — a non-refundable — her sister in Florida who she was going to visit passed away. She came in and asked me to fix it," she said. "It’s the personal touch people are wanting. If they run into a problem, sometimes the Internet company is hard to get a hold of.

 "Every time new technology comes out, doomsayers say travel agencies are going to be
out of business. But we adapted to the computer in the early ’80s when computer airline
registrations came out. Now we’ve adapted to the Internet," she said.

Indeed, most local travel agents feel that information alone is not enough to sell travel.
National statistics support their theory that consumers feel the Internet simply can’t match the range of personalized services a professional can offer.

According to a study by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) — the world's largest and most influential travel trade association — many consumers feel the Internet can’t give them many things a travel agent can: firsthand experience; personalized service; expert advice; professional assistance with problems such as flight cancellations and missed connections; convenient one-stop shopping; follow-up service; ability to reissue, void or change tickets; human interaction; and special requests like wheelchairs, pet care and dietary needs.

Complaints mentioned by consumers in the study who made their own travel plans included not understanding the restrictions, being unable to get advertised fair or quoted prices, concerns about reputation of a company, paying more than necessary, and feeling the process was time-consuming and confusing. Booking the wrong date or time, having their credit card denied but not being notified, and having no assistance with changes in their tickets were also common complaints.

Groves said her agency charges a service fee, to make up for a 50 percent commission cut
made five years ago by the airline industry, but feels it’s justified because "we do feel like we do a service. We do research, obtain seats for customers, help with problems or changes. We feel we bring a value to what we do, but the service fee has nothing to do with decreased business due to Internet competition," she said. "There’s too many things that are complicated about travel. People still need us."

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

Animals for Adoption

These animals and more are available to good homes from the Logan County Animal Control at 1515 N. Kickapoo, phone 735-3232.

Fees for animal adoption: dogs, $60/male, $65/female; cats, $35/male, $44/female. The fees include neutering and spaying.

Logan County Animal Control's hours of operation:

Sunday  –  closed

Monday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday  –  8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday  –  closed

Warden: Sheila Farmer
Assistant:  Michelle Mote
In-house veterinarian:  Dr. Lester Thompson

[APRIL 14, 2001]  The  phrase "river town" brings to mind bustling, rough-and-tumble spots — places like St. Louis or New Orleans. The river constantly brings new people and new opportunities, then carries them away again. But there is another kind of river town, the kind where the waters offer a bit of tranquillity, an antidote to change. That’s what the little Fox River brings to St. Charles and Geneva, busy Chicago suburbs that nevertheless have managed to hang onto their past. A vibrant downtown, beautiful old homes, vintage red barns and the timeless river all combine to give the towns a restful dignity.

St. Charles

Nestled in the heart of the Fox River Valley, the shopping and dining districts of Century Corners and Old St. Charles reflect the city’s early beginnings. The Hotel Baker and the restored Arcada Theater, both located on Main Street, pay tribute to the roaring 1920s, and the Municipal Center, built in the 1940s, even manages to blend in with its historic neighbors.

The copper-clad gazebos on the Main Street Bridge offer a nice vantage point from which to view the Fox River rushing over the small dam and take a closer look at the city’s four bronze foxes, which each represent a vital element of the community — business, education, religion and recreation. The pieces of art were made in France and given to the city 30 years ago by Herbert Crane, a local resident and businessman. They certainly are not the only foxes around. Stone foxes decorate yards, and toy foxes pop up in shop windows. The Thirsty Fox pub welcomes parched visitors.

Although for several years I had intended to visit this area, partly because of the touted monthly Kane County flea market, it was only recently on a warm winter day that my husband and I spent a weekend in the area. We did hit the flea market for a few hours one day, but I was more impressed by the charming demeanor of the area and surprised by the historic feel of the two communities.

Just off Main Street lies Century Corners, home to an eclectic mix of small shops. You’ll find the Stonehouse on Cedar store, which is part art gallery, part gift shop and even has a small shed tucked away behind the main building stuffed with antiques like salvaged concrete, turn-of-the-century urns from an Iowa bank and vintage farm tables.

My favorite discovery, and a required stop for anyone who loves to garden, is Scentimenal Gardens, which is filled to the brim with a variety of things related to plants and flowers. Several rooms offer a wide variety of items including antique Majolica roof tiles, dried flowers, hand-painted furniture, vintage oil paintings of pansies and roses, wicker plant stands, leather furniture, candles, and pottery. The owner of the shop is also a landscape designer, and in the warmer months the shop features antique roses, kitchen herbs and potted plants.

Across the street is Town House Books and Cafe, a shop crammed with both books and personality. The maze of shelves invites you to wander, perusing books at random as the floorboards creak beneath your feet and the homey smell of coffee whets your appetite. Sit down and have a snack there, or you can wander just down the street — maybe the town’s airy chimes will be playing as you go — to the Warehouse Confectionery. This spot combines folksy antique store and yummy candy shop, including homemade chocolates. Don’t miss the chocolate-dipped gingersnaps.

Also in this area of town is a store called Panache, located in a restored 1800s cottage,
which owner Cheryl Herman has filled with an eclectic array of antiques, home and garden accessories, French soaps, and dishes and linens.

Main Street is also a shopper’s paradise, with shops lining both sides of the street. Prairie
Gourmet offers unique high-quality kitchenware, cookware and gifts for the gourmet cook, plus an array of cheeses and many other specialty foods. The shop also offers on-site cooking classes.

There are several places to spend the night, but if you want to splurge and feel pampered, rest your head at the Baker Hotel. Built by Edward J. Baker, a local philanthropist, businessman and millionaire who is also responsible for Baker Memorial Community Center and many local buildings, this 55-room hotel opened in 1928 and has become one of the most famous spots in town. The hotel, called the Crown Jewel of the Fox, has hosted many famous entertainers in its famous Rainbow Room, including Tommy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, Louis Armstrong and Lawrence Welk. In 1996, the hotel underwent a $9 million historical renovation. Even if you don’t spend the night, you should take a peek at this small hotel with grand illusions. The marble floors, hand-stenciled woodwork, original antique walnut furnishings and lighted dance floor are just a few examples of why this hotel earned a reputation for being the grandest small hotel in the Midwest.

If all that shopping and walking leaves you hungry, there are many good options. Before
hitting the Kane County flea market early on a Sunday morning, my husband and I enjoyed a hearty but healthy breakfast at Colonial Cafe, a local tradition since 1901. The cafe is known for its all-day breakfast, home-style cooking and, maybe most of all, its "kitchen sink sundae," which is actually two banana splits served together in a
replica of a metal kitchen sink. We managed to resist the tempting dessert items, kitchen sink and all, but those who do indulge win a bumper sticker to prove they ate it all. The walls of the charming cafe are lined with old black-and-white photos of former employees as well as scenes from the restaurant’s past and its original owner’s humble beginnings as a small, local ice cream manufacturer. The restaurant also sells boxes of Colonial Ice Cream for those who want to take the taste home.

Most areas of interest are located within a short walking distance, and you can take a self-guided walking tour of the town’s historic sites, which include several museums.

The Dunham-Hunt House Museum, located at 302 Cedar Ave., is open Tuesdays and Sundays in June, July and August.  Built in 1836 with locally made bricks, this restored 19^th-century home is the oldest brick house in town and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was converted into a museum after being owned by one family for 140 years. The site features six different display rooms and hosts special holiday events.

[to top of second column in this article]

The St. Charles History Museum, located at 215 Main St., is open every day except Monday and is housed in a remodeled 1928 service station. The museum features rotating exhibits and permanent displays on the history of the city, an extensive collection of Civil War, Native American and 19^th-century household artifacts, as well as research archives and a gift shop.

The William Beith House, located at 1850 Indiana St., is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 6 though Aug. 24. This restored limestone Greek Revival home was developed as a preservation study house, and visitors can play detective discovering clues and piecing together the history of the house.

The Garfield Farm Museum, located at 3N016 Garfield Road in LaFox, is open Wednesdays and Sundays, June through September, and by appointment. Visitors can tour the only intact 1840s living history farm and former Teamster Inn in Illinois being restored as a working farm.

One of the things that make this area special is the meandering Fox River. Joggers trot by on walking paths, ducks slowly float by, and an occasional fisherman tries his luck on the water’s edge. Follow this river south, past small parks and Victorian homes, and it will take you to Geneva.

Geneva

Although you can easily spend a relaxing afternoon exploring St. Charles, one of the best
things about this area is that just a few minutes away is the town of Geneva, which has even more quaint shops, historic homes, and more than 30 miles of biking and walking paths through prairies and woodland settings. I’m very glad we decided to drive a little farther and take time to discover this town.

A thriving downtown business district features more than 100 specialty shops located in historic storefronts and Victorian homes. Just on State Street alone, there’s a store called Dingers Dog Bakery and Boutique, selling low fat, all-natural dog cookies and imaginative gifts for the discriminating owner and pets; an aromatherapy shop and spa; and a European shop specializing in imported antique pine tables and French fabric.
This is a shopper’s paradise, where everything from clothing and housewares to gifts, jewelry and art is offered in shops along the tree-lined streets.

One of my favorite finds was Les Tissus Colbert — two floors of French fabrics, antiques and furniture from England, Belgium and France. Another whimsical store you won’t find just anywhere is Pariscope, which bills itself as a French department store and is a like a big candy store for adults who adore all things French. Everything from vintage fabric to soaps and furniture is scattered about.

For dining, I would recommend Le Berry Bistro, which is housed in the Berry House Shops. Built in the Greek Revival architectural style in 1854, the historic Samule Berry house has been expanded and now houses 12 shops and this restaurant on three floors, served by an elevator which opens to the garden level and upper decks. The restaurant’s specialties include leg of lamb, baked with crumbled bleu cheese and served with grilled eggplant and tomato basil sauce, and steak au poivre, a strip steak served with caramelized onions and bordelaise sauce.

If you’re just in the mood for a bit of light refreshment, don’t miss Graham’s Fine Chocolates and Ice Cream. Owners Robert and Beckie Untiedt are popular with local residents and tourists because of their gigantic chocolate-covered strawberries and coconut almond ice cream, among other tasty temptations. When I visited on an unseasonably warm winter afternoon, customers were enjoying their ice cream cones on Adirondack chairs plopped in the eatery’s front yard.

It’s a pleasant town to spend a day walking around, because everywhere you look you can see views of the river. Geneva owes its roots to the Fox River, which was formed by the melting of the Great Wisconsin Glacier that once covered the top half of what is now the state of Illinois. The river was the reason settlers first came to the Geneva
area, then known as the Big Spring. French traders and missionaries first came ashore in the early 1830s to trade with the Indians and settle. The city was called LaFox until 1850, when government records were officially changed to Geneva.

Geneva has a strong Swedish influence, due to the fact that when a branch of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, which was built in St. Charles, was extended to Geneva, Swedish immigrants began settling there. Chicago was the dispersal point for many of the immigrants from Sweden, and as the Fox Valley area became more populated with the Swedish newcomers, the city even designated a home for those who needed assistance.

Geneva has maintained its historical integrity, which can be witnessed at the Geneva Historical Center, located in Wheeler Park, which contains an interesting collection of rural and small-town artifacts, costumes and furniture.

Although the two towns are located approximately 40 miles west from the busy streets of Chicago and the main streets through town are usually packed with traffic, there is still a quiet, genteel nature to these cities. Despite obvious suburban sprawl surrounding the communities, glimpses of their history can be seen in the form of vintage red barns and farmhouses that dot the roadsides. Once you pass the shopping centers and new construction sites and enter the hearts of these two cities, it’s refreshing to see the
restored downtown areas look much as they did a century ago.

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[APRIL 13, 2001]  The phrase "river town" brings to mind bustling, rough-and-tumble spots — places like St. Louis or New Orleans. The river constantly brings new people and new opportunities, then carries them away again. But there is another kind of river town, the kind where the waters offer a bit of tranquillity, an antidote to change. That’s what the little Fox River brings to St. Charles and Geneva, busy Chicago suburbs that nevertheless have managed to hang onto their past. A vibrant downtown, beautiful old homes, vintage red barns and the timeless river all combine to give the towns a restful dignity.

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[click here for Part 2]

Back to top

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law & Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health & Fitness | Letters to the Editor