2015/08/03/hero-mom-august-2015
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MARY ZELLMER The Zellmer Wellness Foundation Most people don't know that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease; that’s why Mary, a Geneva resident, feels education can make a big impact. She co-founded the Zellmer Wellness Foundation in 2011 and has been raising money since 2004 when her son, Jim, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.   Finding a cure became her number one mission and the foundation operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes with initiatives including areas of mental health and diabetes. “We are continuing to work to help children through research, education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of chronic illnesses,” Mary says.  “This year we created two college scholarships for high school seniors living successfully with diabetes. The scholarships will open for candidates in January 2016 through Diabetes Scholars.” In support of their efforts, cardiothoracic surgeon, author and television personality, Dr. Oz, represented the foundation in New York last year at the Cantor Fitzgerald offices in support of children with behavioral health issues. Join the fight by attending the fourth annual Trick or Trot 1/4 marathon and 5k run, the Mummy 1 Miler and the Monster Mash Kids' Dash on September 26 in Geneva. Register at www.signmeup.com/108926 –Kristen Kucharski, Photo by Lynn Logan

HERO MOM TO KNOW | August 2015

MARY ZELLMER The Zellmer Wellness Foundation Most people don't know that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease; that’s why Mary, a...

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FIRE BREATHIN’ SOUTHERN BELLE  WARNING: This wine is not for everyone. I innocently picked up a bottle of 2008 Southern Belle Shiraz (McLaren Vale), produced and bottled by R Wines, thinking nothing of it. Whoever came up with the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” was probably drinking this wine. The label features an ornate, charming southern belle, implying that this will be a graceful wine. From color, aromas, and taste this was anything but subtle. Don’t get me wrong, this wine is delicious and given the $20 price point I was even happier.    Southern Belle was partially aged in American oak barrels for 18 months that were previously used for Kentucky Bourbon. Yeah, you heard that right…and with 17.6% alcohol content, some would even call this a manly wine. I’ve never had a wine like this and quite honestly, it was pretty awesome. The color is very dark and deep. Notes of confection, blackberry preserves, molasses, coffee, and spice make this a very rich and smooth glass. This is not an everyday wine, nor is it for the faint of heart as there are complex flavors of wine and whiskey involved. This bottle is best paired with a cigar and barbequed ribs or any red meat with barbeque sauce but the cigar is key. Don’t be deceived by the pretty southern belle – this is a stogie-smokin’ rib-eatin’ fire breathing Shiraz! Sláinte!    ABOUT THE WRITER Eric McMillan, The Chicago Wino, is your source for lighthearted reviews of wine. thechicagowino.com also features links to fun tools like wine/food pairing, ideal serving temperatures, and "must try" bottles!  Visit thechicagowino.com for a simple look at some complex flavors. "Like" Eric on Facebook–The Chicago Wino

THE CHICAGO WINO | August 2015

FIRE BREATHIN’ SOUTHERN BELLE WARNING: This wine is not for everyone. I innocently picked up a bottle of 2008 Southern Belle Shiraz...

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WATER PLAY IN AURORA Ever since we took our Mom’s Little Black Book Road Trip to the east coast and experienced standup paddle boarding on the Jersey Shores, we have been seeking to recreate the experience locally without the hassle of traffic and parking in the city; so, when we stumbled across Rocktown Adventures in the heart of Aurora, we were thrilled!  Located just a few steps from the Fox River, they have standup paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks readily available for your use – it’s like the fast food industry for water play fun with the added bonus of an unsuspecting calorie burn!  Although the paddleboards are recommended for those 13 years and older, this is a flexible family activity as kids of any age can join a parent or older teen in a tandem kayak or canoe.  With youth rentals (under 18) at half price and drop-in flexibility, this activity becomes as easy as taking the family on a neighborhood walk in the park.  The staff at Rocktown Adventures walks down to the river with you and provides safety and operational instruction, so even the most novice child or adult can fully enjoy the activity. Lifejackets are available for those over 50 pounds, but if your child is lighter than 50 pounds – don’t forget to bring your own.  If you are not comfortable doing it on your own, join one of the many scheduled events at the Aurora or Rockford location that are planned throughout the year. Don’t miss all the squeals, giggles and memories!   Overview.... Rocktown Adventures is a specialty outdoor retailer and adventure club offering sales, rentals, lessons, guided trips, and related apparel for kayaks, canoes and standup paddleboards in the summer; and Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. They also carry camping equipment, lifestyle apparel, and transportation equipment such as roof racks and trailers.  Rocktown Adventures 107 Spruce Street Aurora • (630) 506-5706 www.rocktownadventures.com  Summer Hours: 10am to 8pm Tues-Friday 10am-6pm Saturday 11am-5pm Sunday Check website for ongoing events.   Price $: SUP & single kayaks $25, tandems/canoes/fishing kayaks $30 for 2 hours; half-day SUP & single kayaks $35, tandems/canoes/fishing kayaks $40; full-day SUP & single kayaks $50, tandems/canoes/ fishing kayaks $55; multi-day rental SUP & single kayaks $30 for each additional day, tandems/ canoes $40.  All youth rentals (under 18) half price!   about the writer Naperville mom Kristen Kucharski graduated from Illinois State University in 1992 with an International Business Degree.  She is married and has two energetic daughters and her house is always full of children.  Kristen’s column titled, Mom's Little Black Book, is a monthly feature written for moms who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy. #MomsLittleBlackBook #MBBOutdoorAdventures #MBBSportsRecreation #MBBPerfectForTweensTeens

MOM'S LITTLE BLACK BOOK | August 2015

WATER PLAY IN AURORA Ever since we took our Mom’s Little Black Book Road Trip to the east coast and experienced standup paddle boarding...

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SIP THE GARDEN: FUN, EASY DRINKS FOR A HEALTHIER FAMILY T. Kari Mitchell, Burr Ridge  “We have received a wake-up call! While the obesity rate in the U.S. has reached epidemic proportions for the general population, it is the status of children’s health that inspired me to write Sip the Garden,” says author T. Kari Mitchell.  But jumpstarting a new health routine can be daunting for adults, much less children. That is why Mitchell’s goal is to offer families one way to make a nutritious change for the better – knowing that one change at a time will increase everyone’s chances of long-term success.  This unique collection of beverage recipes, most being allergy-friendly, will help families incorporate plant-based beverages into their diet while reducing the intake of sugary beverages.  Diagnosed with food allergies, T. Kari Mitchell successfully reversed several of her health challenges after making dietary modifications and lifestyle changes. Mitchell offers classes and programs - for more information please visit www.lifestyle120.com. Sip the Garden is available at Oasis Women’s Fitness & Spa in LaGrange Park and www.amazon.com.   THE GREATEST LEGEND OF THE BLACK RIVER FOREST Nicole Kaiser, Glen Ellyn  When a wise old owl tells the animals of the Black River Forest about a mysterious albino stag that once roamed the land, a curious young owl named Chick and a sly fox called Red embark on a quest to see if it’s true.   Legend has it that a beautiful white stag ruled the forest and wherever he roamed, magic happened. But then one day, the magic stag lay down and disappeared into thin air, leaving only his antlers behind. Chick and Red are convinced that if they find the golden antlers they will be turned into humans, but along the way they learn some more important lessons like the true meaning of friendship and sacrifice.      Nicole Kaiser is entering 9th grade at Glenbard West and is an avid cross country and track runner. Nicole spent much of her summer in Wisconsin at her family’s cottage and enjoys volunteering at DuPage Willowbrook Forest Preserve. Available at The Bookstore in Glen Ellyn and www.pigspublishing.com.   DICK DOES LIBERIA Avery M. Dick III, Sugar Grove  When there’s a mission that’s too dangerous or not career enhancing enough for the more egotistical agents, the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service calls on retired special agent Avery Dick.   Liberia is spiraling downward. With poverty running rampant, crime rates skyrocketing and a long and bloody civil war that has been raging on for years, the nation’s resources and spirits are all but drained.    In this fourth installment of the Avery Dick adventure series, Avery is sent out to stop an international fugitive who is looking to overthrow the newly-elected democratic government of Liberia. This manhunt will take Avery to some very dark places across the Dark Continent in hopes of saving the regime of the country’s first female presidency.   George Larson has written five novels under the Avery Dick pseudonym and is a retired senior special agent with the Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State. Larson based this book on time spent in Liberia training and mentoring the Special Security Service. Available at www.amazon.com.   THE THINGS WE SAVE Joanne Zienty, Wheaton  “Everyone has a box.  Oh don’t bother to deny it.  You have one, you know it.”   So starts the book The Things We Save, and is where readers learn that main character Claire returns to her childhood home in Chicago and ends up finding the old Marshall Field’s box she used to save things in as a child.   Readers will be fascinated as Claire takes them on the journey of her life through the relics in this box - trying to save her tortured father from himself, dealing with a troubled mother and literally watching her family fall apart piece by piece. All of which leaves Claire wounded and broken, and finds her in the current day, a middle-aged woman unable to fully commit to love and family.  Joanne Zienty attended University of Chicago and Roosevelt University and was recently named the 2014 winner of the Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author Project. Zienty grew up on the south side of Chicago and now lives in Wheaton with her husband and two daughters. Available at www.amazon.com.  WHAT DO ANGELS DO ALL DAY Rosemary Kuhn, Naperville  “Do you ever wonder what angels do all day?  Do you think they sing or do they kneel and pray?”  That is just one passage from Naperville author Rosemary Kuhn’s clever and creative children’s book that begs the question: what do angels do all day?  Kuhn’s whimsical story about the imaginative roles of multicultural angels and how they spend their days is interwoven with illustrations, hand-drawn by Kuhn herself. All of which culminates in the reader experiencing the joyful life of angels, in a heavenly setting.   What Do Angels Do All Day is one book in an inspirational children’s book series that Kuhn has written. Other titles include The Angel’s Garden and On Angel’s Wings They Greet the King.  Rosemary Kuhn is a nurse whose work with special needs children has inspired her. In addition to being an author and illustrator, Kuhn is also a songwriter and hopes to inspire young people to pursue their own interest in art and writing. Aavailable at  www.guardianangelpublishing.com; www.amazon.com; www.barnesandnoble.com   THE PULLER Michael Hodges, Naperville  Matt Kearns is in mourning. He has photographs on his dashboard - his father, his girlfriend and his dog…who have all died. In turn, he has decided to retreat to his family’s old fishing cabin in the remote forests of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to collect his thoughts.  But to Matt’s surprise, what was once a place of comfort has now become a place where evil resides and Matt has to make a choice: hide or fight. Held hostage by an invisible, yet powerful force, Matt must trust his instincts and make decisions that will affect whether he lives or dies.   This debut novel by Michael Hodges has been optioned by Hollywood and has been called by reviewers “fantastically frightful” and “the story of a true hero’s journey.”   Michael Hodges has had over 20 stories published in magazines and anthologies and is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). He is looking forward to seeing his debut novel, The Puller, get made into a major motion picture. Available at www.amazon.com; www.barnesandnoble.com  KNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR?  Introduce Us at editorial@glancermagazine.com       #LiteraryLocals

LITERARY LOCALS | Meet These 6 Local Area Authors

SIP THE GARDEN: FUN, EASY DRINKS FOR A HEALTHIER FAMILY T. Kari Mitchell, Burr Ridge “We have received a wake-up call! While the obesity...

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SIDESTEPPING THE MINEFIELD OF MIDWEEK On any given Thursday afternoon you can usually find me unraveling. Like a kid in line at Disney World who’s waited two hours to ride Space Mountain, I’m in the final countdown of my midweek meltdown…and trying to keep myself from jumping the line. Why? Because I can usually be found doing a whole host of very un-princess-like things. From getting the dog groomed to stocking up on toilet paper to picking up dry cleaning –  Cinderella, Cinderella.       A couple of weeks ago, I just happened to be in St. Charles and in full-fledge midweek misery. Although it wasn't raining, I was looking for a place to take cover; a place that felt exactly the opposite of how I was feeling – so no sharp corners, no rough edges and no darkness overhead.  In short, I needed a place to come in from the storm and do what I do best: daydream!     And voila, mid-musing I remembered a charismatic old friend, one that could fulfill my every wish like a genie in a lamp. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to my Prince Charming: Town House Books and Cafe. This little nook of a space that is located in the Century Corners historic district of St. Charles makes you feel as though Charles Dickens could be penning his next novel in the back room – it’s THAT old-worldly and quaint.         This particular day my ever-present wanderlust led me directly to the travel section where I read about summers in France and hitchhiking with Larry    David. I then meandered over to Adult Fiction where I saw Judy Blume’s new book – I couldn’t help myself, I squealed a little “Yay!” as I ran my fingertips over the dust jacket. Talk about travel – I took a little trip down memory lane as I remembered all of her books I read as a tween-ager. At one point, I even found myself in the Fishing section – just like travel, I like to go on reading adventures, as well. Finally, with an armload of books, I made a pit stop in their wonderful little gift nook. Notebooks, greeting cards and gift books…oh my! One look-see at the little book proclaiming coffee gives me superpowers and I was no sooner in the attached café, ordering up a cup!      The whole time I was at Town House, I felt like I was getting lost, and yet somehow coming home...and was successfully sidestepping the minefield of midweek. Looks like I found my own little “happiest place on earth” right here in the western suburbs.     OVERVIEW Town House Books is an independent bookstore for all ages, offering a friendly and inviting literary experience. Town House Café, which is attached to the bookstore, has many daily morning and lunch offerings of deliciousness. Located at 105 N. Second Ave., St. Charles, (630) 584-8600, www.townhousebooks.com.    about the writer  Tiffany Schultz resides in Sugar Grove with her husband, two kids and Shih Tzu.  While seeking balance between her dueling roles as wife, mother, daughter, friend and professional, Tiffany spends as much time as possible daydreaming on her screen porch. She enjoys cooking, traveling and yoga and hopes to one day learn Italian and make the perfect crème brulee.

TALES FROM THE HIGH WIRE | August 2015

SIDESTEPPING THE MINEFIELD OF MIDWEEK On any given Thursday afternoon you can usually find me unraveling. Like a kid in line at Disney...

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