Local Services

Seeking Sustainability

The Woman Who Helped Launch Lake Zurich’s Innovative New Green Business Program. Article and Photography by Michael Beightol The Village of Lake Zurich has launched a comprehensive Green Business Program that encourages companies to take more sustainable actions. And according to Mayor Tom Poyton and Village Manager Ray Keller the woman behind the scenes who was instrumental in the launch of the program is Erin Rauscher, assistant to the village manager. Keller adds, “Erin really was key to...

April 2024

Style + Beauty

Wedding Dress Giveaway

Lake Zurich Shop Supports Military and First-Responder Brides. Article by Michael Beightol | Photography by Provided Thanks to the generosity of a long-time local business – Volle’s Bridal & Boutique – military members and first responders are supported on their wedding day by Brides Across America, a non-profit organization committed to loving one another by gifting weddings and wedding gowns to military & first responders. “We love thanking our military or first responders with a free...

April 2024

Arts + Culture

From Small Town to the Big Time

Enchanted by music at an early age, Gina Gonzalez Travels the World Now with the Lt. Dan Band. Article by Stephen Neilson | Photography by Leo Heinz and Stephen Neilson Born in a small Wisconsin town as the youngest of nine in a musical family, singer/songwriter Gina Gonzalez became transfixed by music at an early age. At the age of four, she was often placed on top of the piano at family gatherings to sing while her mother or aunts would accompany, and her vocal talent over time became widely...

April 2024

Education

Investing in Experiences: Totality Awesome Eclipse Coming Up

Preparing for the Total Solar Eclipse with Help from the Lake County Astronomical Society. Article by Christina Sikorski | Photography by Stephen Neilson, Christina Sikorski, Dave Wagner Mark your calendars: Monday, April 8 is the next total solar eclipse. (Note: it's the last one viewable in the US until 2044.) As defined by the National and Aeronautic Space Agency (NASA), a total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, thus completely blocking the sun and...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

Can You Benefit from a 529 Plan?

The Costs to Send a Child to College Continue to Escalate. It’s Never Too Early to Start a Savings Plan. Article by Mark Hornok | Photography by Carrianne Hornok Another school year is ending soon. If you have young children, they’re now a year closer to heading off to college or some other type of post-secondary education. If you haven’t already done so, you may want to start preparing for these costs (which can be considerable). During the 2022-23 school year, the average estimated annual...

March 2024

Life + Culture

65 Years of Care

Since 1958 Caring Women’s Connection Has Invested in Lake County By Helping Others. Article by Chris Geimer and Danielle Boreczky | Photography by Provided Life in the 1950s was a lot different when a collection of Hawthorn Woods’ women came together to form a social group. What started purely as a social endeavor over time morphed into something else as the members realized they had a shared passion for helping others. Through simple acts of kindness, strong bonds were formed among the...

March 2024

Life + Culture

Shawn Nelson's Investment of a Lifetime

"Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story." Article by Stephen Neilson | Photography by Provided Shawn Nelson is the founder and CEO of The Lovesac Company which he founded in 1998 originally in Salt Lake City, Utah. He holds a BA from the University of Utah in Mandarin Chinese and a Master’s in Strategic Design and Management from Parsons, The New School for Design, in New York City, where he later became an instructor in the graduate program. He is an...

March 2024

Home + Design

First Floor Remodels

A Fresh New Look for Your Home Starts with the First Floor. Article by Mollee Johnson | Photography by Shannon Loud and Mike Kaskel Watch any of the countless home renovation shows and you’ll likely hear somebody say, “I wish it had more of an open concept.” And in non-televised real life, this trend has homeowners wondering about tearing down walls to create larger multi-functional spaces. Whenever a homeowner starts to think of renovating an outdated kitchen it quickly becomes a question of...

February 2024

Health + Wellness

Spring Into Health and Fitness

Embrace the Outdoors, Savor Seasonal Foods, Set Realistic Goals, Socialize and Stay Active, and Prioritize Mind-Body Connections. Article by Sean Lee | Photography by Stephen Neilson As winter’s chill begins to fade, and nature awakens with new colors, there's no better time to revitalize your health and fitness routine than spring, the season of renewal and growth. Now’s a perfect time to shed the winter blues and embrace a healthier and active lifestyle. Embrace Outdoor Activities One of...

February 2024

Home + Design

Green Awakening

Rain Barrels, Solar Panels, Composting, Veggie Gardening, Upcycling & More. Article by Michael Beightol and Stephen Neilson | Photography by Stephen Neilson Two thoughts might spring to mind when thinking about the term “green awakening.” Given the dramatic swings experienced with the weather, adopting a green way of living seems more sensible, and maybe you're already doing a few things that put you solidly on the path for a lower carbon lifestyle. Rain Barrels Lower Water Consumption ...

February 2024