Issuu

of The

Lakes vol. 6 no. 11

JEEPS ON THE RUN MADRIGAL DINNERS MCHENRY RIVERWALK

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

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It’s a Jeep thing

the Run event, toys are donated and collected Jeeps on the Run at the Ray dealership where they are then into the many Jeeps as they arrive for gearing up for annual loaded the event. Many of the Jeeps are decorated for the event, creating a fun, colorful parade Toys for Tots event while spreading Christmas cheer.

Ray Scarpelli (left) of Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram, and Mike Missak, founder of Jeeps on the Run Toys for Tots, have teamed up for the event. It features hundreds of Jeeps that parade from Fox Lake to Lincolnshire, where a collection of toys for area children in need are donated and a new Jeep is raffled off. Toys can be dropped off at the Ray dealership, 23 U.S. Highway 12, Fox Lake. SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of the Lakes

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SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

The Jeeps will travel with a police escort to Marriott in Lincolnshire where the toys are CORRESPONDENT unloaded with the help of Marines. On Sunday, Dec. 3, hundreds of Jeeps The event kicks off at the dealership at will begin a trek from Ray Chrysler, Dodge, 8 a.m. when participating Jeeps begin to Jeep Ram in Fox Lake to the Marriott in arrive on site. The Jeeps must be registered in Lincolnshire. The dealership has been a advance and pay a registration fee of $30 for sponsor of the Jeeps on the Run program for each vehicle to participate. The registration the past four years and once again will be fee covers the Jeep so there is no additional working with the group to provide toys for charge for passengers. children in the area, just in time for Christmas. “There is no extra charge for the The program was created 11 years ago by passengers,” said Missak, who created the Mike Missak to provide toys for children in Jeeps on the Run Toys for Tots program. need during the holidays. Prior to the Jeeps on “Each Jeep must donate at least one toy and by Sandra Landen Machaj

SALES

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

are welcome to donate more. Other toys that have been collected at the dealership for months before the event will be added to the Jeeps for transport to the Marriott.” The toys, which are collected from Jeep owners and the community, must all be new, in their original packaging and unwrapped so that it’s possible when disbursing them to choose toys appropriate for the various ages of children who will receive them. Members of the community and beyond are encouraged to donate toys at the Ray dealership in Fox Lake prior to the Jeeps on the Run event. Organizers request stuffed animals are not donated as they are not usually encased in plastic and can get dirty during the parade. The other request is that toy guns that look like real guns not be donated. “Nerf style guns are okay,” Missak explained. “The toys are all distributed to needy children in the local area – Lake and McHenry counties.” The toys donated by the Jeep owners – as well as the greater community – are what have helped make this event successful, year after year.

Preparing for the parade When the Jeeps begin to assemble that morning, parking fills in quickly on the lot at the Ray dealership. Some drivers may need to repair their decorations if they came loose on the drive to Fox Lake as participating Jeeps and their owners come from a wide range of communities to participate. It’s a special event where the Jeep

owners get together, admire each other’s decorations, share their love of Jeeps, and get to be part of a good cause all at once. There will be a grab-and-go style breakfast as well as some events for the kids as the group of Jeeps prepares for the start of the ride to the Marriott. The parade-style ride is possible thanks to help from local police and Lake County Reserve Officers who make certain that busy intersections are open for Jeeps on the Run to make their way through. In the early days, according to Missak, his wife would call the next community they were approaching to let law enforcement officials know an approximate time the group would be there. Today, with the Lake County Reserve Officers coordinating the event, it runs smoothly and is more efficient. The parade of Jeeps attracts many watchers who often line the parade route to admire the sheer number of vehicles, many of them decorated, as they wind their way through Lake County to the destination in Lincolnshire. There, the toys are transferred from the Jeeps by Marine volunteers and loaded into semi-trucks. After the Jeeps on the Run parade – which features more than 500 Jeeps – there will be an after party at the Marriott. Tickets for the after party are $5 each and are available to the public. The gathering is a family-oriented event that features food, activities for children and raffles for the adults. It’s open to all – people do not have to be a Jeep owner or participate in the parade to attend the after party.

New Jeep raffle The highlight of the event is the raffle for a brand new Jeep donated by Ray Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Ram with one lucky winner going home as the owner. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased for $20 each and a maximum of 3,000 tickets will be sold. All the money raised from the sale of the tickets is used to buy additional toys. “The first years that Ray sponsored us they provided a three-year lease of a new jeep as a raffle prize which was a wonderful prize to win,” said Missak. “When they switched to donating a Jeep that the winner would actually own, I was so pleased. Last year’s winner was so happy to win the Jeep that she said she would be at the Jeeps on the Run Toys for Tots with her new Jeep this year and every year that she owns the car. “The gift of the Jeep for the raffle was a total gift from Ray CDJR,” added Missak. “All money raised by selling the tickets goes into purchasing additional toys.” According to Missak, shopping for the additional toys is a treasured activity for his family. His son, Charlie, who was an infant when the Jeeps on the Run program began, is now 11 years old. Charlie explains in a video about the event that shopping for toys for children his own age is fun. There is likely no better choice than a child to pick out the best toys for other children. “Jeep owners are a special group,” Missak said. “I fell in love with Jeeps when I was 17 years old, and that love continues.”

Many of the hundreds of Jeeps that participate in a parade from Fox Lake to Lincolnshire feature festive holiday decorations. COURTESY BRANDON WILK/JEEPS ON THE RUN Spirit of the Lakes

So, more than 11 years ago, Missak decided it would be nice to get together with a few Jeep owners and go to lunch or dinner and learn more about each other and their love of Jeeps. He said he hoped to get several Jeep enthusiasts to come together but was surprised when he had responses from 35 people for the first event. They decided they should do something worthwhile such as donating to a charity. The group came up with the idea of bringing a toy to donate to Toys for Tots. Much to their surprise, they were able to fill a Suburban with the toys that the generous attendees showed up with that year. That was the beginning of Jeeps on the Run, which now attracts up to 1,000 Jeeps and brings in thousands of toys, filling more than two semi-trailers and making Christmas special for local children in need.

The first event was so successful they decided to continue it. At the time, they didn’t have a Jeep sponsor but continued to look for one. In the third year, they found a Jeep dealership to sponsor the event who also donated a Jeep light kit to raffle off.

Dealership steps up In 2020, the Ray Auto Group came on board as sponsor of the event and donated the three-year lease of a Jeep. The dealership is well known for its many contributions to charitable events in the community as well as its ongoing support of local community activities. During the pandemic, there was talk of cancelling the event for that year. However, knowing the need for the toys was perhaps even more important – considering many families lost jobs with some even becoming

top: Marines unload toys from the Jeeps and

place them into semis before transporting them to a warehouse for distribution. left: The parking lot at Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram fills up at the start of a past Jeeps on the Run event, to be held this year on Dec 3. COURTESY BRANDON WILK/JEEPS ON THE RUN Spirit of the Lakes

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

ill – they decided to hold it with safety restrictions in place. The Jeeps came to the dealership in Fox Lake but everyone stayed in their vehicles. Despite the restrictions in place, 650 Jeeps participated and a semitruck full of toys was collected. Jeeps on the Run is gearing up to celebrate peoples’ love of Jeeps, parade once again from Fox Lake to Lincolnshire, welcome families to the after party, raffle off a new Jeep and most importantly, make an impact on children throughout the area this Christmas. If you have a Jeep, consider signing up to be part of Jeeps on the Run. Those who don’t have a Jeep or are interested in supporting the event in other ways are encouraged to donate toys, stop by the Ray dealership, cheer and wave along the parade route and attend the after party. And don’t forget to purchase a ticket for the Jeep giveaway – it may be your lucky day! For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.jeepsontherun.com or follow them on Facebook. To donate toys, drop them off at Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 23 U.S. Route 12, Fox Lake. The dealership is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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madrigal experience Dinners offer guests an opportunity to step back in time by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

at left: Before the meal is served, the boar’s head is brought into the dining room, not to be eaten but as a symbol of prosperity and peace. top: The jesters play a fun but important role in madrigal dinner events. Their costumes are intricate and are handmade by volunteers. PHOTOS COURTESY YE OLDE CHRISTMASSE FEASTE Spirit of the Lakes

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

Medieval days and the time of the Renaissance were the beginning of the Madrigal dinners still held today. The early dinners were said to have been held in the great halls of England from the times of the early medieval period as preparation leading up to the Christmas holidays. The events included singing and dancing, the court jesters providing laughs and an exquisite feast of many courses was served. The head of the boar was marched in by the servers as a sign of having overcome evil as the boar was considered to be from the devil. These feasts were very fancy and the Lords and Ladies attending or as sponsors, enjoyed the singing and other acts along with the great feast. All the guests left sated with good food and drink and enjoyable time. The Madrigal dinners made their way to the United States and most are now held by schools or community groups as most homes do not have the grand ballrooms found in the medieval castle. To accommodate a true Madrigal event – with its large acapella choral singing group, jesters and servers for the gigantic feast – a very large space is required. If you haven’t been to a Madrigal Feast,

it might be worth a start to this year’s holiday celebration by one with several feasts in the area. Here are some of the area’s Madrigal dinners.

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

Ye Olde Englishe Christmasse Feaste

The Ye Olde Englishe Christmasse Feaste has been a tradition held by the Kenosha high schools for the past 49 years. The program was started by Kurt Chalgren, then director of the Tremper High School choir. It has continued to grow each year, first held at the Elks Club in Kenosha, then moved to St. Marks, and finally to Tremper High School. Today, all three Kenosha high schools – Tremper, Bradford and Indian Trail – are involved in the production with each school providing members of the cast. The Madrigal Feaste is a step back into Merry Old England when the Lords and Ladies of the Manors opened their homes for festivities prior to the Christmas holiday season. It was a time of music, dancing, singing, and especially, feasting. It’s a carefully planned event that requires many months of auditions and practice to provide a quality program to be enjoyed by all. “Auditions are held in spring of the year,” said Polly Amborn, choir director at Tremper High School and co-choir director

for the Madrigal Feaste with John Choi, choir director at Indian Trail High School and Emily Armurecht, choir director at Bradford High School. “We start rehearsing on Sept. 7. It is daunting for those who are doing this event for the first time. There are 20 to 25 pieces of music to learn, some in different languages including Latin, French and German,” Amborn said. The music changes each year with each school choosing some of the selections. While the choir directors are preparing the Madrigal singers, other members of the program are working with the jesters, tumblers, bag pipers, drums, bass, recorders and strings players to produce their portions of the show. The seamstresses – mostly volunteers led by Heather Miles – begin the hard work of preparing the costumes for the event. Although the costumes are dry cleaned after the performance, they must be pressed, checked for damage, and if needed, repaired. With changes in the program new costumes may need to be created and others may need to be altered for the current cast. Miles, who is now a teacher at Gateway Technical College, has been involved in the program since she was a high school student. “Our volunteers spend hours getting the costumes ready and other volunteers spend additional time getting the cafeteria

transformed into a medieval castle,” she said. “Many of our volunteers have been involved in the program for many years. We have one family that has had four generations of family members involved in the program and continue to be involved.” Along with the theatrical performance, guests enjoy the Feaste itself. The meal served is prepared by Sophisticatering, a quality catering company located in Kenosha. “We have been preparing the Feaste dinner for about 19 years,” said Annette Flynn, who owns Sophisticatering with her husband, Matt. Sophisticatering is well known in the area for their quality food, with everything made from scratch including all the bread served being baked fresh the day of the event. “The feast is served family style with the exception of the salad and soup,” Annette said. “Our menu has remained pretty much the same over the years but there have been some minor changes. We used to serve a crab spread but stopped because too many complained about allergies. We also served homemade liver pate – another favorite from the early days – but it was not enjoyed by many as they did not know what it was.” Annette said the menu this year is expected to be the same or similar to last year’s menu unless there is a problem with price increases or supply chain issues.

Guests to the Ye Olde Christmasse Feaste are treated to music performed by the lords and ladies in different languages during the multi-course dinner. PHOTO COURTESY YE OLDE CHRISTMASSE FEASTE Spirit of the Lakes

A pre-set salad with three choices of dressing will be in place upon arrival. Appetizers will be passed and in past years have included house smoked trout and big bread bowls with spinach dip. The salad and appetizers are served one hour before the show. A tradition at the Madrigal Feaste is the serving of hot Wassail, a drink made with apple cider and secret spices to celebrate the holiday season. Then comes the homemade beef barley soup, brought on a tray with a large bowl of dry ice which lets off steam and is said to be an impressive sight. It’s served with the homemade bread. “There is a tradition at Madrigal Feastes that the Boar’s head is brought in and carried through the room,” Annette said. “This is done here but it’s a prop, not a real boar’s head. It’s followed by roasted pork loin with dressing served on platters and passed family style. Next comes the vegetables, green beans and carrots.” While one would think that would be the end, remember this is not just a meal; it is a feast. The next course is roasted chicken on the bone madrigal style, and of course, potatoes. “We use either small red potatoes or Yukon gold served in a dill cream sauce,” Annette said. The perfect dessert for an English style meal is none other than figgy pudding, which is a bread pudding prepared with figs and custard. The Ye Olde Christmasse Feaste will be held Dec. 8-10 with Friday and Saturday events being at 6:45 p.m. and an afternoon performance at 2:45 p.m., Sunday. Tremper High School is at 8560 26th Ave., Kenosha, Wis. Tickets are $40 per person and available at www.feaste.org. Sophisticatering is at 8048 Sheridan Rd., Kenosha, Wis. For more information, visit www.sophisticatering.com or call 262-6573663.

Each of the costumes for Ye Olde Christmasse Feaste are handmade by volunteers using high quality fabrics, which helps them last for several years. PHOTO COURTESY YE OLDE CHRISTMASSE FEASTE Spirit of the Lakes

McHenry High School Madrigal Dinner

during the holidays. “This is a long-standing tradition at McHenry High School. We enjoy sharing it with the community. It is the first and best way to kick off the holiday season,” he said. The program will be held on Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the school for the two-hour program, including the full dinner for $30. Tickets for the show only, along with a cup of Wassail, are $22. The program is held on McHenry High School’s East Campus, 1012 N. Green St., McHenry.

Johnsburg High School Madrigal Dinner

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

and transformative,” Galvicius said. “The students work very hard, spending nine weeks diving into the spirit of the Madrigals, learning the scripts and the music.” While the show has a script, it’s not always followed to the letter which adds to the enjoyment and spontaneity of the show. “This has been a successful fundraiser “This will be the 19th year that McHenry which benefits the musical program either by putting funds back into the Madrigal High School has held a Madrigal show show or being used as scholarships for and dinner,” said Derek Galvicius, choir members of the music program who director at McHenry High School in cannot afford the tours that we sometimes McHenry. undertake,” Galvicius added. The program is a fun and whimsical While the musical performance is the introduction to the times of the highlight of the event, the Madrigal dinner Renaissance, that romantic and musical is also a favorite of the attendees. time when Lords and Ladies gathered “The dinner is prepared by the cafeteria together and enjoyed music and food to staff. It consists of a full dinner starting celebrate the holiday season. with appetizers, salad, a main course, and “It is a competitive event where the dessert. In the past they have prepared main choir members compete for the various spots in the program. The top 24 performers courses of such items as a bread bowl filled with beef stew or Chicken Kiev. The menu become the Royal Court while 30 to 50 for this year has not been released at this students become part of the Banquet time,” Galvicius said. Brigade. The students delve into this There’s also a serving of Wassail, the magical and mystical time with the spirit warm holiday drink typically is served of true immersion. This era is so different

“This year marks the 20th anniversary for the Johnsburg High School Madrigal Dinners,” said Samantha Thielen Pak, choral director at Johnsburg High School in Johnsburg. To participate in the Madrigal program, students must complete an audition with only the best of the best coming part of the event. “The program is a combination of a theatrical comedy performance and 9

a musical presentation intertwined throughout the performance,” Thielen Pak said. “This year one of the students wrote the script specifically for those involved. We have an entire royal court.” The traditional costumes are passed down from generation to generation she said with new ones being added as needed. The dinner is produced by the in-house cafeteria staff and the meal is a plated, sit-down dinner. “Each year the meal changes as it has a different theme. This year’s meal will consist of roasted turkey, fresh stuffing, roasted green beans, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy and be finished off with hot apple crisp.” Johnsburg’s Madrigal dinners will be held on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at https://ites.google.com/ Johnsburg12.org/madrigals. Ticket prices for this year’s event are $20 for adults; $17 for seniors, children and Johnsburg High School students. The program will be held in the Johnsburg High School auditorium, 2002 Ringwood Rd., Johnsburg.

The Lord and Lady enter the dining hall to begin the festive meal. PHOTO COURTESY YE OLDE CHRISTMASSE FEASTE

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

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Riverwalk Shoppes worth a stop Business incubator program a community project

by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

Community project It was decided to build 10 shoppes in all, five of each size. The creation of the Riverwalk Shoppes would truly become a

community project. High school shop students began to build the walls and ceiling joists, which were later taken to the construction site and incorporated into the buildings. More of the community became involved with volunteers working to build the shops and local businesses and individuals donating materials and money. Professional contractors and architects also donated their time to the project. By spring of 2023 the buildings were complete, with heat and air conditioning in each unit. In all, more than 36 professional contractors and 900 volunteers took part in the creation of this project. All that was left to do was to choose the 10 prospective businesses that would make these huts their first brick and mortar business homes.

Support for success According to Humbracht, the purpose of the project was to give new businesses a chance to see if they were a good fit for McHenry and if they were ready to manage a business. The businesses had to apply to the committee to be considered for the project. Most had never had a brick-and-mortar store but were involved in creating new

The McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes are at Miller Point where Boone Creek enters the Fox River. The 10 units offer small business owners an opportunity to establish their shops in the community. SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of the Lakes

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

Tucked along the south end of Riverside Drive in McHenry sits a small group of white huts that offer a special shopping experience. As one meanders along, the 10 structures are revealed to be small businesses offering a variety of products that are unique, most created by hand. Although all the huts are small, once inside it becomes clear they offer a distinctly different shopping experience from special decorations to the products. Most of the businesses carry handmade items not normally found in traditional stores. There is quite the variety of products in The Riverwalk Shoppes – a new addition to the McHenry business community. “The idea for the Riverwalk shopping district originally came from Carl Vallinatos,” said Molly Ostap, president of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce. “Vallinatos, assistant superintendent of the McHenry High School District – and a chamber board member – saw a similar program while visiting in Batavia.” The idea of a retail incubator program in McHenry seemed as if it would be a good fit for the community. Vallinatos presented

the idea of a collaborative project with the City of McHenry, the chamber and the high school. While projects of this nature don’t always move quickly, this one did. Within a month, by May 2021, a joint committee was formed to develop the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes. A site was subsequently chosen, located at the end of Riverside Drive, along the Miller Point Park area. It’s a picturesque location, along Boone Creek just before it empties into the Fox River. By spring 2022, a logo had been created by two McHenry High School students and a design for the buildings that would be used as small retail outlets was completed. “There were two different sizes of buildings that would be available to the businesses who wished to be part of the program. A 12x12 foot building and a slightly larger one of 12x16 feet,” Amy Humbracht, manager of the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes, said. “The larger huts would be charged $4,750 rent for the entire 2023 program while the smaller ones would rent for $4,000.”

and unique products which they had been successfully selling at venues such as craft fairs and online. Others had stores in another community and were looking to see if expanding to this area was a smart business move. Providing a home for the business was not the only benefit for being in the program according to Humbracht. They were also provided a wealth of information necessary to be successful in business. “There are retail workshops that mentor the owners, teaching them skills such as tax laws, marketing strategies and merchandising,” Humbracht said. “All skills that are needed for success in business.” She said the shop owners also meet regularly to discuss challenges as well as the positives of their business experiences. There were many applications submitted by vendors, beginning in August 2022, hoping to receive a space in the “first class” of the business incubator program. By December, the 10 vendors had been chosen for the opening year. The programs began in May 2023 with support classes and the businesses opened their doors in July, slightly later than expected. The businesses will remain open through December and support classes will continue throughout the program. Kristina Dillard, owner of Sub Urban Design, says older items maintain their value but sometimes need “a little help to become beautiful again.”

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above: The Bumble Bread Company is known for specialty breads, cinnamon rolls and cookies, offering visitors a snack while shopping or to take home. top left: This unique portable bar at Sub Urban Design was created from a travel trunk used by singer Sting.

top right: Each business in the incubator has its own small hut with two sizes available: 12x12 feet or 12x16 feet. The stores are leased from summer through December. SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of the Lakes

it’s difficult to leave his shop without making a purchase. Springer said he hopes to open a permanent store front in McHenry. Sub Urban Design is the work of Kristina and Nick Dillard. “Aged items maintain their value and only need a little help to become beautiful again,” Kristina explained. She said she finds old pieces of furniture

and refinishes them in new and interesting ways. She has a travel trunk that was used by the singer Sting when he was touring that’s been transformed into a unique portable bar. Beautifully refinished China cabinets and handmade wine racks are on display, the latter of which would make a suitable gift for Christmas among many other occasions. The Trend Cellar is a skate shop owned

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

interesting place to shop for a unique gift, special accent for a home, a new book to read or gift, or fresh homemade bread, should consider stopping at McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes. Christmas is just around the corner and the shoppes are an ideal place to find gifts not usually found at online stores or even traditional stores in the area. The 10 businesses chosen by the committee from the many applications are: Sub Urban Design, The Bumble Bread Company, Vintage Mercantile Artisan Market, Hair Flextensions, Mad Soyentist, Bright Nest, Lumber & Twine, Little Bean Books, The Trend Cellar, and Rustic and Reclaimed Market. Angela Burns, owner of Little Bean Books, took the plunge to be part of the business incubator program here in McHenry. “I own a bookstore and a coffee shop in Antioch and was looking to expand to an additional location,” she said. In her shop there are displays of popular children’s and adult books waiting to make their way into home libraries. She changes the display of books frequently so regular shoppers can check out her latest selections. Most people love freshly baked bread, cinnamon rolls and cookies so it isn’t surprising that tucked in one of the Riverwalk huts is The Bumble Bread Company. It’s owned by Danny Springer of McHenry who creates his products in a professional kitchen in McHenry. Known for his specialty breads, cinnamon rolls and cinnamon roll cookies,

SPIRIT of THE LAKES • November/December 2023

COURTESY MCHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Spirit of the Lakes

by Carol Chrisman and run by her 17-yearold grandson, Trevor Chrisman. “I began skateboarding at 11 years of age. Many people began to skateboard during COVID and have continued to enjoy the sport,” said Trevor, who added he enjoys boarding himself and helping others find the right equipment. According to Trevor, sales have been good and they are enjoying seeing shoppers of a wide range of ages – from 10 years old to around mid-30s, taking up the sport and purchasing skateboards. Bright Nest provides handmade and seasonal products including a variety of hand painted glassware. Owner Shelby Fairweather is a graphic designer who creates painted glasses in addition to other hand created items, which can be bought for special occasions including the holidays or given as gifts. She also carries handmade items from other craftsmen in her shop. Those are just a few of the unique businesses involved, but all offer different gifts that likely won’t be found at other stores.

Still in early stages Whether or not this community incubator program is a success won’t be known for a couple of years until the retail classes are completed. According to the National Association of Business Incubators, 87% of incubated companies are still in business after five years and 84% of the businesses remain

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of the Lakes

above: Little Bean Books owner Angela Burns stands in her shop among the latest selection of books she has for sale. top: This year’s proprietors of the incubator businesses gathered in the summer in one of the unfinished huts, eagerly anticipating the opening of their stores.

in the same area where they started their operation. Applications for the 2024 season have been accepted and decisions on the shops chosen for next year are expected to be made by the end of the year. Classes will begin in January 2024 for the upcoming group of entrepreneurs. For more information, contact the McHenry Chamber of Commerce, 1257 N.

Green St., McHenry, call 815-385-4300 or visit the website at www.mchenrychamber. com. The McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes are at 1202 Riverside Dr., McHenry, just south of Highway 120. There is parking available. All shops are open Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. though some shops may be open additional hours.

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