Perfectly Frank Bradley House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Hearts oF Gold

County mentors provide opportunities for local kids

all dressed UP and ready to Go

Small towns boast big improvements

sPonsored by tHe KanKaKee reGional CHamber oF CommerCe and tHe manteno CHamber oF CommerCe

2012 | livability.Com/KanKaKee/il

KanKaKee CoUnty, illinois

®

The Hilton Garden Inn and RiverStone Conference Center is located directly off of Exit 308 on I-57 in Kankakee. At Hilton Garden Inn hotels you’ll find everything you need right where you need it. Focusing on what guests have said they need and want most while traveling, our property will offer quality accommodations, amenities, and services in a comfortable atmosphere designed for both the business and leisure traveler. Hilton Garden Inn hotels deliver the highest degree of service and cost savings without sacrificing the quality associated with the Hilton name. This is the difference between limited service hotels and the “focused-service” Hilton Garden Inn. Our focused-service is anything but limited service.

The Hilton Garden Inn – Kankakee features:

• 110 beautifully appointed spacious guest rooms, including eight suites

• Indoor pool and hot tub

• On-site fitness center

• Complimentary high-speed Internet in all guest rooms

• Full service restaurant on property – The Great American Grill open daily for breakfast and dinner

• Room service

• HHonors benefits and rewards

• 24-hour Pavilion Pantry Convenience Mart

• Pavilion lounge open nightly

Attached to our magnificent hotel is the Riverstone Conference Center. Boasting 9,000 square feet of divisible meeting/banquet space, we can accommodate up to 994 guests. Full catering selections are available for breaks, breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. All food served within the Riverstone Conference Center is prepared in our own fully equipped kitchen. The Riverstone Conference Center is completely state-of-the-art, and we can accommodate any special needs.

455 Riverstone Pkwy. • Kankakee, IL 60901 (815) 932-4444 • www.kankakee.gardeninn.com

Kankakee

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

on tHe Cover The Bradley House Photo by Jeff Adkins

dePartments

4 almanac

14 biz briefs

16 Chamber report

17 economic Profile

18 local Flavor

20 Health & Wellness

22 arts & Culture

24 sports & recreation

27 education

28 Community Profile

29 through the lens

2012 edition | volUme 9

KanKaKee CoUnty, illinois

®

contents

Features

6 PerFeCtly FranKBradley House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

10 all dressed UP and ready to GoSmall towns boast big improvements

12 Hearts oF GoldCounty mentors provide opportunities for local kids

18

12

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 1

Digital Edition

Share with a friendeasily share an interesting article, stunning photo or advertisement of your business on facebook, twitter or via email.

haVe a BLOG Or weBSite?embed the digital magazine in your site to add compelling, local information.

dO MOre than JUSt read aBOUt itexperience the community through video and find links to other sites for additional information.

livability.com/kankakee/il

®

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

If one thing can be said about the citizens of Kankakee County, it’s that they care deeply for children. Several Kankakee residents have turned their compassion for youth into

unusual opportunities to help kids learn and succeed.

Band Director Jerry LuzenieckiKankakee County mentor Jerry Luzeniecki has

enriched thousands of students’ lives by bringing music into their worlds. Luzeniecki has been a band director since 1979, directing bands in Downers Grove, Momence and the Bourbonnais Elementary School District, where he has been employed since 1994. He directs the seventh and eighth grade bands at the Upper Grade Center and the Jazz Band, and teaches fourth grade music at Shabbona Elementary School.

“Some of the most important lessons learned in the band room have nothing to do with music,” Luzeniecki says. “Bands help students develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, self-discipline, citizenship and teamwork skills. My students have to follow multiple-step, sequential instructions. Rhythm counting is related to fractions. Music also offers the opportunity to learn to handle frustration and develop perseverance.”

Luzeniecki jokingly refers to himself as a “proud band geek” who has developed lifelong friendships through music. He and his wife have lived in Bradley for 30 years.

“As a band director, I’ve met students who have grown up to be soldiers, doctors, educators, pilots, police officers, firefighters and musicians, as well as great moms and dads,” Luzeniecki says. “Their parents give of their time and offer kind words of encouragement. The band directors in the Kankakee area are an extended family. We call on each other when there’s a need. It just doesn’t get much better than that.”

Kankakee County SoldiersMembers of the Kankakee County Soldiers, a

professional basketball team, touch the lives of Kankakee County students every week by doing programs in local schools on everything from reading and developing life skills to anti-bullying. The Soldiers have been mentoring elementary and junior high students for six years, ever since team owner Barry Bradford made youth one of the team’s top priorities.

“I grew up in inner-city Chicago, and I was one of the few who made it out and got to play professional basketball and see the world,” Bradford says. “A lot of people were there for me and stuck their necks out for me. In 2001, when Michael Jordan came back to the NBA, I had some discussions with him that made me realize the impact a person can have on someone else’s life.”

Early in his basketball career, Bradford noticed that kids he mentored would come watch his games.

KANKAKEE COUNTY SOLDIERS www.kcsoldiers.com

TYJUAN HAGLER FOUNDATION tyjuanhaglerfoundation.org

For More Information

“They didn’t come because I was the best player – they came because I had gone to their schools and spent time with them,” he says. “Now I want my players to have a positive influence on young people, because they are the future of our society.”

The Soldiers have worked with more than 7,000 students, and Bradford says some experiences have brought them to tears.

“When we do an anti-bullying assembly, we break the ice by giving kids raffle tickets and calling them out randomly to try to shoot three hoops in a row to win a prize,” he says. “At one school, there was a kid named Harvey who had been bullied for years. We randomly drew his number, and he came down to the court and made the first shot. All the kids started chanting his name.”

Harvey then made the second shot – and the third.“I told him no student had ever made three in a row,

and the kids started going crazy. He became hero for the day,” Bradford says. “Teachers on the sidelines were crying, and we all teared up on the bus afterward. We talk to the kids about treating each other with respect, because you never know who will grow up to be what.”

Tyjuan Hagler Foundation Football CampKankakee native and NFL player Tyjuan Hagler,

formerly with the Indianapolis Colts, is also dedicated to helping kids succeed. In 2007, Hagler started the annual Tyjuan Hagler Foundation Football Camp to help give kids ages 6 to 18 the tools they need to become better athletes – and better people.

“All my favorite memories are of my childhood in Kankakee playing backyard football,” Hagler says. “I started the camp because when I was a kid, I wished there was someone to mentor me. Now I have the opportunity to give back to the community I loved growing up in.”

The one-day camp happens the first Saturday in June and is free of charge. It includes sessions on the fundamentals of football, character building and safety skills, and awards and autographs with Hagler and other NFL players.

“The community helps out so much. It feels good to help the kids, and the best part is seeing the smiles on their faces,” Hagler says. “These kids are gonna be our future. And everybody wants our future in good hands.”

LIVABILIT Y.COM/K ANK AKEE/IL 13

Business

of GoldKanKaKee CoUnty mentors Provide rare oPPortUnities For loCal CHildren

Hearts

A holiday concert at the Bourbonnais upper Grade Center

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 13 12 k Ank Akee Count y

KanKaKee CoUnty, illinois

®

editorial ProjeCt manaGer miTCH KLine

Content direCtor LiSA BATTLeS

ProoFreadinG manaGer RAven PeTTy

Content Coordinator JeSSiCA WALKeR

staFF Writer Kevin LiTWin

CoPy editor JiLL WyATT

ContribUtinG Writers LAuRA HiLL,

JeSSiCA mozo, BRAxTon SHooP

senior GraPHiC desiGners LAuRA GALLAGHeR,

JAnine mARyLAnd, KRiS SexTon, viKKi WiLLiAmS

GraPHiC desiGners RACHAeL GeRRinGeR, TAyLoR nunLey

senior PHotoGraPHers JeFF AdKinS, BRiAn mcCoRd

staFF PHotoGraPHers Todd BenneTT, AnTony BoSHieR

Color imaGinG teCHniCian ALiSon HunTeR

inteGrated media manaGer mATT mcWHoRTeR

ad ProdUCtion manaGer KATie middendoRF

ad traFFiC assistants KRySTin Lemmon, PATRiCiA moiSAn

CHairman GReG THuRmAn

President/PUblisHer BoB SCHWARTzmAn

exeCUtive viCe President RAy LAnGen

senior v.P./sales Todd PoTTeR

senior v.P./oPerations CASey HeSTeR

senior v.P./Client develoPment JeFF HeeFneR

senior v.P./bUsiness develoPment SCoTT TemPLeTon

senior v.P./aGribUsiness PUblisHinG Kim HoLmBeRG

v.P./bUsiness develoPment CHARLeS FiTzGiBBon

v.P./external CommUniCations TeRee CARuTHeRS

v.P./visUal Content mARK FoReSTeR

v.P./Content oPerations nATASHA LoRenS

v.P./travel PUblisHinG SuSAn CHAPPeLL

v.P./sales HeRB HARPeR, JAReK SWeKoSKy

Controller CHRiS dudLey

senior aCCoUntant LiSA oWenS

aCCoUnts Payable Coordinator mARiA mcFARLAnd

aCCoUnts reCeivable Coordinator diAnA GuzmAn

sales sUPPort Coordinator ALex mARKS

sales sUPPort ProjeCt manaGer SARA quinT

system administrator dAnieL CAnTReLL

database manaGer/it sUPPort CHAndRA BRAdSHAW

Web Creative direCtor ALLiSon dAviS

Web Content manaGer JoHn Hood

Web ProjeCt manaGer noy FonGnALy

Web desiGner ii RiCHARd STevenS

Web develoPment lead yAmeL HALL

Web develoPer i neLS noSeWoRTHy

Web aCCoUnt manaGer LAuRen euBAnK

PHotoGraPHy direCtor JeFFRey S. oTTo

Creative serviCes direCtor CHRiSTinA CARden

Creative teCHnoloGy analyst BeCCA ARy

aUdienCe develoPment direCtor deAnnA neLSon

distribUtion direCtor GARy SmiTH

exeCUtive seCretary KRiSTy dunCAn

HUman resoUrCes manaGer PeGGy BLAKe

reCePtionist LindA BiSHoP

Images Kankakee County is published annually by Journal Communications inc. and is distributed

through the Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce and the manteno Chamber of Commerce

and their member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions

or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications inc. at (615) 771-0080

or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

For more inFormation, ContaCt:Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce

137 e. 5000 north Rd. • Bourbonnais, iL 60914Phone: (815) 933-7721 • Fax: (815) 933-7675

kankakee.org

manteno Chamber of Commerce211 n. main St. • manteno, iL 60950-1245

Phone: (815) 468-6226 • Fax: (815) 534-5333 www.mantenochamber.com

visit Images KanKaKee County online at livability.Com/KanKaKee/il

©Copyright 2012 Journal Communications inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, Tn 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. no portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

member The Association of magazine media

member Custom Content Council

member Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce and the manteno Chamber of Commerce

2 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 3

What’s online livability.com/kankakee/il

Perfectly Frank Bradley House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Hearts oF Gold

County mentors provide opportunities for local kids

all dressed UP and ready to Go

Small towns boast big improvements

sPonsored by tHe KanKaKee reGional CHamber oF CommerCe and tHe manteno CHamber oF CommerCe

2012 | livability.Com/KanKaKee/il

KanKaKee CoUnty, illinois

®

See more great photos of Kankakee County in our online photo and video galleries

Flip through the pages of this magazine and easily share articles using Facebook, Twitter or email.

PhOtOS & VideOS

diGitaL MaGazine

factS Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more

LiVinG hereLearn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers

2 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 3

Welcome to Kankakee CountyAn introduCtion to tHe AreA’S peopLe, pLACeS And eventS

Almanac

Waterborne FunThe Kankakee River is a major waterway extending

through northeast illinois and northwest indiana that

once served as a commercial shipping route between

the mississippi River and the Great Lakes. Today, the

Kankakee River is primarily used for recreation and is

open to everyone for activities such as canoeing,

swimming and fishing. The 4,000-acre Kankakee River

State Park is located along the northwest portion of the

Kankakee River, and offers many recreational activities;

among them biking, camping, hunting, horseback riding

and snowmobiling. The park extends on both sides of

the river offering views of scenic bluffs and woodlands.

For those who want to see the Kankakee River without

the exertion of paddling a canoe, midwest duffy electric

Boats offers electric boat cruises from the dock of the

Bradley House. These zero-emission boats (shown above)

are the perfect way to traverse the Kankakee River

as they offer silent operation, enabling passengers

to enjoy the river’s natural beauty.

Room to Prayolivet nazarene university students

have found peace and inspiration in the university’s chapel for more than 100 years. promising to continue that tradition while replacing the aged original chapel, olivet opened a new chapel called the Betty and kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel in honor of the two benefactors who primarily made the chapel possible. the chapel is currently the biggest building in Bourbonnais, with more than 3,000 seats, a massive pipe organ (shown here) and a cross that extends 100 feet above ground level to symbolize the 100-plus years during which olivet has provided “education with a Christian purpose.” on a tangential note for sports fans, olivet is also the home of the Chicago Bears training camp.

4 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 5

Fun things to do n Have a water-filled day splashing and water sliding at Splash valley Aquatic park.

n explore kankakee County museum for its many featured exhibits.

n Become a race fan as the kankakee Speedway brings on dirt track racing for your entertainment.

n Get the family together to play with real farm animals, bike, roller blade and cross country ski at the perry Farm park.

Grant Park45

17

50

1

Manteno

Momence

BradleyBourbonnais

Herscher Limestone

Sammons Point

Kankakee

Essex

Aroma Park Hopkins ParkSt. Anne

57

KANKAKEE

PoPUlation (2010 estimate)Kankakee County: 113,449

Bourbonnais: 18,631, Bradley: 15,895,

Kankakee: 27,537, manteno: 9,204

loCationKankakee County is 60 miles

south of Chicago.

beGinninGsThe illinois Legislature established

Kankakee County in 1853, although

early settlers arrived in 1834.

For more inFormationKankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce 1137 e. 5000 north Rd. Bourbonnais, iL 60914 Phone: (815) 933-7721 Fax: (815) 933-7675 www.kankakee.org

Kankakee county at a glance

What’s online Check out photo galleries and videos of Kankakee County at livability.com/kankakee/il.

Kankakee

Built to Lastone of the oldest historic structures in Kankakee County

is the Stone Barn (shown here), which was added to the

national Register of Historic Places in 1979. Since pioneer

Lemuel milk built it in 1860, the Stone Barn has housed

horses for the Kankakee fire department; was used as a

car and sign paint garage; a bakery and restaurant; and,

since 1976, as headquarters for the Junior League of

Kankakee County. most recently, the Stone Barn became

the site of the French Heritage museum, which preserves

artifacts and information about Kankakee’s rich French

historical influence.

Celebrating Cornevery year, Herscher residents

celebrate an old and locally loved

tradition, the Corn Bowl. The Corn

Bowl is a popular homecoming event

in downtown Herscher that began in 1976.

The Herscher Lion’s Club assembles this

gathering, which in July 2012 will mark its 37th

year. As its name suggests, the Corn Bowl centers

around the midwest’s mainstay crop. The Corn Bowl

is a grand block party in which virtually everyone from the Herscher community

comes together to enjoy music, companionship, pork sandwiches, bratwurst,

hot dogs and, of course, the season’s first taste of fresh, roasted sweet corn.

4 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 5

FrankPerfectly

bradley HoUse oWned, oPerated by WriGHt in KanKaKee

6 k Ank Akee Count y

Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed two Kankakee homes that were both constructed

in 1900 – Hickox House and the B. Harley Bradley House. In 2012, both remain showplaces next door to each other on South Harrison Avenue in the Riverview Historic District.

Hickox House is privately owned and not open to the public, but Bradley House is owned by a not-for-profit group, Wright in Kankakee, and is open for tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The one-hour tour costs $15, and the home can also be rented for weddings, receptions, meetings and conferences of 100 or fewer people.

“It is a large 6,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom, four-bathroom, two-story house that gives visitors a lot to see during the one-hour tour,” says Elisabeth Dunbar, Bradley House executive director. “Both Wright houses are on the National Register of Historic Places, but Bradley House has arguably the more interesting history. It has seen its share of tragedy, misuse and intrigue over the years.”

boarded up twiceThat intrigue includes original

owner Harley Bradley’s suicide – although not on the property – and the home’s use as a restaurant for 30 years. It was damaged and fell into disarray, foreclosures saw it boarded up twice, and a man who eventually purchased and worked on restoring Bradley House in the mid-1980s was kidnapped from the premises and killed.

“In addition, the carriage house that connects to the home was

SToRy By Kevin litWin | PHoToGRAPHy By jeFF adKins

threatened with demolition in 2001, so former Kankakee County residents Gaines and Sharon Hall bought Bradley House to restore everything,” Dunbar says. “Gaines is an architect who restored the entire house with the use of Wright’s original blueprints from 1900. The Halls completed the renovation with the intent that the house would become

a public space, and Wright of Kankakee purchased it in 2010 for that purpose.”

beauty and PracticalityDunbar says the house has

many interesting Wright touches, including leaded glass windows with tulip patterns.

“The front of the house has distinctive peaks with 12-foot

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 7

elisabeth dunbar, Bradley House executive director, in the second-floor master suite at the Bradley House in kankakee

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 9 8 k Ank Akee Count y

overhanging eaves, which are beautiful as well as practical, because Wright designed them to provide shade in the hot Illinois summers,” she says. “The Bradley is also his first Prairie-style house, meaning it was built in sync with its natural surroundings.”

Wright began developing his Prairie style in the early 1890s when he was employed with a

Chicago-based architectural firm, and chose Kankakee for his first venture in that style.

“He used neutral earth-tone colors and long, horizontal lines that mimic the flat horizon of the Midwest prairie,” Dunbar says.

tens of thousandsAs the overall economy improves,

Dunbar expects the Bradley House

to draw tens of thousands of visitors each year.

“Today, the house is a home museum, meeting place, event location, art and education center, and a public place that this community can be proud of and enjoy,” she says. “There is something always occurring here. Check our website, www.wrightinkankakee.org, to stay up to date.”

Areas in the Bradley House available to tour include the dining room (left); the first floor (top left); a stairwell (top right); the gift shop (bottom right), which is located in the former stables; and the kitchen (bottom left).

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 9

ready to GoAll Dressed Up

small KanKaKee CoUnty toWns boast biG imProvements

10 k Ank Akee Count y

many American small towns tell a sad tale of deserted Main streets and dwindling amenities. But Watseka and Manteno are turning that story upside down, becoming

two of Kankakee County’s most popular destinations.

Watseka theatre a starIn Watseka, residents and visitors are flocking to a

rehabbed downtown block where they can enjoy a meal, see a concert and shop, courtesy of one couple’s vision.

Chuck Gomez, a professional musician and concert/special events producer in Chicago, nurtured a longtime dream to rehab the theater, which had closed in 1998, in his hometown. An attempt 25 years ago to buy the building fell through, but in May 2007 he and life partner Debra Liddell succeeded. Designed by famed architect Louis Skidmore, the art deco movie house needed work.

Undaunted, the couple took on the rehab and opened the following New Year’s Eve. The 300-seat Watseka Theatre has since bloomed, offering enthusiastic audiences everything from major country music and rock acts to internationally recognized comedy shows, to vaudeville and the annual Watseka Blues, BBQ and Arts Festival. A storefront, part of the building’s façade, became the Club Café serving pizza and pasta weekday evenings and gourmet dinners with accompanying live music on Friday nights. An adjacent former town hall became an ice cream parlor, and Liddell’s artful accessories are offered at nearby Artful Endeavors.

manteno manicures main streetIn Manteno, several major projects are changing

the face of the village.The first two phases of 67-acre Legacy Park, a major

recreation area, were completed in 2011, giving the town 11 more soccer fields, two football fields, a splash pad, baseball practice field, an amphitheater and more.

“Manteno has grown to 9,000 people in the past 10 years, and we really needed this,” says village administrator and police chief Bernie Thompson.

The park, a joint project of the village and the township of Manteno, was largely funded by $800,000 in state grants.

In spring 2012, construction will begin on a public plaza and enhanced pedestrian walkway at Main Street and First Street that will connect to a new bus transfer station across the railroad tracks on Oak Street. A joint project of River Valley Metro and the village of Manteno, the $530,000 improvement will feature a 45-foot flagpole, benches and extensive landscaping.

Another proposed destination plaza on Main Street at Second Street could begin construction as early as 2014, Thompson says. It would contain restaurants – a new Pizza Stone restaurant has opened there already – and events such as ice skating, crafts fairs and more.

“We’ve done a lot here, too, with streetscape along Main Street,” says Thompson. “Manteno is a very nice town, and very attractive.”

SToRy By laUra HillPHoToGRAPHy By jeFF adKins

pizza Stone recently opened in manteno. left: the renovated Watseka theatre holds major music acts, comedy shows, vaudeville and the annual Watseka Blues, BBQ and Arts Festival.

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 11

Business

of GoldKanKaKee CoUnty mentors Provide rare oPPortUnities For loCal CHildren

Hearts

A holiday concert at the Bourbonnais upper Grade Center

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 13 12 k Ank Akee Count y

SToRy By jessiCa mozo | PHoToGRAPHy By jeFF adKins

if one thing can be said about the citizens of Kankakee County, it’s that they care deeply for children. Several Kankakee residents have turned their compassion for youth into

unusual opportunities to help kids learn and succeed.

band director jerry luzenieckiKankakee County mentor Jerry Luzeniecki has

enriched thousands of students’ lives by bringing music into their worlds. Luzeniecki has been a band director since 1979, directing bands in Downers Grove, Momence and the Bourbonnais Elementary School District, where he has been employed since 1994. He directs the seventh and eighth grade bands at the Upper Grade Center and the Jazz Band, and teaches fourth grade music at Shabbona Elementary School.

“Some of the most important lessons learned in the band room have nothing to do with music,” Luzeniecki says. “Bands help students develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, self-discipline, citizenship and teamwork skills. My students have to follow multiple-step, sequential instructions. Rhythm counting is related to fractions. Music also offers the opportunity to learn to handle frustration and develop perseverance.”

Luzeniecki jokingly refers to himself as a “proud band geek” who has developed lifelong friendships through music. He and his wife have lived in Bradley for 30 years.

“As a band director, I’ve met students who have grown up to be soldiers, doctors, educators, pilots, police officers, firefighters and musicians, as well as great moms and dads,” Luzeniecki says. “Their parents give of their time and offer kind words of encouragement. The band directors in the Kankakee area are an extended family. We call on each other when there’s a need. It just doesn’t get much better than that.”

Kankakee County soldiersMembers of the Kankakee County Soldiers, a

professional basketball team, touch the lives of Kankakee County students every week by doing programs in local schools on everything from reading and developing life skills to anti-bullying. The Soldiers have been mentoring elementary and junior high students for six years, ever since team owner Barry Bradford made youth one of the team’s top priorities.

“I grew up in inner-city Chicago, and I was one of the few who made it out and got to play professional basketball and see the world,” Bradford says. “A lot of people were there for me and stuck their necks out for me. In 2001, when Michael Jordan came back to the NBA, I had some discussions with him that made me realize the impact a person can have on someone else’s life.”

Early in his basketball career, Bradford noticed that kids he mentored would come watch his games.

KanKaKee County SoldierS www.kcsoldiers.com

tyjuan Hagler Foundation tyjuanhaglerfoundation.org

For more information

“They didn’t come because I was the best player – they came because I had gone to their schools and spent time with them,” he says. “Now I want my players to have a positive influence on young people, because they are the future of our society.”

The Soldiers have worked with more than 7,000 students, and Bradford says some experiences have brought them to tears.

“When we do an anti-bullying assembly, we break the ice by giving kids raffle tickets and calling them out randomly to try to shoot three hoops in a row to win a prize,” he says. “At one school, there was a kid named Harvey who had been bullied for years. We randomly drew his number, and he came down to the court and made the first shot. All the kids started chanting his name.”

Harvey then made the second shot – and the third.“I told him no student had ever made three in a row,

and the kids started going crazy. He became hero for the day,” Bradford says. “Teachers on the sidelines were crying, and we all teared up on the bus afterward. We talk to the kids about treating each other with respect, because you never know who will grow up to be what.”

tyjuan Hagler Foundation Football CampKankakee native and NFL player Tyjuan Hagler,

formerly with the Indianapolis Colts, is also dedicated to helping kids succeed. In 2007, Hagler started the annual Tyjuan Hagler Foundation Football Camp to help give kids ages 6 to 18 the tools they need to become better athletes – and better people.

“All my favorite memories are of my childhood in Kankakee playing backyard football,” Hagler says. “I started the camp because when I was a kid, I wished there was someone to mentor me. Now I have the opportunity to give back to the community I loved growing up in.”

The one-day camp happens the first Saturday in June and is free of charge. It includes sessions on the fundamentals of football, character building and safety skills, and awards and autographs with Hagler and other NFL players.

“The community helps out so much. It feels good to help the kids, and the best part is seeing the smiles on their faces,” Hagler says. “These kids are gonna be our future. And everybody wants our future in good hands.”

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 13

scorecardbUsiness at

a GlanCe

$1.3 billionannual retail sales

$11,264retail sales

per Capita

$28 millionannual Hotel

and Food sales

8,399total number

of Firms

source: u.s. Census QuickFacts

Business

Biz BriefsBuSineSSeS – BotH LArGe And SmALL – tHAt HeLp deFine

kAnkAkee County’S eConomiC CLimAte

minne monesse GolF ClUbBiz: Golf courseBuzz: Located near Grant Park, Minne Monesse Golf Club was established in 1926. This privately owned and operated course offers a country club experience without the high cost, and provides a challenge for players of all levels. Minne Monesse Golf Club comprises rolling hills, water on 11 of the 18 holes, large oak trees and a clubhouse suitable for a variety of events.www.minnemonesse.com

14 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 15

sUn CHemiCalBiz: Ink and pigment providerBuzz: Providing ink, pigments, varnishes and coatings for a variety of industries, Sun Chemical has more than 300 locations worldwide, including an operation in Kankakee. The company creates cosmetic pigments, narrow web ink products, high-performance plastic pigments, ink for publications and screen graphics, and much more. Sun Chemical also focuses on sustainability and eco-efficiency, working to decrease its ecological impact.www.sunchemical.com

KanKaKee area ymCaBiz: Fitness centerBuzz: Serving residents for more than 116 years, the Kankakee Area YMCA offers an array of fitness-focused amenities including a wellness center with cardio and strength training equipment, an aerobics studio, gym, climbing wall, swimming pools and more. Members can also enjoy group fitness classes, such as yoga, Zumba and kickboxing. Child care is available before and after school.www.k3ymca.org

tHe daily joUrnalBiz: NewspaperBuzz: The Daily Journal serves the Illinois counties of Kankakee, Will, Iroquois, Ford, Grundy and Livingston, and Lake Village in Indiana. The newspaper, which has been published for 156 years, is the area’s primary source for local news, sports, information and entertainment. Owned by the Small Newspaper Group, The Daily Journal also produces a website, i57Life.com, that offers coupons, contests, dining news and more.www.daily-journal.com

CiGna CorPorationBiz: Health service companyBuzz: Formed in 1982, Cigna Corporation is the fourth largest health insurer in the country, and serves 29 additional countries. The company offers health-care products and services, as well as group disability, life and accident insurance, and international insurance coverage. Cigna Corporation operates an office in Bourbonnais, and serves approximately 66 million customers worldwide.www.cigna.com

“Our Business is Helping YOUR Business.”

200 E. Court St.Ste. 507 Kankakee, IL 60901

P: (815) 935-1177 F: (815) 935-1181

www.kankakeecountyed.org

14 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 15

Business

chamber reportCHAmBer SAyS reGionALiSm iS key to eConomiC GroWtH

david Hinderliter says that in

today’s tough economy, it

is advantageous to promote the

macroeconomics of a region as

opposed to the microeconomics

of an individual community.

“Regionalism is what it’s

all about, to promote an entire

region’s overall workforce, jobs,

cultural diversity, transportation

advantages, technology, schools

and colleges, quality of life and

other assets,” says Hinderliter,

president and Ceo of the

Kankakee Regional Chamber of

Commerce. “you need to trumpet

the bigger picture to attract more

industry and big companies.”

Kankakee County is considered

a bedroom community where

many people commute to work in

other counties, as well as Chicago.

Hinderliter says Kankakee’s

proximity to Chicago gives

residents access to big-city

amenities without having to endure

the crowded streets and sprawl.“But as far as creating positive

economic development and smart growth in our own community, we can offer many positives,” Hinderliter says. “For example, health care and manufacturing are two of our main job producers, and we are conveniently located at interstate 57 and near i-80 for companies that deal with distribution and warehousing. Also, Kankakee County has the lowest sales tax in the state, so people in surrounding counties can shop here and save money.”

young ProfessionalsAndrew ollis, vice president

of government affairs for the Kankakee Chamber, says the establishment of a dynamic Kankakee Regional young Professionals group is also helping to draw top employees to the area.

“our KRyP group is a ready-made network for people relocating here, and is ideal for young professionals ages 21 to 39 who might not know many people in the community,” he says.

active Philanthropyollis says that the group also

gets involved in philanthropic endeavors.

“We collected and shipped 300 pairs of new shoes to Haiti after their earthquake in 2010,” he says. “And to support young professionals as well as our entire business community, we make it easy for our members to communicate directly with our elected officials on any matter they choose through rivervalleyvoice.org, our advocacy website.”

– Kevin Litwin

16 k Ank Akee Count y

bUsiness ClimateFrom its agricultural roots to its strong manufacturing base,

the Kankakee River valley offers economic incentives such

as international trade assistance, technology support and

workforce development programs.

eConomiC ProFile

major emPloyers

Riverside HealthCare

Shapiro developmental Center

Provena St. mary’s Hospital

Cigna Health Care

Baker & Taylor

CSL Behring LLC

Kankakee Community College

olivet nazarene university

Peddinghaus Corp.

Sears Logistics Services inc.

van drunen Farms

Armstrong World industries inc.

K-mart distribution Center

Bunge oils inc.

City of Kankakee

nucor Steel

taxes

6.25%County Sales tax

6.25%total Sales tax

inCome

$21,499per Capita income

$47,835Average Annual Household expenditure

WorKForCe

75% White-Collar Jobs

25% Blue-Collar Jobs

edUCation

29%Associate degree

11%Bachelor’s degree

7%Graduate degree

transPortation

Greater kankakee valley Airport (815) 939-1422 www.kvaa.com

river valley metro mass transit district(815) 937-4BuS (4287) (815) 935-1403 www.rivervalleymetro.com

Amtrak (800) 872-7245

eConomiC resoUrCes

kankakee regional Chamber of Commerce (815) 933-7721 www.kankakee.org

manteno Chamber of Commerce (815) 468-6226 www.mantenochamber.com

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 17

Local Flavor

sweet or savory, oven-baked

or pan-fried, you’ll find just

what your taste buds are craving

in Kankakee County. The region

is dotted with locally owned

restaurants, each with something

unusual to offer – from the

irresistible cookie bouquets at

nana’s Cakery & Bake Shoppe

to the priceless antiques at

The Country mansion.

nana’s caKery & BaKe shoPPe

When folks in Kankakee County

need to satisfy a sweet tooth, they

head for nana’s Cakery & Bake

Shoppe in Bradley. For more

than 30 years, nana’s has been

the place to go for made-from-

scratch cakes, cupcakes,

cookies and brownies.

Special occasions also call for

nana’s confections – the bakery

can whip up an impressive cookie

bouquet or custom-decorated

cake for any holiday, wedding or

other occasion. on Fridays and

Saturdays, locals flock to nana’s

for fresh-baked pastries, coffee

cakes and cinnamon rolls. And

during the holiday season, nana’s

offers yule logs, pies, holiday cake

balls, pumpkin bars, Christmas

cookies and dessert trays.

la Villetta restaurant

Also in Bradley, La villetta

Restaurant has been serving

reasonably priced italian cuisine

for nearly two decades. Family-

owned and -operated, La villetta

tastes like Kankakee reStAurAntS Serve CuLinAry FAvoriteS WitH midWeStern FLAir

the Bacon Wrapped Beef Shoulder tender at the Country mansion restaurant in dwightJ

eF

F A

dK

inS

What’s online Read more about Kankakee County’s food scene at livability.com/kankakee/il.

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 19 18 k Ank Akee Count y

makes all its soups and sauces

from scratch daily. one of

La villetta’s specialties (and its

most popular dish) is Chicken

Sicilian, sautéed chicken breast

in a light parmesan breading

topped with creamy red bell

pepper sauce over linguini.

The menu also includes favorites

such as homemade lasagna,

eggplant parmesan and ravioli,

and a variety of pastas, steaks

and seafood.

the country mansionHistory buffs should not miss

dining at The Country mansion in

dwight. Located in an elegant 1891

home that was originally the Scott

Boarding House, The Country

mansion features handcrafted

oak and maple woodwork,

he’s one talented truck driverKankakee County native Tony Scruggs of Grant Park rose to national fame on

season two of Fox’s competitive MasterChef game show. The 52-year-old truck driver was eliminated from the competition in June 2011 after making it to the final 16. Scruggs’ signature dish was a pan-seared Mahi Mahi with mango salsa and paella. His dream is to open a restaurant with his wife.

original fireplaces in the lounge

and antiques throughout. The menu includes homemade

soups, fresh salads, panini, wraps, hand-battered and fried tiger shrimp, cedar plank-grilled salmon, filets and ribeyes, prime rib, and pork chops. Be sure to wander around The Country mansion’s gorgeous grounds, which bloom with flowers in springtime and are equally as pretty in winter.

the iroquois caFe no visit to Kankakee County

would be complete without stopping in the iroquois Cafe in iroquois. A popular dining establishment for more than 35 years, the iroquois Cafe’s menu consists mainly of sandwiches throughout the week, with daily specials such as hot wings on Thursdays, fish on Fridays and steaks on Saturdays.

– Jessica Mozo

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 19

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 21 20 k Ank Akee Count y

shot in the armriverSide expAndS, provenA St. mAry’S merGeS

What’s online For more insight on Kankakee County’s health and wellness offerings, head to livability.com/kankakee/il.

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 21

Health & Wellness

the prognosis is positive at Riverside medical

Center and Provena St. mary’s Hospital, where

both facilities made some important news in recent

times – and continue to make news.

riVerside medical centerThis highly rated hospital was established in

1964 and serves the Kankakee region and other

south suburban counties of Chicago as a not-for-

profit medical facility. it has campuses in Kankakee

as well as Bourbonnais, with the Bourbonnais

hospital breaking ground in June 2011 on a

30,000-square-foot addition that will include

an accredited sleep center.

For the past four years, Riverside medical has

been named one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals

by Thomson Reuters. The hospital’s spine surgery

program has also been ranked no. 1 in the state

of illinois by HealthGrades, and Riverside medical

also maintains five-star ratings in areas such

as cardiac care, stroke treatment, and knee

and hip replacement.

ProVena st. mary’s hosPitalProvena St. mary’s in Kankakee is a 189-bed acute

care facility with a Level ii emergency/trauma center.

it has an award-winning chest pain department and

is one of only 16 hospitals in illinois accredited by the

Society of Chest Pain Centers. Since 2008, Provena

St. mary’s has annually received the distinguished

Hospital Award for Patient Safety from HealthGrades

and is only one of 10 hospitals in illinois to receive

this distinction for four consecutive years.

ProVena, resurrection mergeProvena Health and Resurrection Health Care

completed a merger in november 2011 to create

the single largest Catholic health care provider

in illinois. Both Provena and Resurrection will

continue to operate individually, but will both

be under the direction of the new organization.

The new system includes 12 hospitals, 28

long-term care facilities and senior residential

facilities, six home health-care agencies, and

more than 50 primary and specialty care clinics.

it serves more than 4.5 million people who live

in Kankakee, Aurora, Chicago, danville, elgin,

des Plaines, Joliet, Rockford, urbana and

Avilia, ind.

– Kevin Litwin

Riverview Pharmacy is a family owned and operated business located in the Kankakee, Illinois area. We have been providing service to the local community since 1976. During this time, our friendly and knowledgeable staff has filled millions of prescriptions for both the local residents and numerous residential facilities. Our staff takes pride in doing their work accurately and quickly. Riverview Pharmacy accepts most insurance and offers low prices for the cash paying customer. The pharmacist is always available for patient consultation throughout the day if a customer has any questions concerning their prescription.

✤ Quick service (Waits under 10 minutes)

✤ Accepts most forms of insurance

✤ Low prices for cash paying customers

✤ Free local delivery upon request

✤ Weekly medication planners

✤ Patient consultation

✤ Medication lists available

✤ Yearly print-offs (for tax purposes)

✤ 24-hour answering service

475 Brown Blvd. #105 ✤ Bourbonnais, IL 60914(815) 933-1735 ✤ (815) 933-3370 fax

www.riverviewrx.netLet Our Family

Take Care of Your Family

metro Centre Arts Gallery

PH

oT

oS

By

Je

FF

Ad

Kin

S

an award on display at the metro Centre arts Gallery in bourbonnais

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 23 22 k Ank Akee Count y

Arts & Culture

Kankakee County is eager to

showcase arts and culture

options. Art galleries, big names

in entertainment, theaters and

a rich history make Kankakee

County a great place to

expand your artistic mind.

metro centre arts gallery

Housed in the metro Transit

Center is the metro Centre Arts

Gallery, which opened in 2009.

Headed by the Community Arts

Council, the gallery’s space is

available to local artists or groups

who are members in good

standing with the council. All

participants have the option to

sell their work at the gallery, and

past exhibits include paintings,

photography, cibachrome

prints and mixed media.

KnoW your JazzJazz musician orbert davis

grew up in momence, and as a

child he travelled to Chicago once

a week for trumpet lessons. Later,

he decided to stay in Chicago

to receive his bachelor’s degree

in trumpet performance from

dePaul university in Chicago

and his master’s in Jazz Pedagogy

from northwestern university.

orbert davis and his partner

mark ingram own and operate

orbark Productions, which has

worked with clients such as

Atlantic and Capitol, CBS, mCA

and the Warner Brothers record

companies. davis founded the

Jazz Alive program and Chicago

Jazz Philharmonic that focus on

teaching life and academic skills

through music and art. davis is

also an associate professor at the

university of illinois at Chicago.

listen uPThe Friends of the Blues Radio

Show is broadcast from WKCC’s

open your mindkAnkAkee County keepS reSidentS WeLL verSed in Art And muSiC

Container teChnologies

www.ringcontainer.com

Plastic Bottle ManufacturerAt Ring, we have always believed our corporate responsibility goes beyond just providing quality products.

With this vision, we strive for excellence in customer relations, talented personnel and our commitment to sustainability. With a long history that predates the current trend of sustainability, Ring has always believed in a near-site/on-site business model for strategic plant locations. This drive and outward way of looking at our resources has made us a leader today in our industries for carbon footprint and sustainable business practices.

Clarence heber, Plant Manager1825 American Way • Kankakee, IL 60901

(815) 939-7270 E-mail: clarence.heber@ringcontainer.com

studio at Kankakee Community

College. Join dJs Shuffle Shoes and

Sky dobro while they play blues

musicians such as Stevie Ray

vaughn, Allman Brothers Band

and Fruteland Jackson, to name

a few. The show is public and

commercial free and airs Saturday

night from 8 p.m. to midnight.

classic aPPealmeadowview Theatre in

Kankakee has been airing movies

since 1967, and its interior was

designed by Hans Teichert of

Chicago, a renowned artist known

for his unusual creations. The

Paramount Theatre, which first

debuted in Kankakee in 1931, has

premiered such classics as Gone With the Wind and Wizard of Oz,

as well as hits such as Twilight Saga: New Moon and Avatar. The theater has proudly kept

its original art deco motif that

includes a cobalt blue ceiling and

intricate geometric designs in

green, red, gold and silver. The

Paramount is graced with five

screens, and two are equipped

with digital 3d capabilities.

comPelling historyThe Kankakee County museum

presents rotating exhibits that

chronicle Kankakee County’s

experiences during the 20th

century. exhibits contain significant

artifacts and archival materials

that are supported with period

photographic images, all

depicting Kankakee natives.

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 23

Sports & Recreation

Whether hitting the links at an area golf course,

swimming in the local high school’s competition-grade pool or attending the area’s huge annual outdoors show, Kankakee residents find plenty of places to play.

celeBrating the outdoors

each January, fans of outdoor

sports flock to the First Church

of the nazarene to attend one of

Kankakee’s best outdoors events.

The fourth annual outward Bound

Adventure Sports Show expanded

to two days and was renamed

Gotcha! outdoors Sports and

Adventure Show. in addition

to numerous seminars,

demonstrations and vendor

exhibits, the show features

games and prize giveaways,

live reptile exhibitions and

archery target shooting.

The 2012 show featured

guest speakers Hank Parker,

a 2003 Bass Fishing Hall of

Fame inductee and host of Hank Parker’s Outdoor Magazine, and

Jimmy Sites, the award-winning

national television host of

Spiritual Outdoor Adventures.

sPrinting in the WaterThe Bradley-Bourbonnais

Community High School swimming pool is the place to be for aquatic sports in Bradley. The school’s impressive, multiuse heated swimming pool is 75 feet long and 13 feet deep. its diving board, warm-up area and eight-lane capacity make it the perfect place for numerous water competitions, such as lap swimming, diving and water polo.

Although the pool is often available to the public for open swimming, it is the home of the Bradley-Bourbonnais Community

nature’s PlaygroundkAnkAkee reSidentS Find pLenty oF pLACeS to pLAy

above: A swim meet at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School in Bradley right: outdoor Bound Adventure Sports Show, now named Gotcha! outdoors Sports and Adventure Show

PHoTo By JeFF AdKinS

24 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 25

6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1 3/22/10 11:40:09 AM

High School boys’ and girls’ varsity and junior varsity swim teams as well as the Bradley-Bourbonnais Swim Club team, fittingly named the “dolphins”. The varsity and junior varsity teams compete against area rival teams while the dolphins participate in such events as Sprint to the end, a water-sprinting competition, and Splash Bash, a noncompetitive open swim event for children in grades 3 through 6.

Playing the holesGolf is a major recreational

activity in Kankakee, which is

home to numerous courses.

The South Shore Golf Club in

momence offers a challenging

course with small, bunkered

greens and seven holes that

contain water traps. The manteno

Golf Club course in manteno

contains tall trees as well as

six water hazards. The minne

monesse Golf Club, opened

in 1926, boasts a par-72 layout,

graceful rolling hills, water traps

on 11 holes and grand oak trees.

The Shamrock Golf Club in St.

Anne is a par-60 executive course

tucked away in a wooded area

with narrow fairways and daunting

mature tree lines. The oak Springs

Golf Club, also in St. Anne,

opened in 1969. its course

spans 6,260 yards.

The Aspen Ridge Golf Course

in Bourbonnais offers more

affordable rates for its 18-hole

course, which extends over 5,968

yards. The Kankakee Country

Club is a private establishment

opened in 1916 that offers a

par-70 course over 5,745 yards.

Finally, the public Kankakee elks

Country Club in St. Anne opened

in 1901. its course spans an

impressive 6,430 yards.

– Braxton Shoop

PH

oT

o C

ou

RT

eS

y o

F e

RiC

Pe

nR

od

24 k Ank Akee Count y LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 25

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 27

Kankakeemade the list.Top 10 Great Places to Ride a BikeSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.

clayton’s legend ParK smithfield, nc

landahl ParK Blue springs, Mo

riverfront ParK salem, or

stanKy creeK BiKe trails collierville, tn

KanKaKee river trail Kankakee, il

Kerr scott trail north Wilkesboro, nc

Bend riverside trail Bend, or

tongue river trail sheridan, Wy

san angelo state ParK san angelo, tX

Paseo del Bosque albuquerque, nM

top 10 great Places to ride a Bike

Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website

education

multiple choices are available to students who want a strong education in Kankakee County.

KanKaKee PuBlic schoolsThe Kankakee Public School district 111 has an

enrollment of 5,500 students in grades pre-K through 12, and serves the city of Kankakee, the village of Aroma Park, and rural areas east and south of the city. other areas of Kanakakee County, including the cities of Bradley, manteno and Bourbonnais, are served by independant districts and boards. There are 12 districts in the county

KanKaKee community collegeKCC offers more than 45 areas of study, and the

majority of its 3,500 full-time students complete their two-year degrees and then transfer to four-year institutions. The college also works with area businesses to conduct specialized workforce training programs, and oversees the Kankakee education and employment Center, a one-stop location for adult learners, job seekers and businesses seeking qualified workers. The center offers a selection of post-secondary programs‚ including bachelor of arts degrees in criminal justice and communications, as well as master of arts degrees in education.

goVernors state uniVersityLocated in Chicago, and just 40 minutes from

Kankakee County, is Governors State university, which offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees through 54 programs. qualified students who attend KCC can transfer to GSu and pay the same tuition after completing the necessary credit hours.

oliVet nazarene uniVersityin Bourbonnais‚ olivet nazarene university offers

extra creditStudentS HAve StronG ACAdemiC optionS

For Complete Waste Removal

Residential

Commercial

Recycling

Roll-off Dumpsters

Special Hauling

Portable Restrooms

Family Owned and Operated

for Over 50 Years

(815) 932-1115

www.mydisposal.com

REED’S RENT ALL & SALES INC.(815) 939-3117

➦ HOME OWNER➦ CONSTRUCTION➦ PARTY EQUIPMENT

907 N. Indiana Ave. Kankakee, IL 60901 www.reedsrentall.com

more than 110 undergraduate programs along with several graduate studies and continuing education options. its motto is “education with a Christian Purpose,” and more than 20,000 degrees have been granted to students throughout the university’s 105-year history.

KanKaKee area career centerThe career center has provided vocational and

technical education to regional high school students for more than 40 years. The underlying function of KACC is to prepare students for viable career paths. A total of 16 programs are offered at the center, including automotive repair, 3d design and computer technology.

grundy liVingston KanKaKee WorKForce Board

Both Kankakee Community College and olivet nazarene university collaborate with Grundy Livingston Kankakee Workforce Board on numerous community service projects aimed at improving the skill level of the workforce to strengthen the local economy. its focus is to meet the needs of businesses looking for skilled workers, and meet the training, education and employment needs of individuals.

– Kevin Litwin

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 27

Ad Index

27 A&JDisposAl

17 AmericA’sBistro

16 BungenorthAmericA

15 cslBehring

15 economicAlliAnceofKAnKAKeecounty

c2 hiltongArDen inn

3 KAnKAKeecommunitycollege

19 KAnKAKeecountyconvention&visitorsBureAu

17 mAnpower

27 reeD’srentAll&sAles inc .

23 ringcontAinertechnologies

c4 rivervAlleymetro

21 riverviewphArmAcy

snaPsHotLocated just 60 miles from Chicago, Kankakee County boasts

small-town charm and big-city amenities. The region is separated

from urban life by more than 30 miles of open prairie. As residents

will tell you, it’s truly the best of both worlds.

CommUnity ProFile

Climate

mild summers and cool

winters make for a pleasant

year-round climate in

Kankakee County.

85° FJuly Average High

12° FJanuary Average Low

38”

Annual rain Fall (vs. national Average Annual rain Fall of 37”)

time zone

Central

Cost oF livinG

$56,335median Household income

$107,153median Home price

$739median rent (for a two-Bedroom Apartment)

HoUseHold inFormation

aGe:

36median resident Age

29% 19 and under

46% 20-54

25% 55 and over

marital statUs:

56% married

44% Single

etHniCity:

79% White

13% Black

5% Hispanic

3% other

transPortation

3% median travel time to Work

visit ouradvertisersA&J Disposalwww.kankakeesanitary.com

America’s Bistro

Bunge North Americawww.bungenorthamerica.com

CSL Behringwww.cslbehring.com

Economic Alliance of Kankakee Countywww.kankakeecountyed.org

Hilton Garden Innwww.kankakee.gardeninn.com

Kankakee Community Collegewww.kcc.edu

Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureauwww.visitkankakeecounty.com

Manpowerwww.us.manpower.com

Reed’s Rent All & Sales Inc.www.reedsrentall.com

Ring Container Technologieswww.ringcontainer.com

River Valley Metrowww.rivervalleymetro.com

Riverview Pharmacywww.riverviewrx.net

28 k Ank Akee Count y

Through the Lens

Located on the banks of the Kankakee River, The B. Harley Bradley

House and Stable recently opened its doors to visitors as an arts and

education center thanks to local not-for-profit organization, Wright

in Kankakee. designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright,

the house is recognized as his first prairie-style design. The house,

built in 1900, has been a private residence several times over,

as well as a restaurant and a law office in its century-long existence.

i got to spend several hours wandering around the house alone

taking photographs for Images Kankakee County magazine. Being a

photographer, i was really struck by the placement of the windows and

the way the light changed the look of the house’s interior at different

times of the day. And the lines created by the woodwork gave me

multiple options with which to compose photos within each room.

it was like looking at a piece of artwork from the inside out, rather

than the outside in, which is usually the case …

From our Photo Blog: KanKaKee county

PoSTed By JeFF AdKinS

more online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

now that you’ve experienced Kankakee County through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

get the story Behind the Photo

LivABiLit y.Com/k Ank Akee/iL 29

www.rivervalleymetro.com