Grundy Go 1-31-2013

Interest, participation in vocational education on the rise in Grundy County

Group Fitness • Investing in today’s economy

Grundy County’s Own Magazine

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February 2013 • GO maGazine 3

LocalHistory

1804 N. Division St., Morris, Illinois 60450 815.942.3221 www.morrisdailyherald.com

Visual Content Coordinator: Lisa PesaventoAd Director: Rich PonulakArt Direction and Design: Rob SzekelyAd Sales Representatives: Liz McKee, Leah Bergeson-Dix,Gina Ringer & Kelly Limbach

General Manager: Robert WallManaging Editor: Patrick GrazianoWriter: Jessica ShumakerHerald Correspondents: Jeanne MillsapKris Stadalsky

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inside this

month’s

Group fi tnessWorking out is easier with a roomful of buddies…………………….………...

Keep your eye on the prizeInvesting in today’s economy……………………..……

‘Best kept secret’ no longer secret Interest, participation in vocational education on the rise in Grundy County………………………………… 4

7

10

Grundy County’s Own Magazine

Sand Ridge Bridge This picture shows thebridge on Sand Ridge

Road crossing the AuxSable Creek, taken

around the late 1800s.There is no bridge

there today.

February 2013A NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU!

4 GO maGazine • February 2013

Area high school students looking to enter one of the tightest job markets in decades are fl ocking to a county-wide vocational center in hopes of obtaining employable skills for life after graduation.

According to Lance Copes, director of the Grundy Area Vocational Center, or GAVC, located on the campus of Morris Community High School, interest in vocational training is at an all-time high among upperclassmen at the four schools that feed into the center, including MCHS, Coal City High School, Minooka High School and Gardner-South Wilmington High School.

“We’ve seen an increase during a time when a lot of career centers have been maintaining or decreas-ing,” Copes said, noting that roughly 600 students are enrolled in the vocational center’s 11 study

programs, which range from health occupations and early childhood education to trade-specifi c areas like welding and building trades. In addition to the Morris campus, some programs area also available at Coal City High School.

He said that number is up from where it was when he started just under a decade ago, with about 100 to 125 more students taking part in the programs available.

Copes credits both eff orts to get the word out and a diffi cult economy with the higher number of students the center is enrolling.

“When I arrived here, we were always told that GAVC was one of the best-kept secrets in Grundy County and the staff has done a really good job of making sure that we’re no longer the best kept

no longer secretInterest,

participation in vocational

education on the rise in

Grundy CountyStory by Jessica Shumaker

Herald Writer

Photos by Lisa PesaventoHerald Staff

LocalOrganizations

no longer secretno longer secret‘Best Kept Secret’


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secret, that we’re the best thing for career and technical education in Grundy County,” he said.

There are many draws for students who seek out the center, Copes said. For one, there is a flexibility in terms of what students can do next with the skills they’ve acquired through the program, whether it’s go on to obtain a job, enroll in a community college or attend a four-year university program.

“There’s lots of different levels for those kids,” he said. “One of the things that we pride ourselves on is that we’re just the foundation to their education — we’re the introduction to what they want to study to further their career path.”

Whether they’re learning how to construct a building or exploring the field of criminal justice, Copes said students are prepared to enter the workforce or continue their education.

“What we’re finding out is that our students are well-equipped when they enter the post-secondary education market and that they have a good foundation as they go out and continue to develop their careers,” he said.

Additionally, he said there is a demand for

students who have completed the training — which factors heavily into what areas the center offers to students. Coles said GAVC’s goal is to provide opportunities for students to enter careers and stay in Grundy County, as well as offer pro-grams with a variety of educational opportunities.

Students may need some additional education and training, he said, but as a whole, local leaders have indicated support for the foundation that GAVC provides to the future area workforce, he said.

DABBLING TO DECIDING A CAREER PATH

Copes said students who enroll in GAVC’s programs can use them as an entrance to a field they’re interested in or to gauge their interest if they’re not sure.

“I think at our level, there are those conversa-tions that are existing at home, and I think we do allow them to dabble a little bit, there is some career exploration,” he said.

He said a student interested in becoming a

GAVC Automotive Technology students use a tire changer to mount and fill tires during class (above).

GAVC junior Ryan Potochnic uses a miter saw to cut and install strapping for drywall at the GAVC student built home in the Fields of Saratoga subdivision in Morris (opposite page).


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doctor could use the health occupations program to enter the health field and decide if it’s the area for them, and continue their level of education to get to where they want to be.

“When you leave your senior year from those four high schools, you have an opportunity to either take the next step in your career interests, or realize that it’s not something you want to do,” he said.

He also gave the area of education, and the early-childhood education program, for an example of how the program can be beneficial to students.

“When I went to college, back in the day, you go all the way to the last semester to take student teaching and realize you didn’t like it,” he said.

Dr. Kent Bugg, superintendent of Coal City Community Unit District #1 said that aspect of GAVC is immensely helpful for students trying to figure out which direction their education will go.

“They’re actually getting into classrooms and seeing what it’s like and getting experience

with that,” he said. Students can explore careers before they invest in

those areas with tuition dollars, too, he said. “Instead of wasting two, three years (studying)

for something they realize they don’t want to do, they find out in high school, now,” he said.

‘IT’S A BIG PART OF OUR CULTURE’

Bugg said Coal City High School sends about 150 to 175 students per year to GAVC, and that it is an important program for the district’s students.

“The trades in our areas are very important and GAVC has always been an important part of our community,” he said. “ ... We think very highly of GAVC’s program and we definitely encourage our kids to go there.”

Bugg said he believes the rising costs of obtaining a four-year degree, combined with uncertainty that a degree will lead to a job, has led to higher

student interest in GAVC programs. “For some of our students it seemed in the past

you were either (in) college prep or GAVC, and that’s really not the case anymore,” he said, noting that students who have a variety of plans after high school are going to the program to test the waters for future careers.

“We’re really seeing a lot of our kids go to GAVC and there’s not a line anymore,” he said.

Bugg said he thinks that change is tied to changing attitudes about vocational education.

“I think a lot of parents are realizing this and seeing it as a legitimate route to a job,” he said.

He said as a whole, the district holds the center’s programs in high esteem.

“I have no reservations about sending any of our kids to GAVC, because I know the quality and experience they’re going to get,” he said. “It’s a big part of our culture.” n

They’re actually getting into classrooms and seeing what it’s like and getting experience with that“

”~ Dr. Kent Bugg – Superintendent, Coal City Community Unit District #1

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Morris resident and teacher Trudy DesLauriers enjoys her group spinning class at LivFit in Morris, but it’s not necessarily because of the bike or the specifi c exercise.

“We have the same bike in the basement,” she said, “but I don’t use it. I just can’t do it on my own. It’s just not for me.”

But working out in a group class, DesLauriers said, is diff erent. Th at’s what motivates her and makes the workout fun.

“Th ere’s a sort of energy in a class,” she added.Group fi tness is not competitive, though, she

says. Th e other participants motivate you, but they

don’t compare themselves to others’ fi tness levels.“No one really knows what tension you’ve put

on your bike,” she said. “And no one really cares.”Instructors are there to motivate and inspire;

other exercisers are right there to give encourage-ment; and the music can be individualized to each class.

Spinning is basically riding an indoor exercise bicycle with a group to music. It’s one of the many group fi tness programs off ered throughout the area, and one that more and more participants are joining.

According to the American College of Sports

Working out is easier with a

roomful of buddies

Story by Jeanne MillsapHerald Correspondent

GROUP FITNESS

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Men and women of all ages work hard in Maureen Keegan’s Thursday afternoon spinning class at LivFit in Morris on Jefferson Street (above and above right).

Medicine, group exercise is typically described as exercise performed by a group of individuals led by an instructor. A variety of group exercise formats exist, including indoor cycling, aerobics and dance choreographed to music, core conditioning, Pilates, yoga, muscle conditioning, step, kickboxing, sculpting, fall prevention and boot camp.

People stay interested because of the social atmo-sphere provided by group exercise, according to the ACSM. This offers camaraderie and accountability among participants, as well as between participants and instructor.

And it’s just more fun, according to LivFit Studio owner Lanette Lewis.

“I’ve seen so many friendships develop,” she said of her group fitness classes. “There is so much camaraderie between the students. They inspire each other. I think it’s harder to motivate yourself when you work out on your own.”

And although Lewis says her instructors don’t make their classes

competitive, it is only natural to want to push yourself a little harder when you see others giving it their all, too. Her classes of both men and women are of all ages and athletic background. It can surprise some students, too. Lewis said she has seen young athletes spin next to a participant who might be 40 years older, and the senior biker goes farther.

“It can be an awakening,” she said.Gil Jones, of Morris, exercises outdoors in the

summer and indoors during the cooler months, both on his own and in a group class. There’s definitely something to be said for group fitness, he said.

“In a group, you get to know people,” Jones said. “It’s more of a social thing. When you’re on your own, it’s more of a stuck-with-your-own-thoughts kind of thing. With group exercise, motivation to stick with the group is more of a driving force.”

Jones also works out with the bike and weight-bearing equipment and an elliptical at HealthSmart in Morris. His daughter gave him a gift of a bundle of LivFit spinning classes at Christmas a couple


of years ago, and he’s been going to both gyms ever since.

Dana Howd, a Seneca physician, has always exercised. In college, it was sports, and now, it’s Spinning class. It’s a great aerobic workout, she says, the music is very motivational, and she loves the instructors. In the past, she worked out on her own, but it’s the instructors who make all the diff erence, encouraging the riders to get their best workout. Plus, the classes get written down on her schedule, making her more likely to go.

And there’s nothing like exercising with others, she added, whether it’s sports or group fi tness.

“You form a bond and a friendship,” she said, “and you get to know the people who are there. You’re all in the same boat. You’re a team with the same goal.”

Certifi ed Spinning instructor at LivFit, Maureen Keegan, says there are times and situations when working out solo fi ts the bill. Some people need their private time, she said, away from people. Running on your own, she said, can give you that

release you need sometimes. And you can schedule solo exercising whenever it’s convenient for you.

Th ere are many advantages to group fi tness, too, she said.

“Th e instructor will push you a little harder than you would have worked out on your own,” she said, “and the instructor will be motivating. We don’t scream at you, but we use positive suggestions like asking them if they can pick up the pace or add more to the dial.”

A qualifi ed instructor will also watch the participants to make sure they have correct form and technique to prevent injury and to insure the most effi cient workout.

Some in her spinning classes meet up for activi-ties outside of class, too. A couple of them have gotten together for golf or have hiked at Starved Rock State Park.

Th e energy in a larger class is so much fun, too, Keegan says. It can become contagious.

“Th ey can feed off each other’s energy,” she said. “Everyone feels it. Th ey have more fun.” n

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Advantages to Group Exercise:• Exposure to a social and fun environment.

• Not as boring as exercising alone.

• A safe and effectively designed workout. An appropriately designed class includes warm-up, cool-down and fl exibility in addition to the conditioning section – something most of us may not know how to do.

• A consistent exercise schedule. Something you write in ink in your calendar, as opposed to telling yourself you’ll do it when you have time.

• An accountability factor.

• A workout that requires no prior exercise knowledge or experience.

*Source: American College of Sports Medicine


‘Keep your eye on the prize’

In this economy, it can be hard for many people to think about putting away money for the future, whether it’s for your retirement, college for the kids, or long-term care needs.

Edward Jones Financial Advisor Ben Sisk, who has an offi ce in downtown Minooka, has seen a lot of his clients sit tight and ride out the recession. He calls the strategy “buy and hold,” or hanging on to stocks with proven track records through the ups and downs.

“Th ose who developed a strategy and stuck with it are doing OK (today),” Sisk said.

Even though the economy is picking up, Sisk still hears from a lot of people about how diffi cult 2012 was for them.

In a story on stock market performance in 2012, Chris Preston of Wyatt Investment Research, said, “Th e S&P 500 gained 13.4 percent, marking the benchmark U.S. index’s largest annual return since 2009, and fourth-largest return in the last decade.”

So what’s the average Joe or Jane to do to have a bit of fi nancial security and peace of mind down the road?

Th e fi rst rule of investing is to develop a strategy. You need to sit down and look at where you are fi nancially today, where you want to be down the road and when. If you plan to retire

in fi ve years, you also want to assure you don’t outlive your money over the next 30 years. So, stay focused on the long term, consider the time frame, and factor in your tolerance for risk.

“Th ere are many diff erent types of investments and strategies,” said Sisk. “You are more apt to get to those goals by making them more specifi c.”

It’s easier to not bail on investments during tougher times when you stick with quality stocks, mutual funds and bonds. A hot tip might sound like a good investment, but many fads are just too good to be true.

Penny stocks, for instance, are common shares of small public companies, which trade at lower prices. Th ey can be enticing to invest in with the hope of large, quick profi ts. But they are targets for fl y-by-night stock promoters who artifi cially infl ate the share price and then dump the stock.

Which brings the investor to diversifi cation.“Too much in any one investment could be

a downfall,” said Sisk.By understanding your risk tolerance, you can

better chose how much to put into quality stocks that historically pay dividends, but can fl uctuate, and investments like CDs and bonds, which are stable but pay little interest. While the goal is to invest in the long term and not let short-term price fl uctuations scare you away, you need to

constantly maintain your portfolio by reviewing it regularly.

“Th ere’s never going to be a perfect investment,” Sisk said.

If you consider fi ve diff erent stocks, three will perform as predicted, one will take off and one will be a dog, he said.

“You don’t hang on to the dogs for too long,” said Sisk. “Buy and hold doesn’t mean buy and ignore.”

While investing strictly in CDs might seem the safest route to take with your money, they won’t keep pace with infl ation.

Infl ation is just one of the risks that every investor should be on the watch for, said Sisk. Others include market changes, interest rates and currency fl uctuations.

As interest rates go up over the next few years, the value of bonds will go down, Sisk said. So by being conscious of investment risks, you can keep a proper balance in your portfolio.

“You shuffl e things around if necessary,” he said, “to reduce risks or increase risk if you have too much in the bond market and need to move (some) to the stock market.”

Other important things to look for when investing for the future are –

Address any mistakes quickly. Many people

Investing in today’s economy Story by By Kris StadalskyHerald Correspondent

Economy


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sell stocks that perform well to make a profi t and hang onto those that perform poorly, hoping they’ll recover. By following that strategy for a long period, the investor could end up with underperforming investments. Sometimes it’s better to cut your losses and, again, purchase quality stocks for the long run.

Consider tax advantaged investments such as tax-free municipal bonds and a Roth IRA, which grows tax deferred.

Look into life insurance policies. Th ere’s things you can do with them to generate tax-free income down the road, said Sisk.

Review current life insurance contracts to see if there have been signifi cant changes over the last decade.

Up until April 15 you can still put money into your 2012 IRA.Th e contribution limits to both Roth IRAs and 401Ks have

been increased for 2013, and now also include a catch-up amount you can invest if you are over 50 years of age.

A big issue Sisk talks to his clients about is focusing on the things you can control. You can’t control the stock market, Springfi eld, Washington or what happens in Europe.

“Th ere’s always something in the news to make you nervous if you invest,” he said.

But focusing on diversifi cation, the quality of investments and the balance of stocks to bonds that is right for you, is the answer to making your money work for you in the long run.

“Be patient and stay invested. Th e short term problem is just that,”said Sisk. “Keep your eye on the prize down the road. In a world of uncontrollable (things) keep an eye on the things that are in your control.” n

Edward Jones Financial Advisor Ben Sisk helps a clientplan a “fi nancial strategy.”

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Grundy Go 1-31-2013