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26 | December 5, 2019 | the frankfort station life & arts frankfortstationdaily.com Mistletoe Market PRESENTED BY 22ND CENTURY MEDIA AND COLLEEN MCLAUGHLIN, THE MCLAUGHLIN TEAM, COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL 4–8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, Orland Park Crossing, 14225 95th Ave. Orland Park Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, an elf and live reindeer! Bring your camera! Live Ice Carving Demonstration Sandburg Chamber Singers Holiday music and more! FREE ADMISSION FAMILIES WELCOME Bring a new, unwrapped toy for our Toy Drive! 70+ vendors 22ndCenturyMedia.com/mistletoe Frankfort resident continues mission to save monarchs Nuria Mathog, Editor With their bright orange hues and black-streaked wings, monarchs are easily one of the most distinctive types of butterflies in North America. And they need the public’s help to stay that way. For the past five years, Frankfort resident Kay MacNeil has educated residents about these colorful creatures through the Garden Clubs of Illinois Milkweed for Monarchs program, which aims to raise awareness of the declining monarch population. “It’s something that is right in front of us, and it’s so easy to solve this,” she said. “We don’t see tigers and we don’t see elephants, and we send money to charities like that. But here is something. A monarch butterfly is just such an iconic symbol, and you put that on any kind of advertising, everybody looks at it. And it was just ridiculous that monarchs are on this major, major decline, and here in North America we just aren’t doing something about it, and it’s so simple.” According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the monarch butterfly population is estimated to have declined 90 percent in the past two decades, a drop attributed in large part to decreasing milkweed — the only plant that monarch caterpillars eat and where monarchs lay their eggs. MacNeil has made it her mission to collect and distribute milkweed seeds and encourage other residents to plant the seeds in their gardens, giving monarchs a place to Frankfort resident Kay MacNeil, creator of the Garden Clubs of Illinois Milkweed for Monarchs program, holds a monarch butterfly. Photo submitted grow and thrive. MacNeil estimates she has sold thousands of packets of milkweed and given several hundred presentations throughout her time with the Milkweed for Monarchs program. In 2018, she received an award from the National Garden Club for a work, and she also raises awareness about the importance of milkweed and helping monarchs on her YouTube channel, youtube.com/ channel/UC8coHlHAR H7aIkMNJj6uplA. “The other thing I do is collect milkweed pods, seed pods in the fall, and then those I will send out to anyone free with big acreage,” MacNeil added. “Which means that if you’re a park district, if you’re an individual that has a farm and you don’t mow, a township, a municipality that has an area they want to quit mowing and want to put milkweed in, I send that to them free. I just make them pay for the postage.” In the fall, MacNeil collects milkweed and stores it in her unheated garage to cold treat it, sending out packets to anyone who requests them. In the spring, she cleans out the garage, and any leftovers go to the Illinois Department of Transportation and to the toll roads to use on the roadsides, she said. “It’s a wonderful system,” MacNeil said. “I don’t make any money at it, of course. I don’t care to. But it really is the cheapest way for anybody to get milkweed and to get lots of information.” More information about the Milkweed for Monarchs program, including instructions for raising caterpillars and facts about the butterfly life cycle can be found online at milk weedformonarchs.info/. Residents interested in obtaining milkweed can request samples by sending a $2 cash donation and a self-addressed stamped business size envelope to MacNeil at 689 Golf Club Lane in Frankfort.
frankfortstationdaily.com dining out the frankfort station | December 5, 2019 | 27 The Dish ‘Good food, great service’ key to George’s successful 27-year run Abhinanda Datta Contributing Editor After spending over four decades in the food business, George Kollintzas has mastered the key to running a successful restaurant. “Good food, clean place and great service — these are my secret ingredients,” George said. The eatery, established in 1992 and located at 990 N. State St. in Lockport, has an extensive menu, from fresh salads to satiating desserts, and the owners take credit for revamping the items every few years. But no matter what the dish, they are all consistent in flavor, texture and presentation. “One unique thing we offer is consistency, since we’ve had the same cooks for about 20 years,” said Christina Kollintzas, George’s daughter and business partner. “People can always count on us for the same taste and the same friendly environment. We are all one big family here, and it is just very comfortable and welcoming.” The Kollintzas family moved to Chicago from California in 1990, and fortuitously came across a restaurant that already had one of its member’s name on it. While it got a complete makeover, “I did not have to spend money on the sign,” George said. George said he takes great pride in the wide variety of delicacies they serve, but if he had to pick a favorite, it would be the Greek 1/2 chicken ($14.95). Broiling for 30 minutes in lemon, garlic and herbs renders the meat tender and juicy. It is then cut into George’s Restaurant 990 N. State St. in Lockport Hours • Open 24 hours, daily For more information... Web: www. mygeorgesonline.com Phone: (815) 838- 7225 four pieces and served with Greek potatoes. After a taste of Greece, guests can allow their palates to explore some delectable Italian dishes such as the chicken broccoli Alfredo ($14.45) or the chicken penne pesto ($13.95). For those looking to discover the restaurant’s authentic flavors, there are George’s chicken penne ($13.95) — the owner’s own recipe, with chicken tossed with creamy tomato vodka sauce and penne noodles — or the spaghetti or mostaccioli ($13.45), which are prepared with meat sauce. Christina has been working at George’s since she was 14 and became a partner at 21 in July 2000. She said working with her dad gave her “the freedom to do what I needed”. “My father has been a great support and for the past 19 years, he has always had complete trust in me,” she said. “He believes in my vision for the restaurant.” The restaurant boasts a special menu section with healthier food options, and Christina said she is responsible for incorporating that. “I added them about 15 years ago, because I like keeping up with the trend as far as diets are con- The avocado toast ($8.95) at George’s Restaurant in Lockport is served with smashed avocado, house pico de gallo, chopped bacon and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Photos by Jacquelyn Schlabach/22nd Century Media The chipotle chicken and rice ($15.25) at George’s features grilled marinated chicken breast over rice with chipotle cream, avocado, tortilla strips and sour cream. cerned,” she said. “When my father bought the place, it was all about low-calorie meals. Later it changed to low-carb, and so I changed the menu to reflect more Paleo-friendly options.” Despite the lack of delicious, greasy condiments, these items are quite popular with the diners. “Strangely enough, one of our most soughtafter [dishes] is the skinny Greek chicken ($9.95) which is basically Greekstyle chicken breast paired with tomato, broccoli, and a cucumber and olive salad,” she said. “The other popular low-carb dish is the steamed veggie pita ($8.95), served with a lowfat cucumber sauce.” Another filling, healthy option is the keto bowl ($9.25), overflowing with veggies such as baby spinach, zucchini and squash, served with turkey sausage, two eggs and avocado toast. Guests can cap off their meals with one of the selections from the dessert menu. George suggests trying the berries and cream crepes ($9.45) — crepes lathered generously with sweet cream cheese, blueberries and strawberry sauce, and topped with powdered sugar. While the food at George’s is affordable and delicious, there is a lot of competition from the other eateries in Lockport. But, “we have been here for many years thanks to the love and support of the residents”, George said. “We have great staff, and that is important, because no matter how good the food is, if the service is lousy, no one will want to come back,” he said. “There is something for everyone here, and we love to make our guests happy.” One thing that sets George’s Restaurant apart is its 24-hour service. Whether it’s a midnight craving or mid-day pangs of hunger, the restaurant always has its doors open. Its real secret? “We lost our key, so we can never close,” George said.
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