Boomers
HITTING IT OUT OF THE PARK
Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp offer a fun baseball experience at home
Also:
• Learn about the origins of cleaning company
Ruby 2 Clean
• Make traveling less stressful with Travel Connections
• Turmeric recipes to spice things up
What I Didn’t Know Then
One of the things I miss most about my nearly carefree days of my teens and 20s was the feeling of invincibility I had. I ate whatever I wanted, giving no thought at all to how much trans fat or sugar a food or drink contained. I rarely ever went to the doctor’s office for anything. My body felt great, my mind was sharp, and I was ready at a moment’s notice for a road trip or my next adventure.
Now that I’m in my 50s, things have changed drastically. I read the labels on each food I eat like my life depends on it. I’ve mostly given up drinking Coke and eating candy, and I pay a concerning amount of attention to how many fruits and vegetables I eat each day.
As for my doctors, which one do you mean? I have a primary physician, a dermatologist, a chiroprac-
tor, and several other specialists at my disposal, and it seems like I’m seeing one of them almost once a week lately.
My body? The simple act of standing up seems like a feat of strength sometimes. I try to get some exercise every day, and I’ve noticed a lot of weakness in my muscles, so my strength training routine has been ramped up.
My mind isn’t nearly as sharp as it once was. I’m not as quick with the answers as I used to be while playing trivia games, and I find myself struggling to recall details and names at times.
I still love a good adventure, but now I have to make a packing list so I don’t forget my medication or any other essentials. I need time to consult different schedules to ensure I don’t have a doctor’s appointment or my kids don’t have
activities I’d like to attend. I’ve become a lot less spontaneous and much more boring.
I’d love to go back in time and tell my younger self to enjoy that carefree feeling while it lasted and that any worries I faced then were pretty trivial and would sort themselves out. And if my younger self happened to ask how we were doing now that we were in our 50s, I’d tell her the truth – that even though things aren’t always perfect at this age, I’m very happy with my life most days, despite my occasional grumbling about aging.
Best wishes,
Shannon Serpette Niche Editor
Cleaning Up 4
A
Play Ball! 7
Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp offers fun and affordability for baseball fans.
It’s Always Busy Season for Travel Connections 11
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The Magic of Turmeric 14
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General Manager/
Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Niche Editor Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com
Writers Brandon LaChance
Shannon Serpette
Designer Liz Klein
One-Stop
Ruby 2 Clean is located in Cornell but travels far and wide for its customers. It offers air duct cleaning, area carpet cleaning, stripping and waxing floors, dryer vent cleaning, estate clean-out services, grave headstone cleaning, gutter cleaning, pet odor and stain removal, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning, water restoration, smoke and fire restoration, mold removal, and encapsulates asbestos.
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Cleaning Up
A cleaning business helps the Ruberstell family strengthen their bond
Story by Brandon LaChance
In the 1980s, Chuck Ruberstell decided to make some extra income. He didn’t realize the extra income would become a professional endeavor for three decades and a way to strengthen ties with his wife Nikki and his son Blayton.
“When I graduated from Streator High School in 1988, I went to work for US Food Service, and I was there for 16 years. I worked in the afternoons. There was a truck driver during the day who owned a part-time carpet
cleaning business. He asked me if I would be interested in a side job cleaning carpets in the morning,” Chuck said.
“I showed up one weekend and then began working the part-time cleaning business job and the full-time US Food Service job for 16 years. Once my son was born, I decided to go off on my own because I wanted to be involved in his life in the afternoons. I quit my job at US Foods and went full-time into carpet cleaning and restoration,” he said.
The old business ended because the Ruberstell family had plans to move out of state. After family members endured health issues, the Ruberstells decided to stay in Illinois and restarted the business with a new name, Ruby 2 Clean.
“When I used to play soccer and when I was a kid, my name was Ruby. My father was
Chuck Ruberstell (right) has been in the cleaning and restoration business since 1989. Wanting to spend more time with his family since he wasn’t home for 12 to 16 hours some days, his wife Nikki (center) and his son Blayton (left) agreed to turn Ruby 2 Clean into a family business.
called Ruby also,” Chuck said. “Ruby fit on the back of shirts and Ruberstell didn’t. It was easier for my friends to call me Ruby rather than say my last name. The 2 is because there are always two people in the work van – either my wife and I or my son and I.”
Nikki was a commercial insurance agent for 22 years and was tired of not being active. Blayton, who is now 20, also works with the family business.
“When I had the other business, we put in 12-hour days; sometimes even 16 hours. The wife and son were at home, and I was always gone. Now it’s kind of nice because we all get to work together. We’re
together working as a family, and we’re not separated for 12 to 14 hours every day. We get to communicate,” Chuck said.
“They know how the days go and the frustrations that can come with long days. It’s more hands-on and actually understanding what the business needs and how much attention it takes. They understand it now because they’re with me,” he said.
The company, based in Cornell, services a vast area, including LaSalle, Peru, Ottawa, Tonica, Henry, Streator, Pontiac, Dwight, Sheridan, Newark, Seneca, Bloomington, Peoria, and everywhere in between. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Resto-
ration certified company does air duct cleaning, area carpet cleaning, stripping and waxing floors, dryer vent cleaning, estate clean-out services, grave headstone cleaning, gutter cleaning, pet odor and stain removal, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning, water restoration, smoke and fire restoration, mold removal, and encapsulates asbestos.
“Customer service is No. 1. The customers are so important because without the customers, we won’t survive,” Chuck said. “Customer service and customer attention is our top priority. The saying on the work van says, ‘The quality you expect, the customer service you deserve.’”
The family-owned Ruby 2 Clean travels to many counties in Illinois to offer cleaning and restoration services. In 2024, Ruby 2 Clean was voted victorious in three categories of The Best of the Illinois Valley.
PLAY BALL!
Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp offers fun and affordability for baseball fans
Story by Brandon LaChance
Baseball fans who want to check out an exciting game without having to leave the Illinois Valley are in luck, thanks to the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. And the Illinois Valley had a reason to celebrate in the summer of 2024 when the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp won its first Prospect League Championship.
Everyone involved with the Pistol Shrimp played their part in that success, including team owner and field manager Jon Jakiemiec, the players, the staff, the interns, and general manager June Keeley.
Keeley extends the congratulations a step further.
“I tell people when they say congratulations to the team for winning the championship, it’s congratulations to everyone because the entire community is the secret sauce that puts us over the top,” Keeley said.
“You can have the best athletes on the field – the most competitive and fundamentally sound athletes – but they have to have a certain chemistry and work together.
“The enthusiasm and the support from the fans, what the players hear from the fans, is really what sets it apart and makes it all happen. To kind of stand back and look at how big it has grown and what it has become and what it means to people is amazing,” she added.
Keeley has been with the Pistol Shrimp from the start.
In 2019, the team was founded in DuPage County as the DuPage Pistol Shrimp, with home games played at Benedictine University in Lisle.
The franchise’s first season was played in Lisle, but then COVID-19 canceled the Prospect League’s 2020 season. The Pistol Shrimp played 18 games in a summer inhouse league started by the Joliet Slammers, with all contests played in Joliet.
In 2021, the team became the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp when they moved to Peru and Schweickert Stadium.
See BASEBALL page 8
Baseball
FROM PAGE 7
“It’s very rewarding and very validating that everything we’re doing is amounting to success. We won the league championship in six years, but not even a full six years,” Keeley said. “Building the team within the community in terms of our attendance records being broken every year and to achieve a Prospect League Championship on the field, it’s huge. Every year the club has been in existence has been unique and has offered its own challenges.
“Strange things have happened. Wonderful things have happened,” she said. “The move to the Illinois Valley in 2021 was so much because we didn’t have any previous relationships with businesses. We didn’t know a lot of people. I’ve lived in the Chicago suburbs my entire adult life and hadn’t really been to the Starved Rock area much.”
However, from the first visit, Keeley appreciated what the Illinois Valley had to offer.
“When Jon and I first visited, we just knew the Illinois Valley felt like home and it was the place to be. There were so many pieces logistically to figuring out how it was going to work, who was going to work, and we needed staff, interns, and a team. Everything shifted because we had planned on being in Lisle but only played one season there before the big move, big change,” she said.
Keeley, who is also an independent insurance broker, is originally from Peru, Indiana, (she laughs and calls it ironic) and resides in Naperville. However, from mid-May to mid-August, she lives in the Illinois Valley during baseball season.
“The job is too much to
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Although June Keeley didn’t take an at-bat or make a mound appearance for the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp in 2024, she was instrumental in helping the club win its first Prospect League Championship.
drive back and forth every day, even though it’s only a one hour and 15-minute drive,” Keeley said. “I feel very at home in the valley.
I’ve gotten to make a lot of friendships in addition to the relationships that have developed through the team with sponsors, vendors, and com-
munity organizations.”
She has built connections with fans and can relay stories she has been told about fans coming to games with their late spouses and their children.
Keeley is also proud to be a female general manager of a baseball team.
“Being a general manager of a baseball team has not been traditionally a female role. In the Prospect League, there is Jeanie Cooke who is a coowner of the Danville Dans, whose entire life is baseball,” Keeley said. “We just had the retirement of Ginger Fulton, who was the general manager for the Champion City Kings. And the Johnstown Mill Rats have Sarah Rex as the general manager. Out of the 18 teams in the Prospect League, it is nice we have female representation.
“No one seems to bat an eyelash that I’m a woman and a general manager. When the umpire crews come into town, there isn’t a discernible notice that it’s a female or male in the role. For me, the most satisfying part about me being a female in this role is working with the interns I do. I am showing younger female students that anything is possible. They can have any job they want. They can be a general manager of an MLB team,” Keeley said.
“The sky is the limit, and there is nothing you can’t do. I think it’s showing through action. Here I am as an example that they can do these things too. It’s whatever they put their mind to.”
What is really interesting is how it all started. Keeley didn’t search for a general manager job. She never thought it was something she was going to do.
“I was halfheartedly job hunting. I had been doing a lot of volunteer work,” Keeley said. “My son, Ryan Keeley, had a pitching coach, Mark
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
June Keeley has a family outside of her baseball family as well. Her daughter Jordan (left) lives and works in Chicago, while her son Ryan (right) is finishing his final year of college in Hilo, Hawaii.
Sheehan, who told me a friend and business associate of his was starting a baseball team in the Prospect League. He had mentioned the job would be in sales to help with sponsorships and it should be super easy.
“I met with Jon in the fall of 2018. At the meeting, I figured out quickly the position was so much more than a simple ad-selling position over the phone. I knew Jon needed someone to be a manager and take care of the behind-thescenes aspects of baseball. He and I clicked right away. He brought me in as general manager, and the rest is history.”
Taking the chance to explore her options led her on this path.
“This little meeting for a part-time sales job led to me being a general manager and it has become a really big part of my life. It’s been the best part of my life for the last six years and into the future,” she said.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
When a player signs with the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, the first thing they do is go to the field for general manager June Keeley to get them outfitted for the season. Throughout the season, Keeley maintains relationships with the players during events and games.
We
It’s always busy season for Travel Connections
Story by Brandon LaChance
In this ever-changing world, it can be difficult to know all the ins and outs of booking your own travel arrangements. If you’re planning a once-ina-lifetime international trip to celebrate your retirement or for a big milestone birthday or anniversary, it can add more stress, especially if you’ve never traveled out of the U.S. It can save you a lot of time and frustration to enlist the help of an experienced travel advisor like you’ll find at Travel Connections in Peru.
“We’re with our clients every step of the way. It doesn’t cost more to use a travel advisor,” said Erin Foster, agency manager and travel advisor for Travel Connections in Peru. “The way I look at it, and how we all feel in our office, if you’re booking directly with Apple Vacations or Royal Caribbean, you’re paying the same price for a service that you’re not getting if you were to book the trip through a travel advisor.
“Are there some things people can do on their own? Absolutely. There are people who travel around the United States and they can do it themselves. We focus predominately (for U.S. travel) on packages for Alaska, Hawaii, escorted group tours in the U.S., and ocean and river cruises. We have agents who specialize in Walt Disney and Uni-
Travel Connections in Peru has helped travelers book, plan, and enjoy amazing vacations throughout the world over the last 14 years. Helping make those trips and memories happen are agency manager and travel advisor Erin Foster (front row, left to right), owner and travel advisor Colleen Mitchell, group tour director Don Grant Zellmer (standing, left to right), and travel advisor Carol Keller.
versal Studios in Orlando, Florida. But really, the bulk of what we work on is all international,” Foster said.
Understanding what a travel advisor does may help people decide if they need the services, so Foster explained how having a travel advisor can help.
“When you put the deposit down for the trip, our job doesn’t end there. We’re con-
stantly working around the clock dealing with itinerary changes and airline schedule changes. This airport moved their seat and they weren’t notified. This cruise line had an issue with dinner reservations. We resolve those issues and handle all of the maintenance side most people don’t see,” Foster said.
See TRAVEL page 12
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“That’s how it should be. We’re handling it on our side of things because our clients don’t have the time or the patience to deal with those things. They shouldn’t have to,” she added.
Foster, who has been with Travel Connections since it opened 14 years ago, added that she and her staff are involved in every stage of the trip, not just the problems or emergencies. The process starts with a consultation, whether in-person or through email, phone, or Zoom, for Travel Connections to meet their clients who are local, in Illinois, and around the country.
The consultation gives the advisors an opportunity to meet the client and get to know them and their travel experience, what they’re interested in doing, and then give them all of their options to help them accomplish their mission of reserving a dream vacation.
The travel advisors also help prepare their clients for departure, help obtain documents, and give their cell phone numbers to clients when they travel so they have 24-7 access if there is an emergency or issue.
“I think it can be great to have a travel advisor in your back pocket. We develop great relationships with our clients,” Foster said.
“We have clients who have experience at all ends of the spectrum. We’re working with first-timers. We’re working with people who maybe have a few trips under their belt. And we have very experienced travelers that still want the knowledge, experience, and security of having someone to go to in the event of an issue or problem when they’re traveling,” she said. “We’re here for everybody. We like to work one-on-one with our clients and develop those relationships. That’s really important to us.”
Residents from the Illinois Valley have used Travel Connections to go near and far. But, of course, some places are more popular destinations than others.
“Europe is off the charts right now. Europe, Alaska, and Hawaii are always incredibly popular. I think our advisor who specializes in Alaska travel is closed out for the season. Alaska has a short season, and they’re already booking into 2026,” Foster said.
“I’m doing a lot with Italy since this year is a Jubilee year in Rome. I have a lot of people looking for new destinations,
such as Spain, Portugal, and Croatia has been on the rise. We’ve had multiple requests for African safaris that we’re working on. Mexico Caribbean is also very popular. We’re kind of all over the globe when it comes to travel destination popularity,” Foster said.
In a world where people can book their own travel arrangements, it seems weird to some when a travel advisor is mentioned or suggested. Foster is asked often if Travel Connections is busy.
She immediately thinks of an inside joke with her husband.
“My husband, Joel Foster, always jokes when I say we are in our busy season. He says, ‘It’s always busy season.’ And honestly, he is probably right because we are always so busy,” Foster said.
“We just made our third office move, so we had more space to bring in another employee. Our business has grown exponentially year after year. The only year we saw a decline was the year of the pandemic – 2020. It was shortlived, and we had people traveling by 2021. Then we had two of our best years in 2022 and 2023. We’re still seeing sales continuing to rise. Things are not slowing down anytime soon. We’ve always felt in demand,” she said.
128 First St., P.O. Box 208 Standard, IL 61363 (815) 339-2711 or (800) 757-4579 pcaservices.org
• Information & Assistance Linking People to Benefit & Services
• Outreach Home Visits
• Congregate Meals Tues. & Thurs. ($8 Suggested Donation for those 60+)
• Certified SHIP Site (Medicare Help)
• Activities & Programs Tues. & Thurs.
• Lending Closet (Free Use of Medical Equipment)
• Family Caregiver Resources
• Alzheimer Disease & Related Disorder Services
• EngAGED Program (Reduces social isolation and loneliness among older adults)
The Magic of Turmeric
This yellowish-orange spice offers big flavor and health benefits
By Shannon Serpette
If you’re looking for a way to spice up your food, turmeric might be the answer. Well-known for being in curry powder, turmeric can be used in teas and foods and is reported to
have medicinal benefits as well. Experts claim it is an anti-inflammatory that may also naturally help lower cholesterol and help with pain from arthritis. For those who tend to use a lot of salt in recipes, turmeric can offer intense flavor without add-
Golden Milk
INGREDIENTS
Two cups of almond milk or regular milk
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of black pepper, optional
1 tablespoon honey, optional
DIRECTIONS
Warm milk on low to medium heat in a pot on the stove. It should reach a warm temperature but not be boiled. Add the turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger. To help your body absorb more turmeric, you can add a pinch of pepper if desired. Stir the spices in well. If you want a sweeter drink, add one tablespoon of honey.
ing sodium, so it may also help you put the salt shaker down.
If you’re interested in experimenting with turmeric in the kitchen, here are some recipes to try, including one for Golden Milk, a warming drink during colder months.
Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken
INGREDIENTS
2 medium potatoes, cubed (peeled if desired)
1 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 cup coconut milk
4 teaspoons curry powder
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups hot cooked rice, any kind
DIRECTIONS
Place potatoes and onion in a slow cooker. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat and add chicken. Cook until lightly browned, turning once, which takes about 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Combine coconut milk, curry, garlic, bouillon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and pour the mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, about 5 to 6 hours. Remove chicken to cutting board. Cut into slices.
Serve the chicken and sauce with the rice.
Spicy Tandoori Chicken
INGREDIENTS
1 and 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, minced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon fennel seed
3/4 teaspoon ground fenugreek
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 bone-in chicken thighs (around two pounds)
SAUCE INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons honey
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
DIRECTIONS
Whisk together the Greek yogurt, minced chipotle peppers, gingerroot, garlic, paprika, cinnamon, salt, fennel seed, fenugreek, turmeric, coriander, cloves, and pepper until combined well. Pour one cup of the mixture into a shallow dish. Add uncooked chicken and turn to coat. Refrigerate overnight, or at least three hours. Cover and refrigerate the rest of the yogurt/spice mixture.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drain the chicken and discard the marinade. Bake chicken in a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan until the chicken reaches a temperature of 170 degrees, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the sauce by combining the rest of the yogurt/spice mixture, water, and honey in a small pan over medium heat. Remove from heat, stir in lime juice and cilantro. Serve the chicken topped with the sauce.
Curried Cauliflower Tacos
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 cauliflower, cut into small florets
8 corn tortillas
Sour cream (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, stir together the olive oil and curry powder. Add the cauliflower florets and toss. Place the cauliflower on a baking dish in a single layer.
Roast the cauliflower for about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. Fill the tortillas with cauliflower and add a small amount of sour cream, if desired. This also pairs well with fruit salsa, particularly pineapple salsa.
Spicy Egg Salad
INGREDIENTS
6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, stir the mayo, minced onion, turmeric, salt, and pepper until mixed well. Add the chopped eggs and celery. Stir well and refrigerate until ready to eat.
