TODAY Historical Hotspots of the Illinois Valley Boomers
Also:
• Local athletic directors discuss their careers
• Grocery shopping tips for seniors
• Heat up this summer with salsa recipes
Taking off the rose-colored glasses
The other day, I was thinking about how different my kids’ childhood is than mine was. I’m not the type of person to classify something as wholly good or bad, so you’ll never hear me say my childhood was better than theirs and that their generation missed out on the good old days, as I’ve heard some people my age claim.
Kids of today have a lot of opportunities I never had, and I had some opportunities they’ll never have.
I was born in the 1970s and enjoyed spending most of my formative years in the 1980s. There was so much to love about that decade – the music, movies, video games, bold fashions, and big hair (I can’t help it – I adored big hair). It was one of the best decades for pop culture, and I have great memories of piling on my rubber bracelets and big, floppy headbands in a desperate attempt to look like Madonna. I would wait by
the radio all day with a blank tape in the tape deck to quickly hit record when I heard my favorite songs on the radio so I could make a mix tape.
As much as I fiercely loved the 1980s, my nostalgia doesn’t erase the fact that we faced a lot of problems back then. We had our fair share of violence that shook the nation, such as the murders of John Lennon and Adam Walsh. Both President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II survived assassination attempts. We had the War on Drugs, the rise of AIDS, the ever-present threat of nuclear war, the Exxon oil spill, and the bizarre Cabbage Patch Kids fever that turned normal parents into raving lunatics in stores.
So, when I tell my kids about how wonderful it was to grow up in the 1980s, I also tell them the world was still a scary place, with plenty of challenges to navigate. There were many
times when I worried about the state of the world when I was a child and teenager, and that’s something every generation faces. But I also learned an important lesson – how to have fun despite all those concerns.
My kids’ generation is facing challenges that can seem impossible – school shootings, climate change, microplastic pollution, and political unrest. My greatest hope for them is that they continue to be happy even with all those threats on the horizon. I hope they have the opportunity to tell their own kids someday how wonderful it was growing up in their generation.
Best wishes, Shannon Serpette, Niche Editor
Grocery Shopping on a Budget 4
Strategies to help loyal customers make the most of their shopping trips.
Visit the Past in the Illinois Valley 8
Historical hotspots to check out.
For the Love of the Game 13
Ohlson, Bickett are two champions of local sports.
Spice It Up 18
Salsas to serve all summer long.
On the cover: Amanda Carter, museum director at LaSalle County Historical Society, stands next to a carriage President Abraham Lincoln rode in.
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Grocery Shopping
on a Budget
It happened fast and blew up household budgets across the United States. Prices of food rose quickly everywhere – at the grocery store, fast food, or sit-down restaurants.
Some people blame the pandemic for the increases, while others point to additional contributing factors, such as inflation, higher wages, and increasing production and transportation costs.
“We’re finally out of the feast or famine mode where everyone is trying to utilize the COVID-19 fact of bringing gross profit,” said Dylan Inman, the store director at Sullivan’s Foods in Mendota. “Especially during COVID, we saw huge price increases. Through the pandemic, we saw price increases every two weeks. They couldn’t get product; it was scarce. Finally, we’re seeing decreases with Kraft and a few of the other large corporations that have a lot of weight to swing. Now that they’re catching up with the supply and demand and things are evening out, minimum wage rose in January of 2024 and is going to happen again in 2025.”
Inman has seen price fluctuations before as he has been an assistant store director at both Sullivan’s Princeton and Mendota locations for eight years before taking over Mendota in September 2023.
The chain, which has 11 stores in Illinois, was bought in 2023 by Coborn’s, a company based in Minnesota. Coborn’s has recommended the Sullvan’s stores continue to support and assist each other while introducing its resources in 66 other Coborn’s locations through six states (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota).
Throughout his experience, he has learned different strategies to help loyal customers make the most of their shopping trips.
While Sullivan’s Foods was bought in 2023 by Coborn’s, a company based in Minnesota, the communication and assistance hasn’t changed between the 11 stores originally owned by Sullivan’s in Mendota, Princeton, Kewanee, Morrison, Mt. Morris, Lena, Savanna, Marengo, Freeport, Winnebago, and Stockton, as well as the addition resources in the other 66 Co-
PHOTO BY BRANDON LACHANCE
Sullivan’s Foods in Mendota has felt the nationwide food price increase like every other grocery store.
Story by Brandon LaChance
born’s grocery stores in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
“We’re always trying to hit our payroll percentages to make the store profitable. It’s getting harder and harder to do with minimum wage raising,” Inman said. “We’re finding different ways to utilize our employees the best way we can and have employees wear multiple hats. You used to see somebody be a cashier. Now, they’re a cashier and a stocker. We’re always trying to find other ways to keep people busy to get the most out of them so we don’t have to increase prices.
“As far as I’m concerned at store level, we don’t adjust prices based on anything other than what we receive them at. All of our retails are based off of cost. We don’t play that game. We try to hit our percentages and if I can buy a pallet and pass the savings down to the customer, I always try to do it,” Inman said. “The most control
I have over pricing is ordering. If I order the right way and at the cheapest price, I don’t take those pennies to the bank. If I get something for $3.50 that’s normally $5.99, I’m going to pass the savings to our customers.”
There are a few other ways Inman and Sullivan’s tries to help customers.
Most shoppers have heard of Sullivan’s huge meat sales and have seen the ads in newspapers and on their stands when they walk in the door.
“My biggest piece of advice when it comes to shopping on a budget at Sullivan’s Foods is pay attention to our ads,” Inman said. “When we have a hot buy or a front-page item, those are the items I’d really encourage customers to check out.”
The ads, as well as the general focus of Sullivan’s Foods, is pointed in two directions – the elderly and young families.
“Truthfully, I’ve seen a switch to
See BUDGET page 6
PHOTO BY BRANDON LACHANCE
Shopping cheap is difficult in 2024. Sullivan’s Foods in Mendota is trying its best to help customers shop on a budget with ad sales and competitive pricing.
Budget
FROM PAGE 5
for youth and adult, in the ads,” Inman said. “With the service we give, we feel like we have a solid elderly clientele, and we try to keep it. The biggest thing we’re trying to do is keep the elderly while bringing in the younger adults who might not have the brand loyalty or store loyalty that some of the older customers have that we’ve earned over the years.
Sullivan’s is also committed to helping everyone get groceries in their homes – even if they can’t make it to the store.
PHOTO BY BRANDON LACHANCE
The bakery, deli, and produce sections remain Sullivan’s Foods best draws. As prices rise, Sullivan’s tries to keep the price tags as low as possible to help customers enjoy their favorites.
“Other options we have for our older customers are Tuesday online and call-in orders that Mendota Area Senior Services (MASS) helps us deliver. If there are people who can’t get out
and about or need help getting stuff, they can call in, place an order with us over the phone. We’ll pick it off of the shelves and deliver it whether it’s one of our delivery drivers or MASS’s drivers.
That’s another service we started to help our elderly customers,” Inman said.
“It got big with COVID-19, and now we still do it for the elderly, the injured, or anyone who can’t get out of their home. It’s awesome because we get to help the community, and we get the opportunity to work with MASS,” he added.
Saving may not be as easy as it once was, but Sullivan’s also continues to use its biggest draws – deli, bakery, and produce – to help customers save. Inman and the staff try to refrain from increasing prices and try to lower prices as often as possible to assist customers in grocery shopping on a budget.
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Enjoy Life to the Fullest
The LaSalle County Historical Society has several buildings in Utica that showcase the county’s rich history.
Visit the Past in the Illinois Valley
Historical Hotspots to Check Out
Story & Photos by
Shannon Serpette
istory lovers will find a lot to explore and learn in the Illinois Valley. The residents in this region are proud of the Illinois Valley’s past and show that pride with its many historical societies, landmarks, and museums. Those who want to explore local history will find no shortage of sites to visit. There are interesting things to
learn in every city or town in the Illinois Valley. Here are some historical sites to check out – although this is by no means a comprehensive list.
LASALLE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A great place to begin learning about the county’s history is through the LaSalle County Historical Society. It has several buildings in North Utica filled with displays and artifacts, including
the Canal Warehouse Museum, the Heritage Center, Aitken One-Room School House, a Blacksmith Shop, an 1875 Barn, and Canal Market.
The historic Canal Warehouse Museum is an excellent starting point for those who want to learn about the county’s pre-1900s history.
“This museum houses our 1900s and before history,” Amanda Carter, museum director at LaSalle County Historical Society, said.
Right as visitors walk in the door, they’ll see the carriage President Abraham Lincoln rode in when he attended the Lincoln-Douglas debate in Ottawa’s Washington Park.
“We have quite a bit on the Civil War,” she added.
Other displays celebrate important figures, events, and themes in LaSalle County’s history, such as Wild Bill Hickok, the Indian Creek Massacre, abolitionists, the I&M Canal, and more.
Admission to the museum is free, although donations are appreciated.
HEGELER CARUS MANSION
The Hegeler Carus Mansion in LaSalle has a history that spans 150 years, and with 57 rooms to explore, the mansion is an excellent place for curious minds to visit.
The origins of this house begin with German immigrant Edward Hegeler, who settled in LaSalle and began a business, the Hegeler-Matthiessen Zinc Company, with his business partner and friend, Frederick William Matthiessen, in 1858.
The guided tours offered at the mansion are full of historical tidbits and interesting facts about the family who lived there.
I&M CANAL VISITOR CENTER
At this center located in LaSalle, visitors will learn about the important role I&M Canal played in history and have the opportunity to visit the Lock 16 Gift Shop and Cafe.
You can also purchase boat tour tickets, which will give you a trip on The Volunteer, a replica of a canal boat. People of all ages will marvel at the experience of riding this boat because it runs on mule power.
REDDICK MANSION AND WASHINGTON SQUARE
A trip to Ottawa to visit Reddick Mansion, which was built in 1855, is worth the drive all on its own. The Reddick Mansion boasts 22 rooms and was an expensive home for its time. When you visit Reddick Mansion, you’ll also see another historical site. The mansion is next to Washington Square, which is well-known because
See PAST page 11
Bob McGrath, an American actor best known for his work on Sesame Street, was born in Ottawa in 1932. One of his iconic sweaters from Sesame Street is on display at the LaSalle County Historical Society.
War Ration memorabilia is on display at the LaSalle County Historical Society in Utica.
PAGE 9
it was the location of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858, making it a must-see for any Lincoln or Civil War historians.
BUREAU COUNTY MUSEUMS
Those who are in LaSalle County may want to take a drive to Bureau County to check out its many county museums. One of the most wellknown museums in Bureau County is the Owen Lovejoy Homestead in Princeton.
“The Lovejoy home is a National Historic Landmark and was a stop on the Underground Railroad,” Jessica Gray, who as the curator at Bureau County History Center is fascinated by local history, said.
The Lovejoy home is just one of many fascinating Bureau County museums – Gray also recommends visiting the county museums in Cherry, Manlius, Mineral, Neponset, Spring Valley, Sheffield, Tiskilwa, and Wyanet. To find addresses for each museum, visit bureauhistory.org.
“All of these locations are chockfull of treasures and memories and stories unique to those communities. The staff at these facilities would love to talk to you and share what they know,” Gray said.
THE RED COVERED BRIDGE
Whenever visitors come to Bureau County, the Red Covered Bridge, located approximately one and one-half miles north of Princeton, is one of the first spots that locals tell them to visit. It’s an immense source of pride for the county, and the 1863 structure is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only five covered bridges remaining in the state of Illinois, according to Gray.
Until recently, Bureau County’s Red Covered Bridge was the sole covered bridge in Illinois that remained open to traffic.
“That last distinction was put on pause last November when a truck driver drove through it at a high rate of speed and nearly tore the roof off. If you listened very closely that November morning, you would have heard the sound of thousands of hearts breaking at once, mourning over the wreckage of this extraordinary landmark,” Gray said.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is planning its restoration.
“All indications are it will take years to bring it back to its former glory,” Gray said. “In the 161 years since it was built, it has been witness to thousands of big and little memories playing out in its shadow: wedding and
See PAST page 12 A military display at LaSalle County Historical Society encourages viewers to think about the sacrifices made by others to serve and protect the United States.
homecoming photos, family reunions, and mischievous youths jumping from the gap in its wood boards into the cooling waters of Bureau Creek below. Its 149-foot span has borne the weight of the changing forms of transportation, from horse and buggy to car, as time marched ever onward. It is beloved county-wide, and even in its current state, still worth a visit. When one looks at it from a certain angle, out of view of any modern technology, it’s like stepping back in time.”
THE BUREAU COUNTY HISTORY CENTER
“Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the History Center. Yes, I work there, but I also genuinely love the place. We maintain three historic buildings, the oldest turned 171 years old this spring,” Gray said.
“We are caretakers for the beautiful 11,000 square foot Clark-Norris Colonial Revival home
built in 1899-1900 by Samuel and Ann Clark, whose parents were some of the earliest settlers to Dover. We also oversee the Newell-Bryant Home, built in the Greek Revival style in 1853 by Benjamin and Harriet Newell. The home now serves as a rotational exhibit space. Finally, we also oversee the former Matson Public Library, now known as the Sash Stalter Matson Building, originally constructed in 1913 by the Chicago firm Patton & Miller, who built dozens of Carnegie Libraries across the country,” she said.
While the historic buildings are fascinating in their own right, the contents stored in the buildings are treasures as well.
“We maintain the estimated 26,000 glass slide collection of Henry W. Immke, who operated in Princeton from the mid1860s to 1924. I love any opportunity to look at these old photographs. They are vivid representations of our past,” Gray said.
For the Love of the Game
Ohlson, Bickett are two champions of local sports
Story by Brandon LaChance
Sometimes, a person doesn’t want to return to the town where they grew up and graduated from high school.
Then there are people like Jeff Ohlson and Brad Bickett, who go for a few years to get a college education or some life experience before returning to have a successful professional career.
Ohlson, a 1992 Princeton High School graduate who played football, basketball, and track and field, left for North Park College in Chicago (now North Park University), was part of the indoor and outdoor track teams and the football squad, and obtained a degree.
It didn’t take long for him to transition his busy days as an athlete into crammed schedules as a professional teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, substitute teacher coordinator, and dean of students.
“Being busy playing, coaching, or something surrounding sports has kind of been what I’ve always lived. When I was in high school, I always wanted to be an athletic director,” Ohlson said. “I thought it was a great job, and I wanted to do it. But I figured I should be a teacher before I became an AD. I taught physical education and social studies for 16 years at Bureau Valley High School. When I started, I wanted to coach, and I wanted to start with football.
“After football season ended after my first year, they came to me and said, ‘Hey, we heard you played basketball in high school. We need an assistant girls’ basketball coach.’ I went home and asked my wife. I said we need new living room furniture and told her I have an idea of how we can get the money. I told her I’d coach for a year to pay for the furniture. I think I stopped coaching girls’ basketball 15 years later,” he said.
His wife, Christy Quait-Ohlson, and their two children, Zachary Quait-Ohlson and Ana Quait-Ohlson, have seen Ohlson working long hours in his many different positions.
Without them, he wouldn’t have been able to excel as a BV teacher and coach from 1997-2015 or at Princeton High School, where he has been the athletic director, the substitute coordinator, and dean throughout the last nine years.
“The more time you do anything, the more experience you get and the more comfortable you become making decisions,” Ohlson said. “No decision is ever easy, even after doing it for 25-plus years. I think about every decision I make. A coach told me once, ‘You get into education, make sure every decision you make is for the kids.’ I kind of always look at that.
“When I have to make a decision or look into people making decisions, I think about doing what’s best for kids. That’s not always the most popular decision or the most popular
Ohlson
Champions
PAGE 13
way of looking at situations. Athletics and teaching at the high school level is about the kids. Doing what’s best for them should be the number one priority,” he said. “If you have to re-teach a lesson because it didn’t go over well the first time, well, you do it because it’s what’s best for the kids. If it’s changing something in practice because it’ll be better for the team and for the kids, then you make those changes.”
Since the first day on the job, Ohlson has been a fan of learning and a fan of communication. Along the way, he’s found the two intermingle.
“You have to be willing to learn. A famous coach once said, ‘If you think you’ve learned everything, you’ve just started to learn.’ I don’t believe I’ve learned everything. There is always a better way to do something. There is someone doing the same thing a different way; it’s about going out and learning,” he said.
Ohlson is constantly communicating with others as part of his job.
“I like to have conversations with people. When I was coaching, I had conversations with coaches. When I was teaching, I liked to have conversations with other teachers. As an administrator, I chat with other administrators. I like to pick the brains of other people because I think that’s how you learn,” he said.
“I’m a little curious about things. If there is something I think is neat or could be beneficial, I do some research. Right now, I think one of the big buzzwords in education, and generally in the world today, is the social-emotional aspect of people and how they learn. I’ve dived into it to see how it impacts athletics. We have some of that in PHS education, but how do we expand it into athletics? I’m looking into it and having conversations about it,” he said. Along the way, there have been
Being a three-sport coach, a teacher, and an administrator takes a lot of effort and time. Jeff Ohlson said without his family supporting him and allowing him to work from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. some days, he wouldn’t have the career he has. Ohlson is pictured with (left to right) son Zachary Quait-Ohlson, daughter Ana Quait-Ohlson, and his wife of 27 years, Christy.
challenges such as COVID-19, when administrators had to balance safety, health, new research, limited answers, and doing what’s best for kids while meeting state and federal mandates as the world traveled through a great unknown.
Although the pandemic was a little more difficult and longer lasting than others, Ohlson normally welcomes challenges.
“Every day is a challenge. To borrow a line from Forrest Gump, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get,’” Ohlson said. “Every day a new challenge presents itself. How am I going to deal with it? Then at the end of the day, how did I deal with it? At the end of the day, I reflect and think about what happened and if there is anything I’d change and do differently. I learn a lot through reflection on how the day or the week has gone. How would I change them?” Even with the challenges he faces,
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Ohlson is happy with the career path he has taken.
“I love my job. I don’t know of a day where I’ve woken up and wasn’t excited or happy to go to work. From the first day I started as a teacher at Bureau Valley to this morning when I got up to go to Princeton High School, I love going to work. I love going to PHS and seeing the kids’ faces,” he said.
Bickett has had an enjoyable career as well. The 1987 Ohio High School graduate retired as the Bureau Valley athletic director on June 1 after four years as leader of Storm sports. His resume of teaching and coaching goes back to when he joined Buda Western High School during the 1990-91 school year. Bureau Valley opened in 1995-96, and Bickett stayed in the classroom until four years ago. He also coached basketball, track, and football at Buda, basketball at BV, and basketball for eight years at Rock Falls High School.
Bickett was teaching, coaching, and administrating at one school while his wife Jolene and their children Bailey, Jaylen, Claire, and Miley were teaching and attending schools in Rock Falls, where the family resides.
Even though he’s no longer athletic director, Bickett will still follow local sports.
“I’m excited to go to games as a spectator and not have to worry about some of the athletic director responsi-
bilities because it doesn’t matter how hard you try, you can’t make everyone happy. And that’s disappointing because I’m someone who cares a lot. I’m excited about attending some outstanding games around the area regardless of the sport because I’m a sports fan,” Bickett said.
“I’m excited about retirement after 34 years of always having a significant role at games and activities as a coach, teacher, or athletic director. It’s going to be relaxing to be a fan. I’ll miss some of the close interaction with officials. During my stay as BV AD, I really enjoyed the relationships with the umpires and the officials whether volleyball, football, basketball, and the rest. I know they have tough jobs, and I tried to reiterate that to our kids and to our spectators,” he said.
With having four kids at home and a school full of students and student-athletes at work, Bickett treated the kids at school the same way he treated his own children.
“We have a family where we discipline our children. We teach our kids to do things the right way. There were a lot of times I would kind of perform my duties as an administrator the way I would a parent. I wasn’t afraid to tell the kids, ‘If I’m your parent, this is how I’d do things.’ I’d try to give them helpful advice when they were struggling with something,” he said.
“I think my players respected me for coaching them hard and for the passion I coached with. As an administrator, I think the kids know I care about them. I may have been hard on them, had high expectations for each one of them, and held them accountable. I wouldn’t change anything about that to keep them to high standards,” he added.
Bickett knew when he took the AD job at BV, it was only going to be for four years before retirement. He knew his daughter Claire was going to be at Rock Falls those same four years, and
See CHAMPIONS page 16
PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Brad Bickett was known as a fantastic basketball player for state runner-up Ohio High School in 1986. His playing career behind him, Bickett went to college and returned to the area to teach and coach.
Champions
PAGE 15
Miley would be playing junior high sports as she is entering high school in the fall.
With his family’s acceptance and understanding, he was able to finish his career the way he wanted.
“This is absolutely how I wanted my career to end. I’m looking forward to retirement, but I’m not one of those guys who is going to limp to the finish line. I thoroughly enjoy what I do. There’s nothing better than working with our unbelievable coaching staff. We just have some outstanding people in the right spots. I feel good about being a part of the administration team that has put those people in the right spots to lead Bureau Valley
athletically to the future,” he said. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to be
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a part of Bureau Valley athletics and a ton of great memories.”
PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Brad Bickett has a hall-of-fame career in many aspects, but he was acknowledged for his athletic resume by the Shaw Media Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame as both a member of the 1985-86 basketball team and an individual player.
Spice It Up
Salsas to serve all summer long
By Shannon Serpette
On a hot summer day, a bowl of salsa and chips is a satisfying snack. But your favorite salsa recipe can get old after a while. By swapping out the customary tomatoes for some other ingredients, you can get a lot more variety in your salsas. Here are some more unusual salsa recipes for you to try – and some of them work well with fish tacos for a great summer meal.
Watermelon Salsa
INGREDIENTS
2 cups diced seedless watermelon
1 cup diced jicama
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/4 cup diced red onion
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
Salt
DIRECTIONS
After dicing the watermelon, place it on a paper towel to drain off the excess liquid. Whisk the lime juice and brown sugar. Set aside.
Gently toss all the ingredients together and pour on the lime juice mixture. Salt lightly if desired. Serve with tortilla chips or fish tacos.
Strawberry Salsa
INGREDIENTS
1 quart strawberries, diced
1 medium red onion, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, diced 1 jalapeno, finely diced
Fresh cilantro, chopped 1 lime, juiced
Salt
DIRECTIONS
Place the strawberries, onions, bell peppers, jalapenos, and as much cilantro as you’d like into a bowl. Add a sprinkle or two of salt and the juice from the lime. Stir it gently together, cover, and refrigerate until it’s time to serve.
Mango Salsa
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup chopped, peeled mango
Half of a red bell pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Half of a jalapeno, chopped (optional)
1 and 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon shredded lime peel
1 and 1/2 teaspoons lime juice
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
DIRECTIONS
Stir all the ingredients for the mango salsa together and chill until ready to use.
Carrot Salsa
INGREDIENTS
2 cups shredded carrots
3 tablespoons diced red onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 jalapeno, finely diced
Grated zest of 1/2 lime, plus two tablespoons of fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
Tortilla chips or tacos for serving
DIRECTIONS
Put the carrots in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Move the carrots to a bowl and stir in the red onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime zest and juice, olive oil, and salt. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving with tortilla chips or tacos.
Cucumber Salsa
INGREDIENTS
3 cups peeled and chopped cucumbers
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon jalapenos, finely chopped
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
Vinaigrette ingredients
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS
Stir the cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, garlic, jalapenos, and cilantro together in a bowl.
In another bowl, whisk the lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper together. Pour the vinaigrette over the cucumber mixture and toss to coat.
