• Princeton soap store offers locally-made stocking stuffers
• Illinois Valley holiday races to do with your family
• Ginger recipes to warm you this holiday season
426 Second Street
La Salle, Illinois 61301
(815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452
www.newstrib.com
General Manager/
Advertising Director
Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Niche Editor
Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com
Writers
Brandon LaChance
Shannon Serpette
Photographers
Scott Anderson
Shannon Serpette
Jeanette Smith
Designer Liz Klein
Hit the Ground Running this Holiday Season 4
Holiday 5Ks can boost your mood, burn calories, and help others.
Show Your Pets Some Holiday Love 8
Family pets also enjoy Christmas gifts.
Raising the Bar 12
Princeton soap shop offers unique and beautiful creations.
Warm Up with Ginger 19
When it’s cold outside, few things can warm you up faster than ginger. Published by:
PHOTO BY JEANETTE SMITH
Each year, Santas On The Run participants know that after the course is completed, they can get a bite to eat and a drink at the after-party. Those who bring in non-perishable food items to benefit Hall Township Food Pantry get a chance to win one of the raffle prizes at a drawing that takes place at the race’s after-party.
PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Hit the Ground Running this Holiday Season
Holiday 5Ks can boost your mood, burn calories, and help others
Story by Shannon Serpette
For some families in the Illinois Valley, the holiday season wouldn’t be the same without one of their favorite traditions – participating in a local 5K. It gives them a chance to stay active when the temperatures start to plunge and the opportunity to catch up with friends or acquaintances they might not have seen in a while.
While summer races are easy
to find locally and regionally on almost any weekend you want, there aren’t as many to choose from during the unpredictable weather of fall and winter. Fortunately, the Illinois Valley has two long-time races – the Oglesby Turkey Trot and Santas On The Run – that have become annual traditions in the area. People who want to join the fun can sign up online for each race.
Local races can be beneficial for the community and the
participants, according to Matt Baker, the Illinois Valley Community College cross country coach. They bring people to town on race day, and sometimes the day before for the packet pick-up, which can give local businesses a boost.
“They also promote healthy physical activity that almost anyone can take part in. Yes, you have people looking to win a race or at least their age group, but for many more people, it’s
just an opportunity to get off the couch and walk a few miles, which is good for anyone,” he said.
“As a father of young children, I’m really enjoying the races that also feature shorter distance options, as well. For example, my 4-year-old can’t run a 5K yet, but with some encouragement, he can walk a mile. It’s nice that he gets that chance to be active, but more importantly, he grows up in a culture where it’s normal to be active and outdoors,” Baker said.
OGLESBY TURKEY TROT
Located at the Elks Lodge, 800 East Walnut in Oglesby, the 46th annual Oglesby Turkey Trot will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, November 28. It’s a good way to burn off some of the calories you’ll be taking in later that day. By running three miles the morning of Thanksgiving, participants feel a little better about going to a family gathering hours later and loading their plates. With almost five decades of
Turkey Trots in the books, this event has spanned generations and has become an annual tradition for some families.
“The Turkey Trot has been a big part of my family’s Thanksgiving tradition since I was a kid,” Kelly Campbell, a member of the board of directors for Starved Rock Runners, said. “Growing up in Oglesby meant walking to the course and cheering on my Dad when he raced it in the ‘80’s, and then in later years, other family members joined in on the run, including my son. Ten years ago, my parents moved across town and now live on the course, making their house the meeting hub for both family and friends before the race.”
In addition to the family memories the Turkey Trot has provided Campbell with, the event itself is well-run and planned.
“I love that our small town brings hundreds of people together each year, and the afterparty is one of the greatest. Beer is served along with
pumpkin pie. Many participants keep the celebration going at the downtown bars,” she said. “The event definitely helps make Thanksgiving one of my favorite holidays.”
Baker is also a big fan of running the Turkey Trot. While he’s run that race for several years, he noted some runners have been in it for decades.
“There are so many things to love about the Turkey Trot. First, you get the reunion aspect as you see friends and family before, during, and after the race, which just starts to build the wholesome holiday vibes first thing in the morning. There are so many people who participate every year that you can really spend most of the morning before the race reconnecting with people you haven’t seen in months or since the race the previous year. Now that I’m coaching, it’s also a chance to see my college runners and some of the local high school
See RUN page 6
At every annual Santas On The Run race, there are plenty of runners wearing red Santa hats or festive hoodies, which are included in the race’s swag bag.
PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
PAGE 5
coaches and athletes after cross country season is over,” he said.
“After that, you get that little ego boost of having accomplished something active before most people have finished their breakfast, and when it’s a cold or rainy day, you feel you’ve accomplished that much more. Plus, the course features a hill that’s just treacherous enough that you can drop it into conversations the rest of the day and talk about how hard you worked during the race. After all of that running or walking, you get to tell yourself that since you worked so hard in the morning, you can feast even more at the Thanksgiving meal,” Baker said.
Baker also encourages walkers or those who aren’t interested in the competition aspect to try the Turkey Trot since it’s an excellent opportunity to be active and social.
SANTAS ON THE RUN
Santas On The Run IX is at 10 a.m. November 30 at 999 N. Strong Avenue in Spring Valley.
This event allows participants to choose between a 5K or a one-mile walk, so it’s ideal for families with young children who want to get in on the action but aren’t ready for 3.1 miles yet. The proceeds go to a good cause –benefiting the Hall Township Food Pantry.
Another perk about this race is that the swag bags include cool items, like a lighted Santa hat and the participant’s choice of a sweatshirt, hoodie, or long-sleeve t-shirt. After the race, there are plenty of snacks and beverages for the runners and walkers.
To raise even more for the food pantry, there is a postrace drawing for gift certificates and prizes. For every two non-perishable products a runner or walker donates, they will receive an entry into the drawing. That means the more items a participant
donates, the better their odds are of winning a prize.
Awards are given out to the top three runners in various age groups and for the Overall Male and Female top finishers. While this race hasn’t been going on as long as the Turkey Trot, it’s become a popular event in the Illinois Valley, drawing in hundreds of participants and spectators each year.
Kory Katkus, president of Starved Rock Runners, enjoys Santas
On The Run and running in the brisk fall temperatures.
“As Christmas is my favorite holiday, this is a great way to kick off the Christmas season. Benefiting the local food pantry, this is another way to begin the giving for the holiday season,” Katkus said. “It gets you in the holiday spirit with the inflatables, the Christmas music, and the Christmas swag.”
Love Show Your Pets Some Holiday
Family pets also enjoy Christmas gifts
Story by Brandon LaChance
Pets are part of the family, sharing the good and bad times with their owners yearround. It makes sense that people would want to spoil their pets during the holiday season, just as they would with any other member of the family.
Andy Arnold, the owner of Andy’s Pet Shop which is located at 2228 4th Street in Peru, sees a spike in sales every holiday season.
“Pet owners will come in and buy a new stuffed toy or a long-lasting chew toy they haven’t purchased before. Sometimes, they’ll get a seasonal stuffed toy for Christmas, such as a candy cane stuffed bone, a treat made into a candy cane shape, or a limited-edition holiday treat that might be a Christmas tree or a wreath. Edible pet trees in those shapes have been in the store in the last few years,” said Arnold, who has had the shop since 2001.
“We will see more treats and toys being purchased during that time frame. Owners buy their own pets gifts, and we have some people who will buy treats for relative’s dogs or neighbor’s dogs for the holidays also. They’re part of the family,” Arnold said.
Arnold buys gifts for his pets to open next to his children. And so do other pet moms and dads.
“We’ve always gotten our pets Christmas gifts. They have to have something to open on Christmas morning from Santa Claus, too. They’re part of the family. They become a loved one,” said Kristen Arthurs, a Peru resident, who has had different kinds of pets over the last 30 years.
“I’ve given pets treats, toys, and outfits for Christmas. Sometimes, if there is more than one pet, I’ll get them coordinating, matching sweaters. I think it’s cute when female pets wear sweaters or the little princess ballerina
skirts. I had a Sheltie (Kairi) and a Chihuahua (Isabel) that I would buy matching seasonal dresses,” Arthurs said.
Isabell, an 11-year old Chihuahua-Shih Tzu mix, has had a variety of Christmas gifts over the years.
“The treats and toys you buy for your pets depend on the pets you have. You have to know what they like, just like you have to know what people like when you’re buying gifts for them,” Arthurs said. “When it comes to dogs, some like balls, some like squeaky things, and some dogs like ropes. It just depends on the dog. I have purchased many different types of pet toys for many different types of pets over the years only to have them favor one or two,” Arthurs said.
The presents are always in a gift bag with tissue paper since pets don’t have hands and enjoy burying their noses in the soft paper to see what they can find.
Erica Henry, a Mendota native, always has an assortment of tissue paper, bags, and balls for her 4-year-old German Shepherd, Abby, every December 25.
“I tried to get her sweaters, but it doesn’t work out well. She usually gets treats because she loves treats. She’s a big ball freak, so she always gets balls. I can’t get her tennis balls or anything like that because she would destroy them. I get her the Chuckit! Ultra Ball. They’re rubber and last a while. She has about five or six of them floating around the house now. Usually, they’re under furniture and I have to hunt for them,” said Henry.
“She is also a fan of squeaky toys. She likes to make noise no matter what the design is. Abby will run around the house with them in her mouth, and she squeezes them and shakes her head. One year, I got her a trash can squeaky toy, and it had three little panda balls that went into the trash can. She liked it because we could play fetch inside and they squeaked,” Henry said.
Henry grew up with pets in her childhood home and owned Tucker, a rescue dog who was the first dog she owned as an adult, and
then went five years without a furry friend. But when she saw Abby at 7 weeks old, she knew she needed another dog and to expand her Christmas spending budget.
“I’m a picky dog mom, so she gets the treats that are good for her and not junk. She likes the Himalayan Yak Cheese Chew,” Henry said. “They’re hard like a bone, but not bad for their teeth. When the chew gets small, you put them in the microwave, and
they pop up like pork rinds.”
Henry also likes to buy presents for other people’s pets.
“I get my parents’ dog a Christmas toy every year. When my sister and her family still lived in the area, we always got each other’s pets presents. They’re part of the family. I don’t know if they know they’re part of the family, but it means something to us for them to be part of the family.”
PHOTO BY JEANETTE SMITH
LuLu doesn’t bother with any of the presents under the Christmas tree, but when given a wrapped present, she unwraps it herself and gets excited about whatever new toy or treat is inside.
Raising the Bar
Princeton soap shop offers unique and beautiful creations
There’s something special about handmade gifts – both the givers and the recipients can feel good about presents that were painstakingly crafted by people who care about quality and a unique product. While mass-produced presents are hugely popular at Christmas,
handmade items can feel more personal and more in tune with the original Christmas celebrations, where gifts were generally homemade.
Gift givers who want to support local businesses and give a high-quality handmade present this holiday season will find many options in the
Illinois Valley, such as the products you can browse at Rachel Rene Bath and Body Boutique in Princeton.
Shop owner Christine Davis has been crafting homemade soaps for almost 20 years. She learned about soap making after her family faced a health crisis she had to solve.
Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette
Above: Christine Davis (left), owner of Rachel Rene Bath and Body Boutique in Princeton, began making soap 20 years ago to help her daughter Rachel Rene (right) with her painful eczema.
“My daughter (Rachel Rene) was born with really severe eczema,” Christine said. When Christine would use store-bought and prescription products on her daughter’s skin, it made the pain worse. The only thing that seemed to relieve her daughter’s eczema was giving her goat milk baths, using goat’s milk that a neighbor would give her. After some research into how goat’s milk provided relief for eczema, Christine, who was a stay-at-home mom at that time, came up with an idea.
“I told my husband, ‘I want to try making a soap for her,’” Christine said.
She spent months searching
for resources and doing research so she could formulate bars of soap using goat’s milk. Once she was happy with the bars of soap she created, she began selling the extras at craft shows and markets as a way to bring in income for her family and help other people with sensitive skin.
“It gained a lot of traction,” she said.
She decided to build a website to sell her bath products online, and she continued developing a strong local business.
“It was awesome,” Christine said.
After spending years growing her business, Christine
opened a small store in Princeton in 2017 called Rachel Rene Bath and Body Boutique, which is named after her daughter. In 2019, she moved her store to 620 S. Main Street in Princeton so she could expand more. With the success of the Princeton store, Christine decided to open a second location at 5901 N. Prospect Road in Peoria.
“When we first opened the (Princeton) store, we just had our products,” she said.
But they’ve since added other items that complement their products, such as robes
See SOAP page 14
Rachel Rene owner Christine Davis
shares her holiday traditions
The holidays are important to Christine Davis and her family – and like most families, they have traditions they love to follow.
“The day after Thanksgiving, we all decorate the tree, and we bake Christmas cookies,” Davis said.
On Christmas morning, the family gathers together, opens presents, and enjoys a nice breakfast.
“We just spend the whole day together. My mom makes us put our cell phones in a basket,” Davis said.
Left: Rachel Rene Bath and Body Boutique, located at 620 S. Main St. in Princeton, offers a variety of products that use popular fall scents like pumpkin spice. Right: This handmade soap will make a beautiful addition to a loved one’s stocking this Christmas.
Top: One of the unique products customers will see at Rachel Rene is its popular whipped cream soap. Right: If you’re suffering from a fall or winter cold, a hot soak in the bathtub with eucalyptus and spearmint mineral bath salts may provide a little temporary relief.
Soap
FROM PAGE 13
and pajamas.
One of the things Christine loves about running her own shop is that her daughter, Rachel Davis, works there with her. And while some daughters might find it challenging to work with their mother, that’s not an issue for Christine and Rachel.
“I love working with her,” Rachel said.
Christine said Rachel is a wonderful soap maker.
“I really like making pretty things,” Rachel said, adding that creating new soaps can be challenging. “Some scents are harder to use than others.”
Rachel Rene’s number one
seller is its shaving soap bars, but its whipped soap and aluminum-free deodorant are also extremely popular. They offer seasonal scents and have a wide variety of options that work well in the fall and winter months, such as First Snow, Hot Cocoa, and Candy Cane soaps.
“We are a stocking stuffer store at Christmas. Our items are also great for Secret Santas, and we do a ton of gift baskets,” Christine said.
The store has also started offering custom-made products, which will allow people to have items with customized scents and colors.
Christine said she has always appreciated the customers who shop locally and support her business. Giving
local handmade gifts is a great way to invest in your community because your purchases help support local workers, taxes, and schools, Christine said.
“It supports your town. It keeps the town alive. We’re lucky in Princeton – our Main Street is full of small businesses,” she said.
Supporting small businesses also keeps the unique feeling of Main Street in Princeton, which is something many locals and visitors love about this city.
“All the shops offer different things,” Christine said, adding that the variety is one of the reasons that it’s easy to spend an entire day shopping in Princeton and dining at local restaurants.
“We are a stocking stuffer store at Christmas. Our items are also great for Secret Santas, and we do a ton of gift baskets.”
- Christine Davis -
Warm Up with Ginger
By Shannon Serpette
When it’s cold outside, few things can warm you up faster than ginger. This warming spice can almost instantly create a sensation of heat in anyone who is feeling cold.
With ginger’s antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, this spice may do more than just taste good. It may help reduce specific types of pain in your body and help with nausea and motion sickness. With all its benefits, it’s a good idea to add some ginger recipes to your menu this fall and winter.
Maple Butternut Squash Soup
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
2 teaspoons salt or sea salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
3 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oil in a big pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook for four minutes, until they are soft. Stir in the ginger, nutmeg, black pepper, salt, and cayenne. Next, add in the squash.
Put in the broth, bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring once in a while. Continue cooking until the vegetables are super soft. Purée the soup until it is smooth by using a blender or immersion blender. Stir in the vinegar, coconut milk, and maple syrup.
INGREDIENTS
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2/3 cups water
One 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3 and 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease two loaf pans. In a big bowl, beat together the sugar, oil, and eggs. Add water and beat well until blended. Stir in pumpkin, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, and clove. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and blend for a short time, just until all ingredients are mixed. Divide the batter between the two pans. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about one hour.
Pumpkin Gingerbread
Gingerbread Cookies
INGREDIENTS
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 tablespoons vinegar
5 cups flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Red cinnamon candies, optional
DIRECTIONS
Thoroughly cream shortening with sugar. Stir in egg, molasses, and vinegar; beat well. Mix dry ingredients together; stir into molasses mixture. Chill for at least three hours.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to 1/8-inch or 1/2-inch thickness, depending upon whether you like softer cookies or crisper ones. Cut with a cookie cutter. Place one inch apart on a greased cookie sheet. Use red cinnamon candies if desired. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet and cool on a rack.
Gingersnap Cookies
INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup dark molasses
1/3 cup cinnamon sugar
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a mixing bowl. Place shortening in a bowl and beat until creamy. Gradually beat in the white sugar. Beat in the egg and dark molasses. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture into the shortening mixture and stir thoroughly. Add the rest of the flour mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.
Pinch off small amounts of dough and roll into one-inch balls. Roll each ball in cinnamon sugar and place two inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake in the oven until the tops are rounded and slightly cracked, about 10 minutes. Cool cookies on a wire rack.
INGREDIENTS
1 pound flank steaks or one pound sirloin steak, sliced into narrow strips
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water
2 eggs
1 large carrot, julienned
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh minced ginger
5 minced garlic cloves
Canola oil
Crispy Ginger Beef
3 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
DIRECTIONS
Place cornstarch in a large bowl. Add water gradually while whisking. Beat eggs into cornstarch mixture. Toss in beef and stir to coat. Pour one inch of oil into a wok or pan; heat until boiling
hot but not smoking. Add a quarter of the beef to the oil. Separate with a fork and cook, stirring frequently until crispy. Remove, drain on a paper towel and set aside. Repeat until all the beef is cooked. Drain off oil except for about one tablespoon, and add carrots, onions, ginger, and garlic, in that order. Stir fry briefly over high heat.
Combine the last five ingredients and add to the vegetable mixture. Bring to a boil and then add beef. Heat thoroughly and serve immediately over rice.
Ginger Honey Carrots
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped
2 tablespoons honey
1 bag of baby carrots
DIRECTIONS
Cook carrots in boiling water until tender. Meanwhile, in a small pan, melt butter and stir in ginger. Add honey and stir to dissolve. Stir in the cooked carrots and toss to coat.
