August 2022 woman ILLINOIS VALLEY publication Tonica Self-ImprovementDiscussesWoman ALSO: • How local women turned their tragedies into helping others • A yummy way to get more greens in your diet • An interview with tour guide and storyteller Tricia Kelly
Illinois Valley Woman Book Club 4 Our analysis of “The Homewreckers” by Mary Kay Andrews. Turning Tragedy Into Awareness 6 These Illinois Valley women turned their heartbreak into a way to help others. The Secrets of Self-Improvement 10 Tonica woman shares what she’s learned while juggling owning a business, raising a family, and pursuing education. Getting More Greens 14 Try these tasty recipes to get more greens in your diet. History in the Making 19 Tricia Kelly keeps the past alive in the Illinois Valley. Illinois Valley Woman 426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) www.newstrib.com(800)223-3200892-6452 Publisher Dan Goetz Niche Editor Shannon sserpette@shawmedia.comSerpette Regional Advertising Director Jeanette jmsmith@shawmedia.comSmith Writers Brandon LaChance Shannon Serpette Photographer Shannon Serpette Designer Liz PublishedKlein by: est. 1851 Contents On the cover: While MaryJean Orozco of Tonica has a jammed-packed schedule as she works on her college degree, runs her business, and raises her family, she’s excited by the possibilities her future holds. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNON SERPETTE Shaping your attitude by working on your finances
Shannon Serpette 2 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
As someone who lives as much of a drama-free life as possible, I’m always amazed at how chaotic some of my friends’ lives are. When they comment on how lucky I am not to be hit with one crisis or unexpected bill after another, it makes me want to laugh. I’ve faced plenty of setbacks and emergencies of all sorts in my life, but in the past few years, I’ve worked hard at learning to roll with the punches instead of being knocked down by them.
While I’m certainly not a life coach, I think successfully weathering life’s storms comes down to two things –your attitude and how much you’ve prepared for bad luck and emergencies. And often, those two things work hand in hand. For me, a key component to being better prepared for a crisis involved making a firmer commitment to man aging my finances. I can’t safeguard myself against medical issues or my home’s air conditioning quitting on me, but being financially prepared for emergencies does take away a lot of I’vestress.always invested in 401ks, but to give myself more breathing room, I knew I needed to address my emergency fund. So, a few years ago, my husband and I both worked as much as we could and cut back on some things to beef up our emergency fund. It wasn’t easy at times, but it has been so incredibly Sometimes,freeing.women are so side lined by you’recontrolfactorsmostgency,youtakeThat’sourtimewedailyparenthood,work,andchoresthatdon’thavetoplanoutfinances.abigmisbecausewhenfaceanemeroneofthesignificantunderyourishowgoingtopay for it. An emergency fund gives you some breathing room and a sense of control. Having some money set aside is one of the best things you can do to improve your attitude when the unexpected happens. Like many women, I was raised by parents who didn’t discuss money at all. These days, people discuss money more openly, and I think that’s great. One of the decisions I made when I became a parent was that my children would understand why it’s so import ant to save money and how to do it because it can be a lot harder than it seems. It’s something that isn’t taught enough in schools and can be uncom fortable to talk and think about. Part of my commitment to my children was learning more about money my self, so I could share that knowledge with them. If you’re always worried about money or if you scramble to pay for unexpected expenses, coming up with a plan to bulk up your emergency fund should be a top priority. You’ll feel so much better about any curveballs that come your way. If you accomplish one thing this summer, I hope it’s taking a hard look at your finances and coming up with a plan because few other things will bring you as much security and peace as an emergency fund will.
Best wishes,
Shannon Serpette Niche Editor
| Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 August 29 - September 2, 2022 The Women’s Expo will be back online and will feature a week full of vendors, articles and topics that you can access when it’s convenient for you! Register now! Scan here with your smart phone!
4 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
byMaryKayAndrews
In My Book O ur analysisofTheHomewreckers
ary Kay Andrews is one of those authors who never seems to disappoint her read ers. After our last book selection, In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury, was such a letdown, we wanted to pick one that we were sure we’d like.“The Homewreckers” features a likable lead character, Hattie Ka vanaugh, who works on home res torations and house flipping. After making a poor choice with one old home that loses a lot of money, she signs up to star in a home renova tion television show. She has to deal with a full-house rehab, love interests, and a murder mystery, all while filming her new show. Without giving away too much
M
JEANETTE SMITH, REGIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR “The Homewreckers” was a great read that I would highly recommend. The main char acter is a young woman who co-owns a restoration company that flips old homes, and she becomes a first-time reality TV personality on a home im provement show. The plot has something for everyone – a small-town scan dal, a murder mystery, and a love story that keeps the reader intrigued from begin ning to end. I expected it to be a good summer/beach read, and it was, but what I really enjoyed was the bonus of the murder mystery to go along with it. Overall, this was a great book.
SHANNON SERPETTE, NICHE EDITOR This is my favorite book we’ve read so far for our book reviews for this magazine. I loved the mystery plotline, the character development, and the glimpse into the world of home improvements. I’m always a sucker for home im provement shows when they’re on television, so I enjoyed this book’s overall feel and tone. I read the entire thing in about three days because I couldn’t put it down. I’m definitely going to add other books by Mary Kay Andrews to my read ing list.
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The book we’ll be discussing in the next issue of Illinois Valley Woman is Book Lovers by Emily Henry.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 5 in case you haven’t read it yet, here’s what we thought of this bestselling author’s book.
To have your thoughts and observations on this book published in our next Illinois Valley Woman magazine, email sserpette@shawmedia.com by October 1. Please include your name and city of residence along with your comments, and let us know why you liked or disliked this book. If you have any future book suggestions, we’d love to hear them. to CommittedCommunity.toYou.
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Life can throw some sad, depressing, and hurtful situations our way. One of the most painful experiences possible is losing a child. Whether the child was young or an adult when they died, parents feel the loss of their child every day for the rest of theirAfterlife.losing a child, it can be easy for parents to fall into a depression, but for some, it’s helpful to grieve by helping others. When Ashley Lamps and Lori Brown lost their children, they started foundations and reached out to anyone who was going through the same thing they were.
By Brandon LaChance
SUBMITTED PHOTOS SUBMITTED PHOTO Aden Lamps passed away when he was nearly 5 months old during his naptime at a caregiver’s house.
Left: Ashley Lamps, Aden’s mom, began the Aden Lamps Foundation in 2014 so she could spare other mothers from potentially losing their children in the same way she did. Right: Lori Brown of Cherry didn’t know how to deal with the death of her son, Justin “Buddy” Pratt, after he died from a heroin overdose at the age of 26. The closest groups or organizations to help her deal with her grief were in Joliet. Brown then created Buddy’s Purpose to help mothers who lost their children to substance abuse.
6 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
Turning Tragedy into Awareness
Ashley Lamps began the Aden Lamps Foundation in 2014 after her son, Aden, passed away. Aden was born August 21, 2012, and didn’t wake up from an afternoon nap at daycare when he was almost five months old.
“After his passing two things happened, I needed help right away. I wanted to know who I could go to because I didn’t know how to handle it,” said Ashley, 39, who was raised in Spring Valley. “The other thing was, how could I help prevent this from happening to someone else. “I do think creating this foundation and keeping Aden’s name alive has really helped in my grief. Anyone who has lost a child can tell you that grief can be a lonely road. I feel, personally, you have to find something, some way to channel your energy; otherwise, you can end up in a deep, dark place. “When I do something good like delivering new sleep sacks or trying to find new ways of educating people, this has really helped me in my grief,” she said. “I attend the Compassionate Friend’s support group and I thank them every day for being there for me. I strongly believe Aden’s foundation and the group saved myAden’slife.” foundation started These Illinois Valley women turned their heartbreak into a way to help others
“My son was struggling with substance abuse for 8 to 10 years before he passed away. On the day he passed, it was devastating and chaotic,” Brown said. “When I left his apartment, I went to see my mom (Carol Gisler), and I told her I was going to talk about it. I wanted to talk about the disease of addiction and substance abuse and how I felt about it, and the struggle I had of not talking about it and not having a place to go in our community to discuss my feelings or get advice from others who were in the same situation that I was in.” Brown was advised to see a doctor, be prescribed some medicine, and let it control the grief. She immediately said no, and she decided to go another route – starting an organization.“Iwastrying to plan his funeral and I was talking about what happened, but yet I didn’t know how to talk about it or how to express how I felt as a mother,” Brown said. “I got online and I started Googling overdose deaths and support. I found a nationwide support group called GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing), and the nearest support meeting to Cherry was in BrownJoliet.”met
Julie Wendorf
Ashley has added an infant board book, safe sleep information, and onesies with a safe sleep message on them.
The Aden Lamps Foundation has been responsible for distributing safe-sleep information and thousands of safe-sleep items to families, including sleep sacks, Pack ‘N Plays, onesies, and infant board books.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 7 See TRAGEDY PAGE 8
As of July 15, 2022, the Aden Lamps Foundation has given away 8,252 sleep sacks and 5,880 safe sleep infant boardPackbooks.‘NPlays have been given to those in need free of charge, and a buy-back program was started as a lot of products on the market are not safe for sleep. If the product presented to them is on the list, such as a rock and play sleeper or a crib bumper, the Aden Lamps Foundation pays the owner of the product with a Walmart or Target gift card and disposes of the item.
“I wanted there to be more information to the public because I feel that education is key, and the more information people have, the more they’ll realize the risk they’re taking when they put their baby in a situation that is not safe,” Ashley said. “I worked with Sue Rezin, and the law passed. I had conference calls with coroners and officials in Springfield to figure out the logistics of the wording. Now, when a baby dies, they have to fill out a report which gives information such as where the baby was located, was there a blanket in the bed, who was watching the baby, were there other siblings around when the baby was sleeping? “The coroners already had a report they had to fill out, but this report provided more information. The law states the state of Illinois has to record this information on its website for the public,” she said.
with the mission of providing sleep sacks – a zip-up, wearable blanket – to local hospitals in Peru and Spring Valley, but now they also provide them in Ottawa and Morris.
At first, Aden’s death was officially called SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), but later it was ruled as a SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death). Upon research, Ashley found babies also die in their sleep because they’re not being put in the safest sleeping conditions.Adenwasn’t found on his back, and there was a fleece blanket on the bed with him, which could have both been contributing factors in his death. In addition to beginning the foundation, Ashley connected with Illinois Senator Sue Rezin to push safe sleep information further.
“On the front, they (the onesies) say, ‘This side up,’ and on the back, they say, ‘Turn me over,” Ashley said.
There is a safe sleep display at the Peru Public Library where parents can see an actual crib with a doll in a sleep sack and information on the wall stating how to properly put your child to sleep. The Aden Lamps Foundation also holds a 5K walk and run every year.Lori Brown didn’t go through the pain of losing an infant. Instead, she had to face the devastation of losing her 26-year-old son, Justin “Buddy” Pratt, to a heroin overdose on November 11, 2011.Brown, who has lived in Cherry for most of her 55 years, didn’t know where to go, who to talk to, or what to do with her grief.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
“I remember after Buddy passed away and a friend came to my house and brought me food. She asked if Buddy was an addict,” Brown said. “I said yes, and she said, ‘Well, you never talked about it.’ She wasn’t an extremely close friend but someone I’ve known for most of my life, and I said, ‘It wasn’t something I wanted to advertise.’
Tragedy FROM PAGE 7 8 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
“Buddy’s Purpose is going to have a small gathering for Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. We’re not going to do a big walk this year. Buddy’s Purpose is there for people who reach out to me. I will give them a Smart Recovery meeting (family support) and I do that through Perfectly Flawed, but Buddy’s Purpose is part of it as we are a team.”
Brown, who is trained in how to use the overdose prevention drug Naloxone (Narcan is a popular brand), has also put up billboards and began meetings once a month with the Dare 2 Care group. Now Buddy’s Purpose is affiliated with the Perfectly Flawed Foundation in La Salle.
“Buddy’s Purpose is about awareness, bringing it to the community, and Narcan training. The Perfectly Flawed Foundation has paid staff through grants,” Brown said. “I am their family support specialist. They have a mobile wellness van that we go to homes, perform Narcan training, and give them love kits (personal hygiene products).
Brown doesn’t want anyone to feel like she has, but if they do, she wants them to know people are here to help with their grief.
“In my eyes, I thought if I didn’t talk about it and my son got into recovery and onto a clean, healthy, sober path in life, then he wouldn’t carry that burden. People wouldn’t judge him. He would be able to get a job easier. I was protecting him and myself. After he passed, I felt I didn’t have to protect that anymore and I needed to talk. I needed to talk for me and for the other parents going through it.”
from Ottawa, who lost her son Chris Halterman four months before Buddy’s passing. They carpooled to the meetings in Joliet and connected as the mothers got more out of the car ride than the meetings as they let loose on how they felt about the deaths, feeling alone in the situation, having nowhere to go, and having no resources.Theywent to the GRASP retreat in Florida and learned a lot about substance abuse. “I took it all in and realized, ‘Now that I know it, I can share it amongst our community.’ On August 31, 2012, Julie and I held our first overdose awareness walk,” Brown said. “Then I got the ideas to start a support web page, a Facebook page, get it into the newspapers, and really start talking about substance abuse and“Buddy’soverdoses.Purpose became a non-profit in 2013. Since then, we’ve held ten overdose awareness walks. I’ve gone to four GRASP retreats. I’ve been to Washington D.C. with Julie to walk and protest in front of the White House. We attended United to Face the Nation, which is intended for people recovering from substance abuse,” she said.
The organization for Justin Pratt has remained small and intimate so people can have close one-on-one or group conversations with those who have gone through losing a child to an overdose.
Left: Lori Brown of Cherry holds a picture of her son, Justin “Buddy” Pratt, who died from a heroin overdose in 2011. Right: Buddy’s Purpose helps educate others about substance abuse and connects people who have lost loved ones to addiction, so they can talk with someone who understands the heartbreak they’re going through.
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Tonica resident MaryJean Orozco, better known as MJ to her friends, is one of those“Whenpeople.Iwas younger, I kind of had a chip on my shoulder,” she said. Her education wasn’t her top priority, and she found herself on a different path than many of her peers.
The Secrets
ot everyone has a linear path to success –some people take a more unconventional route.
“My goal is to leave a business to each of my kids,” she said. Now, as a 28-year-old with four children, Orozco is juggling her college classes, her new business, her family’s needs, and her commitment to physical fitness, with the help of her partner, Justin, who has been supportive of all her goals. But with so many commitments, Orozco realizes her path to becoming an attorney may take a little longer than it would a traditional student – and she’s okay with that, so she has set her goals accordingly.“Bythetime I’m 38 years old, I’d like to be done with law school,” she said. The confidence to tackle all her dreams began, in part, because of a change she instituted in her life. She had tackled and
See OROZCO PAGE 12
“I had a baby when I was 17,” she said. As a result of her pregnancy and having a baby, she left her local high school and en rolled in homeschooling when she was 17. But instead of finishing her homeschooling, she never obtained her high school di ploma. For the first few years after high school, she didn’t give much thought to not having a degree.
Tonica woman shares what she’s learned while juggling owning a business, raising a family, and pursuing education and photos by Shannon Serpette
Self-Improvementof
N
10 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication Story
“I always got really good jobs without a high school diploma,” she said. But she began thinking about what she wanted to accomplish longterm in her life after a friend of hers passed away right after the pandemic hit. Orozco had always wanted to be a lawyer, so with her newfound motivation, she pursued and obtained her GED. Following that, she immediately enrolled at Illinois Valley Community College for online courses. At the time, she had three children, but that was about to change.“Right when I enrolled, I found out I was pregnant,” she said. That might have been enough to convince some women to defer their educational and career dreams a little bit longer, but Orozco was determined to keep going.
“When I say I’m going to do something, I do it,” she said. Orozco said her professors at IVCC were very understanding, but she never once asked for any accommodations because of her Orozcoweren’tchildren,she“Theypregnancy.wereawesome,”said.Asifababy,threeotherandcollegeclassesenoughtohandle,decidedtothrowbeing a business owner into the mix. She had continued working at her job when she started school, but she left her position earlier this year to start her own business, SureStep Illinois.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 11
MaryJean Orozco is a mother who puts her family first but also makes her own goals, self-care, and dreams a priority. “Moms can’t pour from an empty cup,” she said.
“That was another big start of my selfgrowth journey,” she said. “I lost a bunch of weight, and I felt a big shift in who I was.”
MaryJean Orozco set up a makeshift office in her baby’s nursery at her Tonica home.
It also helps to identify and know what your motivation is. Part of Orozco’s inspiration when it comes to staying fit, educating herself, and building a strong business comes from wanting to be a great inspiration for her children.“Iwant them to have good habits,” she said. “I want my kids to know they can do anything.”
“Be smart about the friends you choose,” sheSomeonesaid. may be fun to hang out with, but they may not be inspiring you to be the best version of yourself. Befriending some people who are at the stage you’d like to be at someday or who are focused and motivated might benefit you more because they’ll help you create positive habits and encourage you to stick to them.
Fueled by her success, she began to look at just how much time in the day she wasted.
From a mom’s perspective, Orozco would do anything to ensure that her children are happy, healthy, and have everything they need.“Ifthere’s one sandwich left, I’m going to feed it to my children,” she said. But, to her, part of being a great mom includes making time for her own dreams.
By pinpointing where she was unwisely using her time and avoiding those pitfalls, she was convinced she could find enough time to take on all her goals.“We all have time,” she said, adding that it’s up to you how you prioritize it. “You can wake up and change. Do it now if you want to change something.”
“What did social media do for me today? Nothing,” she said, adding that once you log onto those sites, you can easily spend hours scrolling without realizing it.
accomplished the goal of losing weight and improving her fitness level.
She pinpointed areas where she could find extra time in her day – for her, that was avoiding watching Grey’s Anatomy and cutting back on social media.
“You can’t give your all if you’re not happy,” she said. “Moms can’t pour from an emptyAnothercup.”lesson she’s learned as a woman and a mother who is seeking self-improvement is that it’s important to surround yourself with the right people.
12 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication Orozco FROM PAGE 10
Orozco knew if she showed discipline, she could cut down on those time-busting activities and use that time for something constructiveGivinginstead.up the small things allows her to still make time for her family, homework, business, fitness, and her other interests. She’s a big believer in finding balance, so she makes time for playing slow-pitch softball, something she’s done since she was 18 years old. She also finds that cleaning relaxes her. “I love to clean,” she said, adding that she enjoys the sense of control a clean environment gives her, as well as the actual process of cleaning. For women who are looking to change their own lives by pursuing their dreams or going back to school, she gives this advice: “Remain focused, disciplined, and make sure it’s what you want to do. Don’t do it because it’s expected of you. It’s okay if you don’t know what to do.”
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14 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
Eating enough greens can benefit your brain, gut health, immune system, skin, and can help cut down on the inflammation in your body. If you’re getting sick of having basic salads every day, here are some recipes that will help you enjoy adding more greens into your diet.
Great
4 stalks
1
1/2
Gettingmoregreens
One-inch
INGREDIENTS 2 green
DIRECTIONS
Feed all the ingredients through a juicer, stir the juice, and drink it immediately.
Every nutritionist recommends that people add more greens into their diets for the health benefits. Whether it’s spinach, Swiss chard, kale, arugula, or another type of green, experts recommend getting at least one serving every day. Greens are low in calories but pack in tons of nutrients.
By Shannon Serpette Green Juice apples celery cucumber leaves of kale lemon, peeled piece of fresh ginger
8
1 tsp Italian seasoning
GarlicChardSwiss
1 Tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced
Spinach Balls
1 10 oz package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
Addseconds.inthe chard and stir it to coat it in the oil. Cover the pan and cook it for two minutes until wilted some. Uncover the skillet, stir, and cook for two more minutes. Season it with salt as desired.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a big bowl, combine spinach, stuffing mix, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, black pepper, Italian seasoning, melted butter, and eggs. Shape into small balls and put on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes or until hot and lightly browned. If you are making them ahead of time, you can freeze them unbaked and bake them a little longer when you’re ready to use them.
2 cups finely crushed herb-seasoned dry bread stuffing mix
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
2 bunches of Swiss chard, stems cut off
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup melted butter (can substitute a little olive oil for the butter) 3 eggs, beaten
Salt DIRECTIONS Slice the Swiss chard leaves into onefourth-inch strips. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, and add in the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for a few
See more recipes on pages 16 and 17. A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 15
Fruity & Nutty Arugula Salad
5 oz arugula
1 and one-half cups seasoned dry
In a large bowl, add the arugula, apple, cranberries, and half of the pecans. Chop up the rest of the toasted pecans into small pieces and set them aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and Balsamic vinegar. Drizzle the mixture over the salad (according to your preference – you can use all of it or just a little) and top with the rest of the chopped pecans.
1cheeseandone-half tsp lemon zest
ChickenParmesanLemonwithArugula
1/2breadcrumbscupfreshly grated Parmesan
2 extra large eggs
1 cup Kosherfloursalt and black pepper
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS Combine the flour, one teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper on a plate. On another large plate, beat the eggs with one tablespoon of water. On another plate, combine the breadcrumbs, grated 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and Poundthyme.thechicken breasts between two sheets of parchment paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Coat both sides of the chicken breasts with the flour mixture, dip them into the egg mixture, and lightly press both sides into the bread crumb mixture. Heat one tablespoon of butter and one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet and cook two or three chicken breasts on medium-low heat for three minutes on each side until cooked through. Add additional butter and oil and cook the remainder of the chicken breasts. Put the arugula in a big bowl, and in another bowl, whisk the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Put enough of the mixture onto the arugula to coat it and toss it Putthoroughly.thearugula on top of each cooked chicken breast. Shave some of the Parmesan chunk onto the arugula as desired.
2 Tbsp olive oil DIRECTIONS
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
16 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
butter Olive oil
Editor’s note: This salad is excellent to serve along with holiday dinners.
5 oz arugula 1 large apple cored and diced 1/2 cup pecans, lightly toasted 1/2 cup cranberries, dried 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
INGREDIENTS
6 boneless, skinless chicken
1/4 lb chunk Parmesan cheese
Unsaltedbreasts
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 17 It’s not too late to start college this fall! IVCC Fall Late-Start offers an exciting slate of online classes beginning Sept. 12 For a list of classes and to register call (815) 224-0447 today 1091 S St Hwy. 251 • Mendota, IL 815-539-6263 • www.meyersfurniture.com Mon. & Fri. 9-6 • Tue.-Wed. 9-5 Closed Thursday • Sat. 10-5 • Sun. 12-4 Furniture • Mattresses Flooring • Bedroom • Living Room Tables and Chairs BEDDING IN MENDOTA One-Stop Shop! Bacon & LinguineChard INGREDIENTS 8 oz uncooked whole wheat linguine 4 bacon strips, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth 1/2 cup dry white wine or additional chicken broth 1/4 tsp salt 6 cups chopped Swiss chard (about 6 1/3ounces)cup shredded Parmesan cheese DIRECTIONS Cook linguine according to package directions and drain. While the pasta is cooking, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp in a large skillet, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute Addlonger.broth, wine, salt, and Swiss chard to the skillet and bring to a boil. Cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until chard is tender. Add linguine and heat through, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and serve.
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F or some people, history isn’t just an interesting subject – it’s their livelihood.
“I’ve also done guided hikes and trolley tours at Starved Rock and was a costumed interpreter on the Volunteer, the replica packet boat on the I&M Canal. Both jobs were great fun, but sadly, I don’t tolerate heat terribly well. That, and my hours were increasing here at the mansion, limiting my time,” she said. “I’m also a part-part-part time volunteer at the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa. I don’t have the time to give tours anymore, but I love being part of their annual Ghost Walk.
“I started out as a volunteer on weekends, and now I’m the full-time tour director,” Kelly said. “It’s odd; when I was a kid, I didn’t care for history. I had no appreciation for it. It wasn’t until seventh or eighth grade that I started to think, hey, maybe there’s something to this history thing.”
Tricia Kelly keeps the past alive in the Illinois Valley Story and photos by Shannon Serpette
KELLY PAGE 20
“In a totally different arena, I also get to History in the Making
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Tricia Kelly of Oglesby shows off an example of crosshatch writing found at the Hegeler Carus Mansion in LaSalle.
Tricia Kelly is one of the Illinois Valley residents who makes her living by bringing the past to life. She’s been on the staff of the Hegeler Carus Mansion in LaSalle for 17 years now.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 19
Kelly also keeps the past alive at other Illinois Valley historical hotspots.
One of Kelly’s favorite aspects about living in the Illinois Valley is being surrounded by well-documented history.
This whole area is loaded, just loaded with history. We’ve got great scenery thanks to the glacier that came plowing through here a few million years ago. We’ve got our connection to Chicago – and everywhere else – with the I&M Canal. We’ve had everyone from Al (Capone) to Zez (Confrey) hanging about.
Kelly grew up in Oglesby, so she’s well aware of the rich local history residents can enjoy in the Illinois Valley. She attended Illinois Valley Community College before heading to Illinois State University and moved around for a while before relocating back to the area about 15 years ago. She ended up living only seven houses south of her childhood home.
20 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication work with Lynn Sheedy, that fabulous, delightful Children’s Services Manager at the Peru Public Library. We do all kinds of fun stuff with local kiddos. I’ve been ridiculously lucky to have been surrounded by so many smart, fun, and amazing people. More often than not, I’m soaking up the rays of folks with way more talent than me,” she said.
“ ” See KELLY PAGE 22 Tricia Kelly
“What’s neat about it is that, for the most part, the same people who were around when I was a kid are still around today. There’s a genuine sense of community. We look after each other and support one another. It doesn’t escape me how special that is,” Kelly said.
“This whole area is loaded, just loaded with history. We’ve got great scenery thanks to the glacier that came plowing through here a few million years ago. We’ve got our connection to Chicago – and everywhere else – with the I&M Canal. We’ve had everyone from Al (Capone) to Zez (Confrey) hanging about,” she said.
The laundry room at the Hegeler Carus Mansion allows Kelly to entertain guests with information about what the equipment in there does. It also shows how much more difficult it was to clean laundry in the olden days.
Kelly FROM PAGE 19
The Hegeler Carus Mansion has continued to fascinate Tricia Kelly for the 17 years she’s worked there, first as a volunteer and now as the full-time tour director.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | August 2022 21
The garage at the Hegeler Carus Mansion is an interesting structure.
“We’re a friendly bunch out here and want visitors to have a great experience and come back again and again. Each time, it’ll be a new adventure.”
“For the most part, I get booked at libraries in Illinois, but I’ve been to Iowa and Wisconsin, and this fall, I’ll be in Michigan. I’ve just barely begun work on a new historical figure – Madame Tussaud. It could take up to two years before she’s ready to launch,” she added.
“We might be called ‘Starved Rock Country,’ but nobody starves around here,” she said, adding that she also enjoys other local restaurants such as Garzanelli’s, Double Country, Lou’s La Grotto, and the Root Beer Stand. If you have some time on your hands for shopping and sightseeing, she recommends First Street in LaSalle, the Lock 16 Visitor Center and Café, Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa, the I&M Canal, and local “Don’ttheatres.miss NCI Artworks,” she said. “They’re in the Westclox building in Peru, and they’ve got great events going on all the time, including fabulous art exhibits by talented folks,” Kelly said. “If you’re here on your motorcycle, Mix’s Trading Post in Utica is a mandatory stop. For a quick moment of reflection, be sure to visit the Maud Powell statue in Peru. She’s a much bigger deal in the world of music than most people realize.
“I love the energy that builds when guests are excited right off the bat, and I love the challenge of converting the otherwise unimpressed, you know – the one guest who didn’t really want to come but got dragged along, or the teenager who would rather eat dirt than hear about history. They are often more fun than the guests who were excited to begin with,” she said.
One of the cornerstones of the history of the Illinois Valley was the Hegeler Carus family and its imposing, spectacular mansion.
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Tricia Kelly
I tell stories that I’ve written – ghostly tales and Irish tales and such,” she said.
While the mansion will always hold a special place in her heart, she also enjoys widespread success as a storyteller and historic presenter.
“I am forever spellbound by its magnificence,” Kelly said about the mansion. “The family’s legacy is impressive too, but I’ll tell you the honest truth: For me personally, it’s the stuff. I love stuff, and the mansion has some of the coolest stuff I’ve ever seen – the static electric generator, the Buddhist shrine, the Alexander Graham Bell graphophone, the cameras, the books.
22 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication Kelly FROM PAGE 20
“There are moments along the tour where I can visibly see a change in them. Their eyes get wider, they look around more, and by the time we hit the dining room, I’ve got them. They love this place,” Kelly said. “It’s never about me, you see; it’s always about the mansion itself and the family’s legacy and the global impact they have made. I’m just the voice of a story that’s way better than anything I could write, and I never lose sight of that.”
“Everything in here has its own tale to tell as well as its importance to the history of this house. It’s no exaggeration to say that there are artifacts here that rival those in more nationally known museums like The Smithsonian,” she said.
Great things happened here, and awful things, too, and the thing I think I like the most is that our history is ours. Everything that has come before has shaped us as a community. As long as we celebrate what went right and make amends for what went wrong, we will always have a pretty solid story to tell. “ ”
“I have riantheandutterlyhaveanderticalhavelieziepresentationstumed,first-person,twocosPowerPointasLizBordenandNelBly,andthenIafewbiographtalksaboutRobLouisStevensonOrsonWelles.IadisgustingbutfascinatingfunnytalkabouthorrorsofVictomedicine,andfinally,
Looking for a fresh perspective on the Illinois Valley? Local historian and tour guide Tricia Kelly of Oglesby shares her favorite well-known and hidden places to visit to celebrate the charm and history of the “Thanksarea.to social media, our treasures aren’t as ‘hidden’ as they once were, and that’s a good thing. Everyone knows Starved Rock State Park, of course, but have you been out to the campground?” she asked. She also recommends visiting Buffalo Rock, Matthiessen State Park, downtown Utica, the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa, St. Patrick’s church in LaSalle, Ted Weber’s house and gardens in Streator, and of course, the Hegeler Carus Mansion. The Westclox Museum in Peru is worth a trip, too, Kelly added, and she highly recommends trying the cocktails at Star Union Spirits, which is located in the Westclox Kellybuilding.isa huge fan of mom-and-pop restaurants like Sammy’s Pizza in Oglesby, Verucchi’s in Spring Valley, The Lone Buffalo in Ottawa, and Uptown in La Salle.
“With all that being said, here’s the very best advice I can give you: If you’re a guest in our area, and want to know where to go, what to see, where to eat, and where to shop, just ask any one of us,” she said.
The area has had its highs and lows, and both have led to its current“Greatcourse.things happened here, and awful things, too, and the thing I think I like the most is that our history is ours. Every thing that has come before has shaped us as a community. As long as we celebrate what went right and make amends for what went wrong, we will always have a pretty solid story to tell,” she said.
While Kelly has fun with all her roles, giving tours is still her favorite way to share history.
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Dr. Norris explains, “There is always an influx of sun lovers who come to see us in September feeling not so sun loving. These patients want to know if their sun damage is reversible and what their options are to treat it. Sun-damaged skin is often heavily pigmented with brown spots, is thin, has loss of elasticity and fine lines are apparent. There is not one treatment to address all these concerns, so I recommend a series of three different procedures to get them started, each separated by about one month. In my office, we call this series of procedures ‘The Flight.’ It is not a flight of wine or beer, but a flight of three popular medical spa procedures! Even better!”
Another procedure that is part of ‘The Flight’ is IPL (Intense Pulse Light). IPL is a light energy treatment with multiple wavelengths of laser energy. The light energy from this laser destroys tiny red vessels and brown pigment on the face. The tiny vessels collapse and disappear immediately, and the large molecules of pigment are broken into microscopic particles that work their way out of the skin over two weeks. I explain to patients that an IPL treatment makes skin all more one color and is best done when they are not at all tan and will not be in the hot sun a few weeks before or after the treatment. IPL feels like warm rubber band snaps. You can expect to be a little red and slightly swollen after the treatment. The third procedure that is part of ‘The Flight’ is a medical-grade chemical peel customized for your specific sun damage and skin issues. When peels are done correctly, they are not painful but can provide extraordinary results with an average of three days of micropeeling. Think eraser shavings! Our patients all receive a post-procedure kit of products to use after the peel for 10 days, so their deeper skin layer heals well. We do not expect patients to be red or peeling in sheets with these peels. We do expect their skin to be glowing, with fewer fine lines and less pigment after a few weeks. It is not necessary that the peel be done last, but if done three weeks after an IPL, removal of brown spots/pigment is maximized.”
If you are interested in treating your summer sun damage with medical-grade treatments, contact Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa for a consultation with Dr. Norris to see if “The Flight” is right for you and get fabulous Flight promotional pricing!
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Summer is fading fast, and with that our sunkissed skin. Unfortunately, our summer days in the sun may leave us with new wrinkles and more brown spots. We asked Dr. Norris at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa what she recommends for clearing up summer sun damage.
Dr. Norris goes on to explain each procedure of “The Flight,” “The three procedures of ‘The Flight’ may be done in any order, but often patients start with microneedling. Microneedling is also referred to as collagen-induction therapy. We use an FDA-cleared microneedling device to make .5-1.75 perpendicular perforations in numb skin. The body responds to the injured skin by sending in healing forces to make brand-new skin. This means new collagen (fewer wrinkles), improved elastin (tighter skin), and less pigment (lighter brown spots). Patients realize the results of microneedling 1-3 months after their treatment. Often a series of microneedling treatments are needed, but it is still beneficial to do one. There is little or no pain or downtime with microneedling.
The Three Most Common Medical Spa Procedures to Treat Sun Damage
24 August 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
Dr. Norris concludes, “Especially if you are new to medical spa procedures, ‘The Flight’ is a perfect way to try three results-driven procedures and see what you like best. If there is one treatment that your skin responds best to, you can go on to do more of those. Many of our long-standing patients do ‘The Flight’ every Fall/Winter to clean up their summer sun damage, and some of them do two Flights back-to-back when they have more significant sun damage!”
