p g i t S O l ht SAUKVALLEY.COM n MARCH 14, 2020 n PAGE D1 n AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF SAUK VALLEY MEDIA
SHINING A LIGHT ON THE BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE MAKING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES
By your side
SPOTLIGHT | ROCK RIVER HOSPICE & HOME
As the sun sets on a loved one’s life, the team at Rock River Hospice and Home is there to help, from providing compassionate care to those making their final journey, to providing support for those left to mourn their loss
talk about their experiences,” Taylor said. “It’s just another way we can help someone to feel honored STERLING – “By your side, our family caring for in their life.” your family” – that’s Rock River Hospice & Home’s The nonprofit organization goes beyond the heartfelt motto. patients’ needs: Rock River Hospice helps provide The nonprofit organization, started 38 years overwhelmed caregivers a respite from the 24-hour ago by a group of volunteers and health care procare a patient needs, as well as support groups – fessionals, has evolved through the years, and again providing comfort through shared experience. changed names a few times, too, but its fundaThe staff at Rock River Hospice & Home also mental mission – to provide caring, compassionunderstands that bereavement affects each perate, dignified end-of-life care – remains, Executive son differently, which is why they offer counseling Director Emily Taylor said. services and 13-month post-death follow-ups for “It’s about living. We’re here to help in the final patients’ family members, to help them navigate days,” Taylor said those difficult milestones that Utilizing a team approach, come in the first year of a loved patients, their family, the nurses one’s passing. and the social service staff collabMonthly support groups for anyorate to provide care programs taione in the community also are lored to meet a patient’s needs and available. requests. Thanks to its generous donors More information Rock River Hospice & Home proand fundraisers, Rock River HosThe office at 2706 Ave. E in vides care for all ages, children pice & Home provides care for Sterling is open from 8 a.m. to through adults, in Whiteside, Lee, patients regardless of their ability Ogle, Carroll and Bureau counties. 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. to pay; no one is turned away, TayGo to hospicerockriver.org, In-home care is available, as well as lor said. find it on Facebook or call care at the six-bed facility opened There are several fundraising 815-625-3858 to donate to in 2017 at 2706 Ave. E. in Sterling. events yearly, including several that the nonprofit, or to learn more The 14,000-square-foot facility are coming up soon: On April 6, a about its services, programs was designed to allow patients and portion of the sales at Buffalo Wild and volunteer opportunities. families comfortable private spacWings in Sterling will be donated to es, as well as space for families to the hospice; there will be a bucket congregate. brigade on May 9; and the 18th annual golf outing In addition to staff, the hospice relies on a core will be held June 26 at Deer Valley Golf Club. In group of volunteers who assist in a variety of ways, addition, the second annual pickleball tournafrom sitting with a patient and sharing companment is being set for this summer. Those interionship to providing meals for a family to helping ested should call 815-625-3858 or email karen@ patients record their stories. hospicerockriver.org for all the details. “Our volunteers are a vital part of our organizaThen there’s its biggest fundraiser, the popular tion,” Taylor said. annual Festival of Trees, which this holiday season In its We Honor Veterans program, for example, will be celebrating its 31th year. volunteer active-duty veterans spend time with It’s also a United Way agency. patients who are veterans, sharing a bond that Rock River Hospice & Home affirms life by procomes with a shared experience. viding exceptional care and support to those tran“The patients are able to talk about their service, sitioning through serious illness, death and grief. BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE For Sauk Valley Media
D2 • SV Weekend
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Saturday, March 14, 2020
SPOTLIGHT | 24:7 FITNESS ON THE ROCK
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
7:24 Fitness on the Rock owner Nick Pepper prides himself on offering more than just a place to work out. “We want to help people build a solid foundation,� he said. “We truly want to help people reach their goals and just feel better about themselves. Some of our best success stories are not just about weight loss, but about the confidence gained.�
Rock around the clock There’s always time for fitness at a Rock Falls business, where the owner does more than just help people build muscles; he helps them build a solid foundation for a healthier life, healthier attitude and healthier outlook
and his fitness philosophies. He flipped the old fitness center in only 10 days, creROCK FALLS – When Nick Pepper ating a new look and bringing a new eneropened his fitness center, 7:24 Fitness On gy to the building. He opened Sept. 30. The Rock, he didn’t just bring his experiHe was able to retain a lot of the hardence as an athlete and as a personal train- working staff, as well. er. He brought his personal beliefs and The business’ name is significant on a philosophy that fitness is for everyone. few levels. 7:24 refers to the fitness cenPepper and his staff want to help people ter’s hours – open 7 days a week, 24 hours meet all of their fitness goals, a day – and also refers to the from improving their health, Gospel of Matthew 7:24 , about to losing a few pounds, to addthe wise man building his ing muscle and finding overall home on a rock. wellness. The center’s location in Rock Pepper says he’s an advocate of Falls, along the Rock River, More info Functional Training, the goal of and Pepper’s belief that good 7:24 Fitness On The health is a strong foundation which is to get everyone moving Rock, 107 1/2 First and functioning at their best. all play into the name as well. Ave. in Rock Falls, is “We want to help people This spring, 7:24 will support open 24 hours a day, the 6K Global Run for Water, build a solid foundation,� 7 days a week. Pepper said. “We truly want where participants walk or run Registration and to help people reach their 6 kilometers, the average disoffice hours are from tance a child must travel daily goals and just feel better about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. themselves. Some of our best for clean water in some parts Monday through success stories are not just of the world. Thursday and by about weight loss, but about “We want to not only help appointment on Friday people in our community but the confidence gained.� and Saturday. Many know Pepper from his also globally,� he said. Find it on Facebook, At 7:24, members will find a years on the baseball field. He call 815-564-9000 played for Sterling High School variety of equipment for caror go to 724Fitnes- dio and weight training as well and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. After college, he sOnTheRock.com to as options for personal and learn more. spent 3 years playing professmall group training. sional baseball for the Traverse You won’t find a huge class in City Beach Bums. which someone can get lost; rather, there He then returned home and began are limits to the group workouts so that coaching for Sterling High School. For the trainers can provide personal attention. last 7 years he’s been the head baseball In addition to the equipment, the fitness coach for Warriors, along with his second center offers members the option to wear job, working as a personal trainer for the heart monitors during their workouts, Rock Falls Anytime Fitness. which can enable them to better monitor When Anytime’s owner decided to their workout and provide feedback, Pepclose the business, Pepper jumped at the per said. chance to create his own workout facility, “Where we try to differentiate ourselves bringing his talents as a personal trainer is in our care for people and their lives.� BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE For Sauk Valley Media
Serving the Community Since 1982 Quality care in the patient’s home or place of residence or the Hospice House. Registered Nurses Home Health Aides Trained Volunteers End of Life Nursing Care Bereavement & Chaplain Services Music Therapy Inpatient Unit
2706 Avenue E Sterling, IL 61081
815-625-3858 www.hospicerockriver.org “By Your Side, Our Family Caring For Your Family.�
Saturday, March 14, 2020
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SV Weekend • D3
SPOTLIGHT | GARAGE DOOR SPECIALISTS
Specialists in their field
From tuning up an existing garage door to modernizing an old one to installing new, the experts at Garage Door Specialists have had customers beating a path to their doors for more than 40 years
Submitted
The staff and owners at Garage Door Specialists can keep old doors on the right track, or help customers looking to buy new. The business stocks a large selection, including large commercial, full view glass, steel carriage house design, and rolling steel. examined to make sure it’s fitting properly in its track, at least four STERLING – Whether you park your times a year, Myszkowski said. prized sports car inside the garage, “I say with the change of each seaor it’s home to the family minivan, son, check these components. Most you can trust the team at Garage important is to properly lubricate Door Specialists to answer the call the door. We all count on our garage for all your garage door needs. door, yet it’s one of the most neglectGarage Door Specialists has been ed things in our house.” a staple of service in the Sauk Valley With proper maintenance and for more than 40 years. service, a garage door can last for At the heart of the business is decades, he said. Mike Miller, who started installing One of the top trends in the garage locally made door world Frantz garage is adding doors with wi-fi capabilhis fatherities, which in-law from allow the their “office” homeowner – a single car to check his garage. phone to see Miller’s if the door experience was left open, and history in or to open the communithe door, say, ty are invalufor a delivery More info able, office person. Garage Door Specialmanager Dave Installing a ists is at 2704 Locust Myszkowski wi-fi enabled St. in Sterling. said. door is a simFind it on Facebook, call “He enjoys ple process 815-626-8911 or go to sharing his that requires sterlingdoor.net for more knowledge only a new information. and passdoor operator, ing on what he said, and he’s learned the staff at through the Garage Door years with the rest of the team,” Specialists have the know-how to Myszkowski said. both modernize, or repair a door “Mike is the nicest person you will installed decades ago. meet, and he’s honest as they come. “We service an entire spectrum He’s not there to just sell something. of doors, and technology is always If he can get it working, he will fix it changing,” Myszkowski says. to save the customer money. He is an “It’s pretty cool to see all the new example of how you do not become options.” good at something because you do it For those looking to purchase a for 40 years; you are able to do it for new door, Garage Door Specialists 40 years because you are good.” stocks a large selection, including Garage doors endure wear and tear large commercial, full view glass, daily, and it’s important to they get a steel carriage house design and rollregular checkup to make sure they’re ing steel, for new construction or working properly, and to avoid costly remodeling projects. emergency repairs. The company is fully bonded and Components such as hinges, insured, estimates are free, financing cables, seals, and operators should is available and there’s a full monbe checked, and the door should be ey-back guarantee. BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE For Sauk Valley Media
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“Mike is the nicest person you will meet, and he’s honest as they come. He’s not there to just sell something. If he can get it working, he will fix it to save the customer money. He is an example of how you do not become good at something because you do it for 40 years; you are able to do it for 40 years because you are good.” Dave Myszkowski
Garage Door Specialists office manager
SM-ST1758576
D4 • SV Weekend
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Saturday, March 14, 2020
SPOTLIGHT | HEALTH & NUTRITION PLUS
The building blocks of a healthier lifestyle The staff at Health & Nutrition Plus take a natural approach to wellness, helping their customers find the right balance of products and services to give your body a boost
Submitted
BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE For Sauk Valley Media
STERLING – Whether their customers are shopping for a daily multivitamin or supplements to enhance their lifestyles, Jennifer Griswold and her team at Health & Nutrition Plus have the knowledge to guide them to the best solutions for their health needs. Griswold has a doctorate of naturopathy and is a certified nutritional counselor, certified health specialist and a master herbalist with 3 years of on-the-job training in the store. She also works hard to stay up-to-date on the latest products and services. “We offer a wide variety of products with a wide-range of health benefits,” Griswold said. Along with a well-stocked inventory of vitamins, supplements and natural health products, the store inventory now includes cannabidiol products, better known CBD. “We carry a broad spectrum of CBD More info products from interHealth & Nutrition Plus, nal to topical uses,” 2522 E. Lincolnway in Griswold said. Sterling, is open from 9 Cannabidiol is a a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday component of the through Friday and from hemp plant and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. SatCBD products can urday. be used to ease disCheck them out at comfort naturally for healthandnutritionplus.com a variety of health or call 815-625-3409. conditions. Health & Nutrition Plus also offers services such as nutritional counseling, detoxifying foot baths and BEMER sessions, which can help enhance microcirculation. Co-owner Paul Machnicki, Griswold’s father, is trained in iridology, which is the examination and analysis of the colored portion of the eye, which can detect signs of imbalances in the body. These and other services are available by appointment. Whether people are seeking the right combination to care for health concerns or to maintain wellness and keep the body in balance, Griswold and her staff are happy to answer questions, and guide and educate each customer. “We have so many loyal and amazing customers that we get to see on a regular basis ... these people have become part of our HNP family,” Griswold said. “We enjoy knowing people on a first-name basis and understanding their needs on a personal level.” In a time when many can shop with a few clicks of a mouse or taps on a smartphone, it’s customer service that can truly make a difference for the customers, Griswold said. “We’re educated, we’re friendly, and we love what we do,” Griswold said. “Customers are able to come in and find the answers: This is the uniqueness that we can offer.”
You can buy just about anything online these days – except personal service. Jennifer Griswold said the crew at Health & Nutrition Plus enjoys getting to know people on a first-name basis and understand their needs “We’re educated, we’re friendly, and we love what we do,” Griswold said. “Customers are able to come in and find the answers: This is the uniqueness that we can offer.” From left: Damian Feary, Jenny Parker, Griswold and Paul Machnicki.
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Saturday, March 14, 2020
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SV Weekend • D5
SPOTLIGHT | MILLER SPORT CENTER
Just what the dock ordered Millers Sport Center has a cure for cabin fever: Some R&R (that’s River and Relaxation) on a new boat decked out with all the gear you’ll need to hang up the Gone Fishin’ sign — and who knows, you might just see the shop’s owners out on the river, too, enjoying a dose of their own medicine
Whatever floats your boat, Millers Sport Center’s owners, B.J. Miller and his son Matt (left), like to find the perfect fit for their customers. “We take the time to listen and understand what they’re looking for,” B.J. said. Submitted
BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE For Sauk Valley Media
LANARK – Looking for a new boat, or just looking to spend some quality time on the water? Look no further than Millers Sport Center Inc. Millers knowledgeable staff has the equipment and service you need to keep you on the water all summer. B.J. Miller and his son, Matthew, manage the business, which was started in 1984. B.J. was in construction, and started selling snowmobiles during the slow winter months. When his snowmobile business grew, he added all-terrain vehicles. The businesses evolved when he began to offer winter storage space for boats, and slowly he transitioned to selling, storing and servicing boats. He sold his last snowmobile in 1995. Today, shoppers will find a wide selection of fishing and pontoon boats, as well as fishing accessories such as rods, reels, tackle and bait. The work keeps the Millers busy, but he and Matt like to fish, and when they can, they squeeze in some time on the water. After the long, cold winter, spring can be a busy time, with customers coming out of hibernation to shop for a new boat or to pull their boats and equipment from storage. Millers Sports Center houses about 300 boats and other watercraft during the winter, and they personally deliver to nearly 200 to customers’ homes, docks, and slips when boating season begins. It also provides docks and lift services, which includes installing them in the spring and removing them in the fall. It can be fun to help customers find their perfect fit when it comes to boats and pontoons, B.J. said. “We take the time to listen and understand what they’re looking for.” The strength of the business is in its professional service, whether that is installing a dock or helping boat owners maintain their equipment. Now that the winter is giving way to the sunnier days of spring, the staff at Millers Sports Center will be busy ensuring their customers can enjoy a long, fun season on More info the water, he said. Millers Sport Center, 24565 Zier “It’s all about good Road in Lanark, is open from 7 a.m. service. My staff has to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, been doing this for from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and quite some time, from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday. and I have peoFind it on Facebook, go to millple who really erssport.com or call 815-493-6401 understand the for more information. business, how to listen and take care of the customers.”
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(2) Mooring Lines, (4) Fender Lines, (4) Fenders, (1) Anchor, (1) Anchor Line, (5) AK1 Life Jackets, (1) Throwable Device
SM-ST1751984
24565 Zier Rd, Lanark
millersport@hotmail.com
815-493-6401
millerssport.com
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D6 • SV Weekend
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Saturday, March 14, 2020
SPOTLIGHT | PEABUDY’S
A farmer’s best ’budy
Growers have come to depend on Peabudy’s, a business built from the farmland up, where they can find everything from mowers to mighty machines
.com Cody Cutter/ccutter@saukvalley
BY CODY CUTTER ccutter@saukvalley.com 815-632-2532 @CodyCutter35
STERLING – In the 20-some years that Heath Passmore has worked for Peabudy’s Inc., he’s seen the price of corn bushels go from the $2 range to close to $8 in the tricky business of agriculture. “That caused a lot of trouble,” said Passmore, who’s now the store manager. “It was fun, and we all enjoyed it, but now we’re in the after-effects. It’s been a struggle, and it’s cost some guys their business.” But in the middle of the sometimes uncertain world of farming, one thing has remained the same: When farmers need somewhere to turn to for top-ofthe-line tractors, tillage, planners, combines, skid steer, excavating, fixes and lawn and garden necessities, Peabudy’s – a full line ag dealer – aims to deliver results with a family-oriented feel. New Holland is one of Peabudy’s flagship brands, but they
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seeing when they get higher yields and better performing crop, because with the tools you sold them, you get that sense of success when you’re helping them become more successful.” Attending lawn and garden shows is one of the ways Peabudy’s promotes their products, and soon they will have a show of their own: an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 18, which will feature their lawn and garden equipment, as well as their compact tractors. “The business keeps going,” Passmore said. “We’ve started something from the ground up, it’s been 25 years, and we’re still going.”
More info
Peabudy’s Inc., 2900 Polo Road in Sterling, next to Walmart, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Find it on Facebook, go to peabudysinc.com or call 815-6264600 for more information.
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Peabudy’s has been in business for 25 years, selling tractors, combines, skid loaders, mowers, and more. It also services equipment. Pictured are store manager Heath Passmore (left) and sales manager Aaron Gonzalez.
also carry numerous other lines such as, but not limited to, Cub Cadet, Versatile, Great Plains, Landoll, Unverferth and Ferris. Peabudy’s has weathered the agricultural storms for 25 years, and a lot of that has to do with the positive, friendly atmosphere from its employees from the top down. Bob Benters owns the Sterling location at 2900 Polo Road and another in Pecatonica. He is hands-on with much of the daily operations, Passmore said, and that is one of reason’s behind it’s success. “In the business that we’re in, we’re not locked into being in a cubicle 8 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Passmore said. “We treat all of our customers like they are family, and we’ll go above and beyond to keep everybody going. We understand how much time is of an essence.” Technology changes rapidly in the ag field, Passmore said, with equipment, seeds and chemicals, and sometimes it’s easy to get lost in it all. However, Peabudy’s technicians and sales representatives keep up with the latest trends by constantly educating themselves with what’s new, sometimes by attending ag-related classes. The dedication put into doing more work than just customer relations and fixing things pays off in the successes they see from what their customers accomplish in the fields. “It’s nice to be able to get outside and be outdoors,” Passmore said. “You kind of get the sense of accomplishments and achievements that your customers are