618 Hometown Magazine May 2021

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(618)

from the

EDITOR

EDITOR Andrea Howe ahowe@mtcarmelregister.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Maegan Saalwaechter

Hello, (618) Hometown neighbors!

Wow, May has got it goin’ on, and we’ve got it to share with you!

We kick off this month’s issue with Kim Bayless in the kitchen, sharing her Cinco de Mayo recipes. She had me at “cinnamon brownies.”

April showers bring May flowers, and Erin Zinzilieta-Pennington shares the best tips for cultivating a rustic flower garden of your own in this month’s column.

And of course, it’s Mother’s Day on May 9. Corey Woolsey shares the story of a local stay-at-home mom turned business-owner.

She brings her babies to her store, The Attic, in Mount Carmel for a great experience for everyone.

If you’re trying to figure out what you could do for your momma, I have some ideas. I took drive down to Do-Over Decor & Boutique (also home to WhitLeigh’s Coffee House), where two moms turned their hobbies into a boutique business.

Of course, there’s more for this issue. Mona Warrick shares a third installment of her series on “Leaders of the Band,” featuring Mount Carmel’s Bill Hudson this month.

And with Memorial Day closing out the month on May 31, I talked to some of the peo-

ple who commemorate the true meaning of this holiday, and they have a few things to say.

Here’s a reminder to let us help spread the word of your community events. Remember, we work on calendar content a month ahead of our publication date, so if you’re planning a June festival or fundraiser, a concert or a fun run, or any other event that you think others will enjoy, send us the details as soon as possible to news@mtcarmelregister.com. Be sure to mention it’s for (618) Hometown Magazine.

We’ve got a boatload of story ideas we’re working on for coming issues, but we’re always looking for stories. Reach out to us on the (618) Hometown Magazine Facebook page or email ahowe@mtcarmelregister.com As always, support the advertisers who make it possible for us to bring issues to you free of charge each month.

— Love and blessings to you!

CONTRIBUTORS Kim Bayless Mona Warrick Corey Woolsey Erin Zinzilieta-Pennington

TO ADVERTISE Courtney Shuttle courtney@pdclarion.com 812-220-4861

CONNECT WITH US Find us on Facebook @618HometownMagazine P.O. Box 550

Mt. Carmel IL 62863 618-263-1005

Email: news@mtcarmelregister.com

ON THE COVER

Andrea Howe Editor

Photo by Andrea Howe

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It’s at The Attic Business and motherhood go hand in hand WRITER: COREY WOOLSEY

2 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021

When mother of two Rebecca Rutledge thought about her career plans, she knew it had to involve her children in some capacity.

Her business in Mount Carmel was the perfect solution for her.

take you in just like you are.”

Rutledge and her husband Drew have two children, Lucy who is four and Grayson who is one. Her children were a huge part of the decision to take on the business as well.

her kids at work, Rutledge feels that having her children at work also puts customers with children at ease when they come in.

“I think that parents who come in with children who are running around the store feel

The Attic, which Rutledge purchased

“I stayed home with my daughter before we

more comfortable here because my children

around three years ago, is a clothing store that

bought the shop, and one of the key things I

are running around the store as well,” she

features children’s clothing from preemie to

told my husband was that if we were going to

said. “It makes them feel like it is all right.

size 18.

buy or start a business, our children had to be

Sometimes shopping with your kids can be

involved,” Rutledge said. “They come with me

stressful, I don’t want parents to come in and

everyday and they are my little helpers.”

think their kids can’t touch anything. We have

Prior to COVID, the store also had a consignment shop, but Rutledge has now shifted to a ladies’ boutique.

The opportunity came for Rutledge to pur-

Lucy and Grayson also do their par t to model the new offerings for the shop as well.

chase the shop after staying at home with

“It really helps to have them here to show

her daughter Lucy. Rutledge had a sister that

people what our new items look like on a nor-

worked at the shop and informed her that the

mal kid and not a model kid,” Rutledge said.

business was for sale.

“I told my husband that my dream job was for sale,” Rutledge said. “He told me to call and find out the details.”

Rutledge said it was a pretty fast process from there.

The Attic was a dream job for Rutledge because of the people and the community.

While Grayson is still young, Lucy is excited to come into the shop ever y day to meet her new friends.

a play area in the back and we want it to be a stress-free experience for the parents and the kids.”

While the idea of running a business while running after toddlers seems like a lot to handle, Rutledge offers a simple approach to the situation.

“It is okay if it feels like everything is cha-

“Ever y adult that comes in, she wants

otic at times,” Rutledge said. “I warn my cus-

to know their name,” Rutledge said. “Even

tomers on some occasions that it is a little

though she is four, she will be the first one to

crazy. But I think that being a mom, you feel

greet a customer.”

like it is chaos everyday. At the end of the day,

Rutledge also encourages other parents to

we walk out of the shop and I realize that my

“I love the customers and I love the com-

get their kids to show off their new clothes as

shop is still standing there, the clothes are all

munity of Mount Carmel,” said Rutledge, a

well. She said if they send her a picture of their

good and both my kids are alive. It is the most

native of Owensville, Indiana. “My cousins,

child in their new outfit, she makes sure to

successful feeling at the end of the day when

the Gottman’s are right next door. And even

post it on the Attic’s Facebook page.

things get done, or you see a happy customer

though I am not from Mount Carmel, they

In addition to being able to spend time with

or a mom is not stressed it is worth it all.”

(618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021 3

WHAT

MOM WANTS Hobby space evolves into popular Norris City boutique WRITER: ANDREA HOWE They just wanted to get their hobbies out of their homes.

That was the plan, when friends Leigh Gray and Whitney Hobbs went looking for space for Hobbs’s crafts and Gray’s furniture painting ventures.

That was more than eight years ago.

Hobbs and Gray said the store offers a variety

children between their two families.

“We were both working out of our base-

of boutique items, making it convenient for locals

Two college students, Baylee Sutton and Tori

ments,” Hobbs said, when the two women found

to find a new outfit or teacher gift without having

Karnes, work at the coffee house when the own-

Norris City’s former Masonic Lodge building was

to drive to Evansville or Carbondale.

ers need to be available for family time.

There’s a personal connection between the

In the pandemic, the business was closed for

The two attend Ditney Ridge Baptist Church

store owners and the makers of ever y item

14 weeks — a restriction that closed many busi-

together, and now they’re together most every

offered at the boutique. “We are passionate about

nesses for good. But Gray said their husbands

day of the week, since they’ve turned their hobby

supporting other small businesses,” said Gray,

made it clear the business should not drain their

space into Do-Over Decor & Boutique, with the

noting that the work of artisans from White

finances, and with that foundation in place as

latest venture, WhitLeigh’s Coffeehouse fast

County and neighboring counties are showcased

things closed down around the country, Do-Over

becoming a favorite.

at the boutique.

Decor & Boutique’s inventory was paid for, with

available.

In the beginning, Gray and Hobbs were only

WhitLeigh’s Coffeehouse, launched earlier

open about three hours on Saturdays, then added

this year in the boutique, features Phillipstown

“We had to be creative about how to reach

Fridays, and as customers came and clothing,

Coffee Roasters blends, baked goods including

people,” said Gray. They used social media to

jewelry and accessory lines were added, store

cookies, macarons — and cupcakes, from Lei-

market their items, and kept their customers

hours picked up.

Anne’s Creations. Drinks include hot and iced

through that period, when the economy gradually

coffees, teas and flavored lemonades.

reopened.

The two friends have maintained the historic

no debt.

feel of the building, but it’s evolved into an eclec-

The coffee house has been such a hit that

The store, at 108 South Division Street in Nor-

tic mix of anything Mom might want: Handmade

they may add a drive-through service down the

ris City, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays

soaps, floral arrangements, jewelr y, candles,

road.

and Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays

women’s and children’s clothing and accessories,

But everything’s step by step. Gray is quick to

and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The cof-

wood signs, laser cut wood and letters, mocca-

say that they don’t consider themselves “business

feehouse offers delivery, but overnight orders

sins, table seasoning, soup mixes and more —

people” first. “We have learned a lot!”

are best. Reach them at Dooverdecorandappar-

plus repurposed furniture for sale (or services to paint your own furniture).

4 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021

“We have set healthy boundaries to be moms and wives,” said Hobbs, who notes they have six

el@gmail.com, or www.DoOverDecor.com, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat

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More than the beginning of summer WRITER: ANDREA HOWE Memorial Day weekend seems to be a marker for the beginning of summer vacations, but the last Monday in May’s significance is one of remembrance of lives sacrificed.

For the holiday, I order new flowers for my loved one’s final resting place, and when I make my cemetery rounds, I make note of the small flags placed by Boy Scouts and other service organizations next to the gravesites of veterans.

Memorial Day, first known as Decoration Day, was first obser ved to memorialize the sacrifice of Civil War veterans, and became known as the day to remember the sacrifice of all war dead.

Every year, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion post members across our area coordinate to make visits to each cemetery in their county to conduct Memorial Day remembrance ceremonies. Others take part in joint programs at their county seat, or in the case over in Edwards County, display their beautiful “Avenue of Flags” at the Edwards County Courthouse.

My husband Stan is Quar termaster at Edwards County VFW Post 8222. They’re looking for members to help continue the good work, as are other veterans organizations in our communities.

veterans. In Edwards County, they have the

grams we provide in the community,” he said.

A former schoolmate, Paul Hayse of Carmi,

care of displaying the Avenue of Flags, which

A combat veteran of Vietnam, my husband

is active in Carmi American Legion Post 224’s

are the burial flags of Edwards County veter-

said he understands that when veterans come

Sons of the American Legion, and he remem-

ans. They solicit donations on Poppy Day and

home from ser vice, they have lives to lead

bers recruiting events that were so large they

use proceeds to assist disabled veterans, and

and may not feel like a ser vice organization

had to be moved to the fairgrounds. The num-

award local scholarships. The VFW sponsors

is for them. “But they’re needed, and it would

bers are fewer now, but the services the orga-

the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy con-

be much appreciated if some would consider

nizations provide to the community and to

tests, which offer opportunities to earn schol-

joining,” he said.

veterans, continue!

arships at the national level.

American Legion’s programs include Boys

“With the demise of all the World War II

Members also help provide resources for

State and Girls State leadership programs,

veterans who made the VFW what it was, and

veterans in need of medical assistance from

oratory contests, disaster relief, scholarships,

Korean War and Vietnam veterans growing

the Veterans Administration and suppor t a

and sponsorship of American Legion baseball

older, we need all the young men and women

national home for children.

among other community services. Associated

who went into service, fought battles in other

Post 8222 meets the third Tuesday of each

organizations include the American Legion

places and came home, to remember they

month at 7:30 p.m. at the post home on South

Auxiliar y, Sons of the American Legion and

were in the service and consider us,” my hus-

Fifth Street in Albion. They’re looking for vet-

Legion Riders.

band told me.

erans of Iraq and Afghanistan to take interest.

Check out vfwil.org and illegion.org to

Members take par t in the honor guards

“It’s one night a month for an hour or two, for

learn more about more programs and related

which provide military rites for the funeral of

some fellowship and helping sustain the pro-

auxiliary memberships.

6 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021

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THE LEADERS

OF THE BAND WRITER: MONA L. WARRICK

This is third, in a three-part series featuring four legendary band directors from the 618 neighborhood, Curry Baker, Mike Croghan, David Snapp and Bill Hudson. This article highlights Hudson.

“Music is life itself.”— Louis Armstrong

civic pride.

When talking with Bill Hudson, you

important part of my life, so has this commu-

His first teaching position, as band direc-

instantly know you are in the presence of a

nity,” Hudson said. “Mt. Carmel is my home-

tor at South Fork Community High School

legend. The Mt. Carmel native has memories

town. I take pride in Mt. Carmel and I want it

in Kincaid, Illinois, ended when he had an

and stories worthy of a best-seller. Even if you

to continue to be great.”

oppor tunity to come home to teach. Prior

“Just as much as music has been an

where he earned a master of science degree in 1971.

aren’t from Wabash County, chances are you

At 79, Hudson has no plans to retire. “Why

to taking over as band and vocal instructor

have heard of him. With a multi-page resume,

retire? My dad retired and died the next year,”

at MCHS, Hudson was assistant band direc-

an equally impressive list of accomplishments,

he said. “You have to have something to do!

tor from 1966-1973. He was band and vocal

memberships, and numerous awards, it would

My wife is still waiting for me to retire!”

instructor, and director of music, until his

be easier to list organizations with which he

Hudson, now in his 36th year of teaching

retirement 1994.

at Wabash Valley College, is currently teach-

In recognition of his 30-year tenure at Mt.

Love of his hometown has been Hudson’s

ing four classes. He teaches History of Ameri-

Carmel High School, Hudson was inducted

motivation to be involved with as many clubs

can Music, World Music, Music Appreciation,

into the MCSH Hall of Fame in 2015. “I was

and organizations as his schedule allows. “Ask

and Cinema Appreciation.

fortunate to work with thousands of students.”

hasn’t been involved!

my wife, Judy, and she will tell you that I am

Music comes naturally to Hudson. “I come

Hudson said. “I owe my success to my stu-

involved in more things than my schedule will

from a musical family,” he said. “My mother

dents, from middle schoolers all the way to

allow!”

sang, played and taught the piano and organ.

college students. To this day, if you name a

Best known for his decades-long career in

My sister, Marcia (Woodcock) plays the piano

former student, I can tell you what instrument

music education, Hudson has been active in

and organ. My brother, John, played the trum-

they played.”

local government for years. He was mayor of

pet. And, my father played the radio!”

Hudson keeps in contact with many of his

Mt. Carmel from 2011-2019 and has served as

While still in high school, Hudson began

precinct committeeman since 2005. Hudson

playing at militar y funerals. “I wasn’t in the

also served as a commissioner on the Mt. Car-

ser vice. They always wanted to pay me, but

He recalled notable students from his

mel City Council from 2007-2011.

playing was my ser vice to them. It was an

decades of teaching, including Pam Asber-

honor for me to play at their funerals.”

r y “a ver y good pianist and clarinet player.”

You might have seen Hudson at the Mt.

former students. “I had a lot of good students and we still keep in touch,” he said.

Carmel Municipal Swimming Pool, where he

During the Vietnam War, Hudson said,

Asberr y is described as “one of the most

was manager from 1980-2007. A Rotary Club

“The hardest thing was losing seven friends in

promising solo piano ar tists in New Age

member since 1968, Hudson is a Paul Harris

a row. It was difficult playing at their funerals.”

music today,” by New Age Music Reviews.

Fellow. Hudson has been active with the Boy

In 1964, Hudson graduated from Southern

She went on to teach piano at SIU-C. She has

Scouts of America since 1987. The list of Hud-

Illinois University Carbondale with a degree

more than 40 years of teaching experience

son’s professional activities and memberships

in music education. He continued his stud-

and owns Asberry School of Music in Dacula,

is demonstrative of a man with unmeasurable

ies at Indiana State University, Terre Haute,

Georgia.

8 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021

careers in music in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ballards, from Bellmont, “were good musicians,” said Hudson. “Joe, Jim and Phil were dummers.”

The Mayhues, Catricia, John, and Terence were talented musicians, Hudson said. “Terence was left handed, so he always switched the timpani around,” he said. Mayhue teaches at the University of Indianapolis.

Scott Graddy began playing the flute in junior high so he could be with his friends. He has been with the Flint (Michigan) Symphony Orchestra since 2000. “Scott wanted to go to a national concert, in Washington, D.C.,” Hudson said. “He had to send in an audition tape. He got in. It’s a very tough competition.

I’ll never forget his vibrato sounded like a bird singing.”

Not all of his recollections are happy ones.

As Hudson spoke of the Simpsons who were his students in the 1970s, he remembers Jari, who played oboe, sang, and was a drum majorette. “She was very tall and a very talented musician,” said Hudson. “Her sisters, Judy and Jane were also good musicians.” In 2013, Hudson received a call from Jari’s parents, Tom and Nelda. Jari, wife of David VandenBerg and mother of four, had died at the age of 51. “They asked me to play at her funeral. I played My Tribute. It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, but her family said it was perfect.”

Hudson’s three loves are his family, his music, and his community. He and his wife of nearly 55 years, Judy, are parents to Lucy Ann (Josh) Evans, Susan (Mark) Zimmerman, Kelly (Chris) Pierce, and William (Shannon) Hudson. They have seven grandchildren: Sydney, McKenna, Maxwell and Savannah Zimmerman; Eliza and Crosby Pierce; and Will Hudson.

“If it were not for my family, I would not have been able to do any of this,” said Hudson. “My wife, children and grandchildren Dan Jenks, Hudson recalls, was a talented

Robert “Bob” Wolf “liked electronics and

trombonist who taught himself to play the

synthesizers,” said Hudson. “He asked if he

Obviously, Hudson is a ver y busy man.

flute. “Dan wanted to write a composition,”

should pursue this and I told him he should.”

But, be warned. If you see him coming at

said Hudson. “It was very good and he direct-

Wolf has a career as an electronic musician

you with his red, pocket trumpet, look out!

ed it his senior year. Dan enjoys a professional

and independent film composer. He has writ-

If it’s your birthday, you are about to be ser-

career in music.” As a music producer, Dan

ten several film scores and has released sev-

enaded. “More than once I’ve heard, ‘oh no,

has recorded, arranged and produced over 70

eral albums.

it’s the mayor running around with that little

albums. Jenks is the owner of Sunset Learning Studio in Redondo Beach, California.

Hudson also mentioned Steve Tharp and Richard Banks, both drummers, who pursued

have always encouraged and supported me.”

trumpet!’” It’s just one more way Bill Hudson keeps life interesting.

(618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021 9

PHOTO BY: TIM MARTIN

10 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in your kitchen WRITER: KIM BAYLESS Cinco de Mayo is celebrated annually May 5 with parades, food and music. It commemorates the date of the Mexican army’s victor y over

MEXICAN LASAGNA

France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

1 lb lean ground beef

2 ½ cups picante sauce or salsa

1 can (16 oz) refried beans

2 cups (16 oz) sour cream

2 tsp dried oregano

¾ cup finely sliced green onions

1 tsp ground cumin

1 can (2.2 oz) sliced black olives, drained

Traditional Mexican food is not necessarily what we have come to know as Mexican food. Barbacoa cooked in banana leaves, mole sauce, chalupas and chiles have prominent places in Mexican cooking.

Even though some of the traditional ways of Mexican cooking may not

Makes 12 servings

be easily found, or may take much longer to prepare than most of us have

¾ tsp garlic powder

time for, there are many Mexican dishes that we can make to celebrate

12 uncooked lasagna noodles

the occasion. Here are a few easy to prepare Mexican dishes for you to

2 ½ cups water

try. So grab your serape and sombrero and fill your plates!

Ole`!

CHICKEN TORTILLA BAKE

Makes 6 to 8 servings

3 cups shredded cooked chicken 2 cans (4 oz ea) chopped green chilies

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted 1 small onion, finely chopped

1 cup chicken broth

12 corn tortillas

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

In a bowl, combine the chicken, chilies, broth, soups and onion; set aside. Warm tortillas in the microwave according to package directions. Layer half of the tortillas on the bottom of a greased 13x9 pan, cutting to fit pan if desired. Top with half of the chicken mixture and half of the cheese. Repeat layers. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes.

CINNAMON BROWNIES

1 cup (4 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Combine beef, beans, oregano, cumin and garlic powder. Place four of the uncooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a 13x9 baking pan. Spread half the beef mixture over the noodles. Top with four more noodles and the remaining beef mixture. Cover with remaining noodles. Combine water and picante sauce. Pour over all. Cover tightly with foil; bake at 350 for 1 ½ hours or until noodles are tender. Combine sour cream, onions and olives. Spoon over casserole; top with cheese. Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

YOU. DECIDE.

Because you know where you belong

Makes 3 dozen

¾ cup baking cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

Close to home

½ tsp baking soda

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup butter, melted and divided

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In a mixing bowl, combine cocoa and baking soda; blend in 1/3 cup melted butter. Add boiling water, stirring until thickened. Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla and remaining butter. Add flour, cinnamon and salt. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Cool. For frosting, cream butter in a bowl. Combine cocoa, sugar and cinnamon; add alternately with the milk. Beat to a spreading consistency; add vanilla. Add more milk if necessary.

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(618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021 11

Make your flower garden sing!

WRITER: ERIN ZINZILIETA-PENNINGTON When my daughter and I lived out in the countr y I had a vegetable garden. It was fun… for a while. Eventually though, the daily weeding and picking got to be too much for me and I would almost have to wear stilts to go out and pick my tomatoes. When we moved into town I decided I was done with vegetables, due in large part to my lack of outdoor watering methods, and so, I moved on to flowers.

Even flowers can be a challenge.

The home I live in now had flower beds that were initiated by the last owners. They did a couple things right. They planted a few perennials which come up on their own; like tiger lilies and butterfly bushes. They planted a Japanese maple for color. They arranged a beautiful border with box wood bushes and that is where the magic stopped.

There are a lot of things wrong with the arrangement. The maple is in close proximity to the living room bay window. The boxwoods are too close to the porch. The stepping stones are

spaced too far apart for my short

legs. However, the plan looks great from the road and offers curb appeal.

Several years ago, I star ted filling in the “bald spots” with more plants. I tried mums.

They made it the first five years and then after a hard freeze they quit coming back up. I have since added purple salvia, foxglove, and red lilies. The yard is full sun, so the plants have to be resilient. This year the annuals I planted were my favorite standbys like red geraniums, pink and purple petunias, and sunflowers. I

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still want some “knockout roses” and some

Many people think that they can’t gar-

color. Grab a shovel and dig a hole drop in

dark rich mulch to make the flowers “pop.”

den. I disagree. You just have to pay atten-

a plant, and let Mother Nature do the rest.

Last year I added a border from recycled

tion to where the sun falls in your yard, so

You might just be pleasantly surprised at the

bricks that my father salvaged years ago

that the plant will be in the best environ-

outcome. A flower garden doesn’t happen

from an old church that was torn down.

ment. It is best to see how far a plant will

overnight. It takes years of additions and

I’ve decided that I prefer a “r ustic gar-

spread out and see how tall it will get. A tall

changes to get it just right. One morning

den” look over that of a formal atmosphere.

plant should go in the back so as not to hide

in July, you will wake up to a symphony of

Galvanized buckets with beautiful flowers

other plants. Keep in mind what will bloom

color carefully orchestrated by your own

make my heart sing!

when, so that the yard always has a burst of

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206 E Main St Carmi, IL 62821 618-382-4641 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2021 13

OVER OVER OVER

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INININ MT. MT. MT. CARMEL CARMEL CARMEL • •Full •Full Full Time Time Time Positions Positions Positions • •Competitive •Competitive Competitive Wages Wages Wages & &Benefits &Benefits Benefits • •Career •Career Career Advancement Advancement Advancement & &Growth &Growth Growth

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Visit Visit Visit motorad.com motorad.com motorad.com ororin orinperson inperson person Located Located Located atat916 at916 916 Empire Empire Empire St.St. St. • •Mt. •Mt. Mt. Carmel, Carmel, Carmel, ILIL62863 IL62863 62863

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