Sauk Vally Sun Dixon Edition

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Sauk Valley Sun

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September 2013 | Vol. 1 Issue 6

Gardenstock Art & Music Festival proceeds and attendance hit record highs

INSIDE

Krieder’s Secure Recycling Center opens I was so pleased to tour a new facility in our area that not only is environmentally sound, but produces a very unique product, adds to our local economy and offers employment opportunities. see page 18

Man Behind the Badge - Rock Falls Police Chief Mike Kuelper Chief Kuelper says, “I bleed blue. I love being a police officer.” He grew up around police officers in Prophetstown and always wanted to do what they did. see page 7

Sterling theater goes back to its roots Jennifer Lubbs photo

Gardenstock Art & Music Festival 2013 proceeds rose by over 70% to $10,300 and attendance was up by 50% to over 2,200. Saturday saw the festival grounds populated with more people than ever.

See page 4

Skip Huston, of Theatre Management Group, hoped to have Sterling Theater open and ready early this summer.

But when the doors weren’t ready to be opened in July, it wasn’t the end of the world. see page 3

Local

Dining

Local

Business

Local

Entertainment

22nd Annual Pumpkin Dash set for October 5

Martin’s Steaks & Spirits: An upscale, elegant dining experience

Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home - A First Visit

Doty composes portraits making memorable photographs

See photos from the Whiteside, Lee and Ogle County Fairs!

17th Annual Scarecrow Festival set for Sept. 28 in downtown Dixon

see page 9

see page 14

(815) 288-3366

see page 6

see page 19

see pages 8 & 9

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

Brad’s Beat

Brad Monson “Eggs in Paradise” restaurant in Sterling has reopened after closing briefly

for a freshen-up/ remodeling. It’s looking bright, cheerful and yet still homey.

Zach and his team welcome you back to good food and bright sunshine smiles. It is paradise, isn’t it?

Catch up on the Rock River Valley Painters Guild exhibit at the Sauk Valley Bank and Trust, Dixon location. Some mighty fine art can be seen through September 9th. Exhibitors include Jan Harvey, Ellen Ebert, Barb Lundeen,

Dan Letourneau, Mary Salstrom, Cindy Winterfield and Kathy Kucia. The group will be exhibiting at White Pines beginning September 15, Nachusa Grasslands September 21 and the Next Picture Show Exhibit and Sale in October and November. For information about the group contact Cindy Winterfield at www.rrvpg@ yahoo.com.

Get your walking shoes ready for the St. Vincent de Paul Society 2nd Annual

Accents

ACCENT-UATE THIS SEASON WITH ACCENTS!

Northland Mall 2900 East Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 Phone: 815-625-1999 Mon-Sat 10-9 • Sun 12-5

Friends of the Poor 5K at the Newman High School Practice Field September 28. For additional information: 815-625-0311 or www.svdpsrf.org.

Rosbrook Studio was an energetic and opportunistic vendor at the recent Gardenstock Event at Distinctive Gardens, Dixon. They made and sold dozens of hula hoops right on site. So, there were lots of hips swirling as little and big people got those hoops twirling.

There is celebration galore happening at Gazi’s in Rock Falls. Tara is getting better and better; Jimmy is home from Macedonia where the family went for the wedding of his son Gazi.

Gazi and “mama” stayed on for awhile with Gazi’s new

wife whom we are all eager to meet when she arrives.

As the weather begins to turn ever so slightly, every woman thinks about fall outfits…..so many will go to Accents, Northland Mall, to see what Margaret found for them this season.

Showplace Antiques and Treasures, Sterling, is looking spiffy after its recent painting by George Monroe Painting and his experienced crew. It was fun waving to George when he was painting the top level.

Glad we aren’t called to such heights! We love the creamy color and the trim that is just a shade different that gives the building a wonderful fresh look. It makes First Avenue in Sterling even more attractive

for all… especially tourists, shoppers and business folk.

Belated “High Five” to Janna Groharing, Executive Director, Sterling Main Street. Janna had been on the Board of Directors for the organization and served as the Promotions Chairperson. Her new position was effective late summer. Many folks in Sterling remember Janna from when she was the manager at The Precinct.

We were thrilled to see Tim O’Brien at The Sterling Theatre. Tim revealed that he “adores” movies… so what a great opportunity for such an enthusiastic and talented person. Many likely remember Tim and his entertainment-focused newspaper.

Keep those cards coming!

Rock Falls Chamber Garage Sale Sept. 6-8

Decorative Accessories, Gifts & Such

Small Town Charm,

Big City Style!

Open House

Fall September 13th & 14th

Join us for the Rock Falls Chamber Garage Sale Days Sept 6-8th. Sellers pick their own days/times to sell. Over 100 sales & thousands of shoppers in Rock Falls & Sterling mean great deals for sellers and shoppers. For information on selling & shopping see below.

SELLERS All sellers are strongly encouraged to register. Registration costs only $10.

Your registration includes two free garage sale signs, helpful tips, and most importantly it ensures your

9am-5:30pm

sale address will be placed on 2,500+ printed maps distributed locally as well as on maps available for download online. Feature ads are available on the back of the maps for an extra $10.

Feature ads help highlight the types of items you have available and will strongly encourage more shoppers.

A limited number of feature ads are available. TO REGISTER - Late registrations will be accepted through 8/30 for $15. Register by printing & mailing a form, or by stopping by the Rock Falls Chamber office. Maps will be available on 9/5 at

Shell & Schriener’s (1st Ave Mobil) Gas Stations in Rock Falls & Sterling.

Registration Forms Av a i l a b l e a t : h t t p : / / rockfallschamber.com/ engage.html SHOPPERS Maps will be available (FREE) at Schreiner’s Mobil (1st Ave/Rock Falls) & Shell Stations in both Rock Falls & Sterling on WEDNESDAY 9/5, no earlier than noon. They will also be posted online and can be printed from your home computer.

CORRECTION

Open House

Christmas November 8th & 9th

To Join Merlin's Text Club, text “MERLINS” to 36000

300 Mix St, Oregon, IL 815.732.2969 Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-3pm, Closed Sundays www.merlinsgreenhouseandflowers.com

In the feature “Local Senior Discounts” Applebee’s Restaurant, Sterling, discount was incorrect.

Applebee’s offers persons 55+ 10% with their Golden Apple Card.

We sincerely apologize

for this error. We are grateful this was brought to our attention and the correct information communicated.

We have learned that corporate, franchise and regional offers can vary. It is recommended that peo-

ple double check anything printed or on the web with the individual place of business prior to purchase or ordering.

Judy Bell Publisher

Publisher’s Note

We’re curious, committed and community-minded Judy Bell Publisher The Sauk Valley Sun folks are a fascinating group of curious, committed and community-minded people. They seem to thrive on finding the good in the Tri-Cities area and bringing that to the pages of the newspaper. They love finding the unusual, the unique and the undiscovered.

They seem especially fond of finding people who are doing good things in our communities and having the opportunity to share that with the 22,000+ households who receive the Sauk Valley Sun.

At our editorial meetings these very special people bring a collective wisdom and knowledge of the TriCities that is awe inspiring.

Then, too, is their spirit of camaraderie and “I’ll help” attitude which encourages each to do their best within the constraints of resources available.

More than anything I appreciate these folks. I love being their encourager, and their cheerleader.

Our readers are their cheerleaders, too. We all pass along everything we hear about our newspaper with the hope that we can continue to earn your affec-

tion, good will and loyalty.

We trust that you will visit and applaud our advertisers.

Their belief and trust in us with their advertising support is what makes the Sauk Valley Sun a reality every month. They deserve your patronage. They deserve your applause.

Remember, we are here for you. Any idea, any question, any referral, any curiosity about our communities are welcome. Contact me directly at sauksun@gmail.com.

And, know that we are committed to bringing you the very best in the TriCities.

We exist to serve you!

3

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

Sterling theater goes back to its roots

Sterling Theater

STERLING —Skip Huston, of Theatre Management Group, hoped to have Sterling Theater open and ready early this summer. But when the doors weren’t ready to be opened in July, it wasn’t the end of the world. Official opening was August 23rd. The Huston family was pleased with the response from the community.

Huston commented earlier this summer, saying, “If it’s done fast, it will look like it was done fast,” he said. “I’ve said from the start, we aren’t going to open until it is absolutely ready.”

The time finally came. “We opened because it was absolutely ready,” he said.

Staying true to Architect John McLane Sr.’s design of the early 1940’s, a team of contractors, overseen by the Greater Sterling Development Corp., has brought the downtown diamond out of

the rough.

“When you are trying to open something like this today, there are different codes and compliances, and that can be a daunting thing,” Huston said.

Architect John McLane Jr. said he was pleased to see the building saved.

“My dad was darn good,” he said proudly. “When I was a kid, he was setting me on a drafting stool and would put a pencil in my hand. If there is any reason I am any good, it’s because I had a good teacher.”

When the war broke out, people were not concerned with building. Steel was reserved for military use and McLane Sr., like others, including one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s sons, worked at the Green River Ordinance Plant to keep food on the family table.

McLane Jr. was two years old when his father designed

McLane Jr. was two years old when his father designed and drew the theater sketches in 1943, after the original building caught fire.

and drew the theater sketches in 1943, after the original building caught fire. Though his father has long since passed away, he still has his original hand-drawn plans.

Unrolling a tube depicting every aspect, he said, “I’m glad they are saving the building. My dad did a lot of neat stuff and worked on many good buildings that are still standing today. I’m his son and I would hate to have seen it torn down.”

Architect, John R. McLane Jr. looks through the September 26, 1944, edition of the Sterling Daily Gazette that features an announcement of the grand opening of Sterling Theater. McLane’s father John R. McLane Sr. was the architect who redesigned the building following a fire on July 9, 1943.

A classic look, compiled with modern conveniences of a brew and view, Huston feels it can be like it was in the old days. “When going to the theater was an event.”

The growing concept of serving wine and beer along with more than typical movie theater snack foods, will appeal to everyone Huston said.

Along with the blockbust-

ers, Sundance and independent films will be featured.

“This theater is not going to go by the normal schedule of movie theaters,” he said.

“We really want to cater to the grownups, the people who quit going to the movies, because the terrible way many of these theaters are run.”

Huston maintains a nononsense disposition, not

allowing cell phones, texting or any disruptive behavior.

“We don’t put up with it,” he said. “People appreciate the fact that we run a very tight ship. It is a fun place, but we are not going to let other people ruin your enjoyment.”

Sterling Theater is located at 402 Locust St. For more information go to www.sterlingmovies.com.

Annual Empowering disABILITIES Resource Expo October 2, 2013, 11:30 to 7:00pm Sauk Valley Community College Organized by Sauk Valley Community College Office of Student Activities, Northwestern Illinois Center for Independent Living, Illinois Division of Rehabilitative Services, Serve Illinois Commission Diversity and Inclusion Team, and Kreider Services, Inc. The mission of this Expo is to educate the community, highlight the ABILITIES of persons with disabilities, bring awareness of disabilities to the community and promote access for persons with disabilities. This event will be a place for individuals

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and families to ask questions, gain information, share ideas and learn more about the supports and services available to them. Chris Errera, composer and pianist from Schaumburg, IL will be back to inspire the audience with his stories. Chris will be playing excerpts from “Enter the Twilight” as well as pieces from his new release.

Jessica Madrigal, Great Lakes ADA Technical Assistance Specialist, will be presenting on the differences between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She will talk about what transitioning students need to know as they

move from high school to college and/or the workforce.

Rhonda Best, from the Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center, will be presenting on working with students with psychiatric disabilities in a school setting.

Michele Miller, executive director at The Northwestern Illinois Center for Independent Living, will be presenting on self-advocacy and empowerment.

Local artists who have disabilities will be displaying their art. Vision through Words poetry written by individuals who are blind will be posted. Shooting Stars, Newman Cheerleader squad will be performing. Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Program will be on the campus pro-

viding live demonstrations with one of their riders and therapy horse.

20 plus exhibitors will be in attendance with information to share. If anyone is interested in exhibiting, the fee is $30 per table with two chairs, fee includes lunch for two. The exhibit portion of the Expo runs from 11:30 to 5:00PM. If you would like to join in this community event contact Jessica Edwards, DRS, 815-625-8885.

A student essay contest on empowerment is also available with winners receiving a scholarship for continuing their education. For details on the contest, please contact Louise Hrubecky at the DRS office in Sterling at 815-625-8825.

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

Gardenstock Art & Music Festival proceeds and attendance hit record highs DIXON – Gardenstock Art & Music Festival 2013 hit record proceeds and attendance. According to organizers of the event, the festival grounds were populated with more people than ever. Many travelled a great distance to attend, such as Wisconsin, Ohio, and Missouri. Filming for the Gardenstock documentary took place and festival attendees contributed content through the Gardenstock

Facebook page. A caravan of VW buses made the trek from Wisconsin, documenting their journey and contributing footage. Work is now underway to create the feature length film documenting the area cultural scene and festival with a premiere date of summer 2014. Area cultural co-op Rosbrook Studio vended the event, selling over 40 “Hooli Hoops” and contributing a nighttime projection up on

the side of the Distinctive Gardens shop. Artists from as far away as southern Illinois saw exceptional reception and sales. The youth of the Sinnissippi Garden Program sold handmade tie-dyes sporting the official 2013 Gardenstock logo. The day’s record attendance of over 2200 people generated proceeds of $10,300, up over 70% from the year prior, according to event organizers.

From left Patrick Phelan, CEO Sinnissippi, Carol Novak, and Yvonne Jaquet, Sinnissippi Youth Garden Coordinators, receive a generous check from Bud and Lisa LeFevre, owners Distinctive Gardens. The check represents monies generated from the event to benefit the youth garden program.

Andrew Jackson photo

Fun, food, fellowship were fostered in the great outdoor setting of Distinctive Gardens, Dixon, scene of the recent Gardenstock festival.

Jennifer Lubbs photo

SINNISSIPPI CENTERS GARDENING PROGRAM The Sinnissippi Center’s Youth Garden Program provides valuable handson gardening experiences for at-risk youth involved with Sinnissippi and is a great tool to open lines of communication. The Gardening Program serves as an add-on to regular

services and utilizes both consumers and individuals from the community to raise produce from a vegetable garden that, in turn, is donated to the Dixon Food Pantry.

DISTINCTIVE GARDENS In business since 1999, Distinctive Gardens garden center offers a rich variety

of plants, garden gifts, local artist gallery, greenhouses, outdoor display beds, landscape design services plus a pavilion, which houses yearly benefit festivals, such as the popular “Gardenstock.”

Distinctive Gardens serves the northern Illinois region from Chicago suburbs to the Quad Cites and promotes a thriving small-town arts and culture scene.

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local Rotary Club of Dixon inducts two new members

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O T K C A B SCHOmeOanLs The Rotary Club of Dixon recently inducted two new members. Pictured from left Gary Presley, Club President; Leo Patterson, sponsor of new member Cheyann; Nancy Neskto-Freske, Membership co-chair; Cheyann Thunberg, new Rotary member; Patrick Phelan, new Rotary member and Don Lovett, sponsor of Patrick. Sponsors assist new Rotary members in learning about the club and its service opportunities. The International Rotary Club motto is : Service Above Self.

Krystie Jones photos

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home – A First Visit Larry Hammelman When first asked to do this article, I admit that I was a little skeptical. I mean, how good of a restoration could this be, the Reagan’s lived in the house in the 1920’s.

How accurate were things going look after all those years, and what kind of a presentation would this be?

Upon arrival at the home, which is located at 816 S. Hennepin Ave, in Dixon, I must admit that I was surprised. I saw that there were two buildings, both of which looked to be in very

Visitor Center

Misty McBride, Admin. Assistant

Kitchen

good condition. One is the welcome center, and is used for greeting people, setting up tours, and for buying memorabilia. The other is the boyhood home.

Entering the welcome center, I was greeted by Brandi Langner, who is the Executive Director of the Reagan home. She gave me a brief background on the home, and then showed me to a room where there was a short video giving a background on the Reagan family in conjunction with the Dixon community.

After the video, the tour

The Reagan Boy\s Bedroom

group, consisting of about eight people, was turned over to the very capable hands of Misty McBride, who is the administrative assistant at the Reagan home.

We were instructed to walk over to the boyhood home, where she led us on a guided tour of each room, and explained the significance of all the items in the rooms.

I could go into detail here, but I think you should take a tour and find the answers for yourself. I’m sure you’ll find some interesting facts that will make the visit worth while.

Larry Hammelman photos

“Kerbal Space Program”

by Bobby Dillon Video games are an increasingly mainstream, ubiquitous form of entertainment.

Coinciding with this growing popularity is a tendency to homogenize this entertainment to, as game publishers like to say, “appeal to a broader audience.” As a result, mainstream (or “Triple A,” a term commonly associated with big-budget, blockbuster-type games) video games tend to blend together into one giant runny, shooty, kill-fest.

Personally, I’ve grown bored with video games that insist on mimicking the amazingly popular Call of Duty or Gears of War. Furthermore, I’ve grown tired of games in which shooting people is the

primary gameplay mechanic.

It is my hope to spotlight an independently-developed video game every month in order to introduce those readers who, like me, have grown jaded and dissatisfied with Triple A video games and the homogenization that inherently follows. The independent market is, to put it bluntly, where innovation and creativity are still a driving force behind development, not money.

With that said, Kerbal Space Program is by far the most engaging, enjoyable game I’ve played in years.

When Apollo 13 was released in 1995, I watched it endlessly - I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and dreamed of being

an astronaut. Now that I’ve grown up and can realistically assess my likelihood of launching into orbit, I have the next best thing in Kerbal Space Program.

Kerbal Space Program is available as an Early Access game on the online distributor Steam or on the Kerbal Space Program website. Initially released in June of 2011, the game, developed and published by Squad, is still technically in development, with regular updates being released and content being added.

The game is set on “Kerbin,” the home planet of the eponymous Kerbals.

The Kerbals are adorable little green beings who lack a certain intellectual prowess,

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which serves to explain why they depend upon you, the player, to build their space program from the ground up.

Kerbin is an analog of Earth, and the still-growing solar system is a fairly accurate approximation of our own.

Don’t let the colorful textures or the cuteness of the Kerbals fool you, though, this game is hard. The developers set out to create as realistic of a space simulator as possible and succeed phenomenally. Being an Apollo 13 worshipper, my first goal was to launch a ship to the moon analog, the Mun. It’s not so simple as flying to the moon, however - one must build a ship powerful enough to break through Kerbin’s atomosphere, get into orbit around Kerbin, and proceed

A happy-looking Kerbal poses in orbit.

to expand that orbit until the Mun’s gravity pulls you in. There’s a lot to take into account, and the game does not shy away from asking the player to at least consider physics, thrust, weight and air resistance.

Despite the difficulty, I’ve had a blast playing Kerbal Space Program. It’s everything I’ve wanted a game to

Courtesy images

be since my six-year-old self first sat down to watch Tom Hanks, Bill Pullman, and Gary Sinise struggle with a severe gas leak. Furthermore, the game is made with such obvious care and devotion, and the product is so unique, interesting, and different, that it’s something no gamer should pass up.

7

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local Unsung Heroes Work Together Jeff Coester In downtown Sterling, between the Sterling Federal Bank and the Midland States Bank, stands a majestic old soldier that is making a comeback.

The First Congregational Church, now known as The Big Red Church has owed its life to many dedicated families since it began in the spring of 1857. Today we can only tell the story of one mother and son who are unsung heroes serving among others worthy of the same title.

Janet Clites is the Office Administrator. Sadly a title does not describe her work or the energy and passion she brings to the varying areas of church life. This passion is the result of long investment. The Bible says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Janet has been making investments of treasure, time, heart and labor since she and her husband Jim arrived in 1960.

Janet works in “The Office”, but is at her best showing kindness and compassion when needs arise.

She is known for silently dropping her head to retain her composure because her heart is touched over the crisis of another. Janet works hard to find help and solutions while maintaining the privacy and dignity of others.

Janet is effervescent

when planning events, taking joy in decorating, planning and serving. A work day is met with equal zeal; Janet is in the middle of it all. This is not simply an obligation. It is easy to see that whether comforting the grieving or feeding the hungry, Janet loves the church and the people whom she serves alongside even more.

Born in Morrison to farming parents, learning in a one room school until eighth grade and graduating from Stockton High School in 1955, Janet learned the virtues we admire today.

Driving farm machinery, working in the fields and caring for her own pigs and calves day and night taught her diligence and compassion.

Janet has been an assistant bank cashier, a realtor and a mom to Randy and Steve. As a family they began C & E Glass Co. Janet’s blend of skills and experience are a gift to her church as she has served in lay leadership roles and now on staff since 2006.

Steve Clites is the son you wish you had. Steve serves the church part-time as janitor, but his strong suit is maintenance. He leaned many skills from his dad, and brother Randy, over 20 years in the family business. Now Dad is retired and helps Steve while Steve helps Dad. Once a Union Glazer, in Locals

Steve Clites is off to solves someone else’s problem.

Janet and Steve discussing a project.

1355 and 581, Steve now provides handyman services for hire, as Steve’s Handyman Service.

Steve is loved in the church for his good spirit and willingness to help.

His contribution goes far beyond what he is paid to do. He will do the dirty work without complaint and his sense of humor keeps everyone on their toes. Steve has no desire for the limelight. He does not give speeches or teach lessons, but everyone learns from him all the same.

Like his parents, Steve is compassionate. You see

this in his commitment to the youth group, the committees on which he serves and his work as an officer and member with the Sterling Moose Lodge.

Steve also serves the PADS shelter and has worked with the Sterling Jaycees and Sterling Men’s Club.

The teamwork these two demonstrate is not that of a superior and a subordinate.

They are partners who look out for each other and protect the interests of the Church Family. On Sundays they work with the sound and visual aspects of the church service, ‘among other things’. All of this is

Janet answering the phone.

Courtesy photos

done in the hope that many are blessed.

Write to Jeff Coester with suggestions for the

Unsung Hero column at hardhat1@juno.com

Man Behind the Badge - Rock Falls Police Chief Mike Kuelper cludes Sterling, Rock Falls and Whiteside County. All law enforcement departments have members on the team.

The RFPD wants to let the community know they are here to help and serve us. They hand out candy and stuffed animals at Halloween and have a police car on display. Chief Kuelper says, “There were kids lined up to come and see us at Hallow-

een.” The department also gives tours to classes from the schools and to people who are interested.

One of the most memorable moments for Chief Kuelper involves a water rescue at the Upper Dam. Two watercraft were heading towards a pillar when their motors went out. One man fell off and grabbed a tree. Chief Kuelper was the first on the scene. He

crawled out on a pillar, threw the man a rope and assured him that help was on the way. The man on the other watercraft was also rescued. Chief Kuelper considers it a privilege to serve the citizens of Rock Falls and surrounding area.

If you would like to find out more about the RFPD, call 815-622-1140 or visit their website www.rockfalls61071.com/Police.

MARIA’S PIZZA Rock Falls Police Chief Mike Kuelper

Jill Horn Chief Kuelper says, “I bleed blue. I love being a police officer.” He grew up around police officers in Prophetstown and always wanted to do what they did. After serving in the Air Force for four years, then going to SVCC and studying criminal justice at Western Illinois University, he applied to different police departments and ended up in Rock Falls. He started out as a patrolman.

He then became a sergeant, and later was appointed to administrative commander, followed by operations manager. Five years ago he was appointed as police chief. “My first day as chief was when the Nick Sheley murders were happening,” he stated.

Chief Kuelper loves the variety of his job. He has the privilege of doing different tasks, not just being an administrator. He even writes out speeding tickets on some days and walks through the

119 E 3rd St, Sterling, IL

Jill Horn photo

schools as all the other officers do. Since funding for the DARE program and for the school resource officer was cut along with funds for the bike patrol, the department has every officer walk through at least one school every week. These visits are unplanned and not always at the same time of day.

The Rock Falls Police Department 1013 7th Avenue (RFPD) is also involved in WeCAN and is part of a special, multijurisdictional SWAT team. This team in-

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local Whiteside County Fair

Zack Meinsma of Morrison had the home town cheering for him.

Larry Hammelman The Whiteside County Fair is always a fun and exciting experience. It’s hard to go for just one day. There was always a new headline event going on in the evening. In front of the Grandstand, bull riding, tractor/ truck pulls, the demolition derby, and the Cal Stage Band performed. New this year was the Hell Drivers Thrill Show. In addition to the Grandstand events, there

were carnival rides, and many food vendors for all to enjoy. People could wander though the display buildings to see if any of their friends or neighbors had won a ribbon this year, or one of the livestock arenas to watch some of the judging going on there. If you didn’t make it this year, be sure to mark it on your calendar next year, choose a day or two, and go to the Whiteside County Fair in Morrison.

Fans packed the grandstands for the bull riding competition.

Everyone enjoying the rides and food vendors along the main walkway.

Patrick, Lynn and son, Ross Eden, along with their rabbit Eden’s One Less Tornado, display their trophies for Best 4 Class, and Best in Show

Allison Noble of Morrison (above), and Garrett Passmore of Erie (below), guiding their horses through the barrel racing course.

Girls and boys alike shared the fun during the Kids Peddle tractor pull.

Larry Hammelman photos

Lee County Fair 2013 Larry Hammelman The Lee County Fair is a small fair, but a lot of folks attended to see the animals, and the the mud bog races.

Amanda Headon displaying her Championship ribbons in the winners circle with her horse Mysterious Invitation.

Samantha Perrine, and Bryse Swanson,from Rock Falls, making a big muddy splash at the mud bog pit.

Autumn Welch and her calf, Daisy. This was their first show and they walked away with a Blue Ribbon

The various rides for the kids at the fair.

Fair entrance

Larry Hammelman photos

9

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local Ogle County Fair Larry Hammelman The Ogle County Fair had some very good shows this year. The cattle judging had a very good turnout of supporters.The lumberjack show and the Wild World of Animals, seemed to attract a large crowd as did the Dirt Drags and the Mud Bog races.

Grace Mongan was awarded with the high honors of Champion Angus Female and Supreme Champion Female for her efforts at the fair.

Clayton Ruter of Shannon with his Grand Champion steer

Anna Ring of Oregon displaying her Reserve Grand Larry Hammelman photos Champion steer

Jim Burden from Erie in his truck “Grandpa’s Toy” put on a great show for the fans

The lumberjacks put on a good show of throwing an axe.

22nd Annual Pumpkin Dash Set for October 5

The Wild World of Animals show had a great turn out of spectators

Street Smart: Musings from Main Street Janna Groharing Executive Director, Sterling Main Street As I write this column, I am wrapping up my first month as the new executive director of Sterling Main Street; and what a whirlwind of a month it has been. I am settling in to my new digs and already looking to plans for 2014. But first, there is still plenty happening in 2013.

As area children return to school, and a sense of “routine” returns, planning is underway for a number of great community events this fall. The Taste of Fiesta returns for a second year in the Sauk Valley. On Saturday, September 7th, Taste of Fiesta takes over Grandon Civic Center and Central Park. From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. there is a vendor fair featuring local organizations, artists and more; and from 1-8 p.m., live music and performances from many local groups, as well as regional Latin musicians.

A new event, the Bridge the Community 5K/10K run, will take place on Saturday, September 14th. The 5

and 10K runs take off at 9:00 a.m., with a Kids’ Bridge Dash taking place at 8:30.

Bridge the Community brings together city officials and community organizations from both Sterling and Rock Falls, working together for riverfront development projects along our shared asset, the Rock River.

Following the run, stick around for the return of the Fiesta Days Parade!

Stepping off at noon on Saturday, September 14 th from the First Avenue & 10th Street intersection in Rock Falls, this parade continues through Rock Falls, over the new First Avenue Bridge, through Sterling to its final destination, the Grandon Civic Center. Sterling Main Street is proud to be a community partner with the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and the many other organizations coming together to make these events happen.

The Harvest Moon Festival returns to downtown Sterling on Saturday, October 12th. Mother Nature put a rainy damper on the 2012 launch of this event, but we’re hoping for brighter

conditions this year. Activities will include hay rack rides, pumpkin bowling, arts & crafts, an artist and vendor show, a historical walk through the downtown, and a petting zoo!

Fourth Fridays…where People and the Arts Collide continues its monthly culture infusion. From 6-8 p.m. on the 4 th Friday of each month, participating businesses are open late for shopping and exploring as they feature the artwork of local talents, music and more. We strive to continue to add new artists to our lineup, through partnership with Woodlawn Arts Academy, local schools and by reaching out to the public.

If you are an artist looking for a place to show your work, or perhaps just getting started, please give the Sterling Main Street office a call at 815-626-8610. We’d love to have to join us.

“Like” the Sterling Main Street Facebook page to keep up to date on these events and more. A new website is currently under construction, so Facebook is the best way to keep in touch with us in the interim.

Sterling, IL (August 19, 2013) – It’s time once again for area kids to put on their running shoes as the 22nd annual Great Pumpkin Dash Cross Country Festival is just around the corner! The Pumpkin Dash, sponsored

by CGH Medical Center, the Sterling Park District and Pete Harkness Auto Group, will take place on Saturday, October 5th at Hoover Park in Sterling. On-site registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues throughout the morning. The first race begins at 11 a.m.

“The Pumpkin Dash is a great fall tradition,” said Dr. Paul Steinke, President and CEO of CGH Medical Center. “It is a chance for kids of all ages to be active outdoors and enjoy many activities with their family and friends.”

Participants are grouped by age and run dashes of various lengths throughout the day. “The race lengths range from 25-meters for

the pee-wees (walkers under the age of 2) to 1000-meters for 12, 13 and 14 year olds,” said Sterling Park District Director Larry Schuldt. “The winner of each heat receives a larger pumpkin, but the first 1600 finishers will receive a small pumpkin from Selmi’s Pumpkin Patch. We just want everyone to come out, get a little exercise and, most importantly, have a lot of fun.” In addition to the pumpkin, runners also receive a coupon redeemable for free lunch at the Sterling Optimist Club food tent and a bag of Halloween goodies!

Approximate start times for each age group are as follows: 11 a.m. – Pee Wee Race (walkers under the age of 2); 11:15 a.m. – 3 year olds; 11:30 a.m. – 4 & 5 year olds; 12 noon – 6 & 7 year olds; 12:30 p.m. – 8 & 9 year olds; 1 p.m. – 10 & 11 year olds; and 1:15 p.m. – 12, 13 & 14 year olds.

While the main emphasis of Pumpkin Dash is on the

races, there are many other activities the whole family can enjoy. Here is a list of what to expect…

• Miller’s Petting Zoo • Bounce Houses • Hayrack Wagon rides • Face painting • Ambulance tours conducted by the CGH Medical Center EMS Department • Pumpkin Photos • And more!

“Pumpkin Dash has always been a totally free event for the kids,” said Schuldt. “That’s possible because of the support from all of our sponsors. CGH Medical Center, the Park District and Pete Harkness Auto Group have put a lot of money and man-hours into this event over the years and continue to do so. From beginning to end, this is truly a community event.”

Although free to all participants, $1 free-will per person donation will be accepted.

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

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Carol Chandler The Reagan Transit Center celebrated with an open house on July 26th at its new facility on Progress Drive on the south edge of Dixon on Route 26. It is the home of the Lee-Ogle Transportation System which boasts 30 vehicles available in its fleet. Greyhound buses will also stop here on their daily round trip from Chicago to Moline with extended service to Davenport, Iowa.

The facility was funded by a federal grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. No city or county taxes were used to fund this project. The reception and office areas have a floor space of 4,700 square feet and the floor of the garage, which has room for seventeen vehicles, amounts to 1800 square feet.

The land on which the facility stands was once owned by the Dixon Industrial Development Association(DIDA), but has since been purchased by the county with funds obtained from the ARRA. Construction on the new facility began in October of 2012. The general contractor was Rockford Structures and the architectural engineer was Willett and Hoffman. The majority of the furniture was purchased from SBM. All purchases were made according to federal regulations that required acceptance of the lowest, responsible bid, with the state of Illinois approving all expenditures down to the toilet tissue. That’s right even the toilet tissue! What is really great is the fact that almost all purchases were made in our area - supporting our economy.

Jaime Blatti is the executive director of the LeeOgle Transportation System and administrator for North Central Area Transit. She is well qualified for the job,

New Reagan Transportation Center, home for Lee-Ogle Transportation System, recently celebrated its grand opening.

Trees donated by the City of Dixon Tree Commission were planted as a part of the landscaping of the new Reagan Transportation Center.

Carol Chandler photos

Flag Raising at the grand opening of the Reagan Transportation Center was by American Legion Post #12, Dixon.

having obtained a master’s degree in urban planning and policy with a concentration in transportation from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is originally from Shorewood, Illinois but now lives in Dixon. She is ably assisted by Assistant Director Kathy Lalley. Kathy had worked for many years in the Lee County Treasurer’s Office under John Fritts when the office assumed the responsibility for the grant.

She initially managed the program until Jaime arrived two years later. Kathy is married to Kevin Lally.

Kathy remarked, “The city of Dixon now has a beautiful asset owned by Lee County.” It will benefit not only our community but our whole area.

It facilitates transportation which was greatly needed in our area and supports our area financially - a win-win situation.

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

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The simple fact is it takes the guesswork out of the travel equation.

Maybe you just can’t decide which resort is best for you. Or, maybe you are just not sure about travel documentation. Or, tired of spending hours in front of your computer comparing the zillions of travel possibilities offered online.

Or, all of the above! But, the really good reason for using a travel agent is you just should not put your hard earned dollars and your valuable vacation time at risk.

Think of travel agents as a prescription for a stress free

break from your everyday hectic life. It is no secret that vacations are now a necessity rather than a luxury.

So, find yourself an experienced travel agent. Meet them face to face or converse on the phone. (what a unique

concept). Get to know them and let them know you. It’s one of the best kept secrets now-a-days and you won’t hear that online!

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Entertainment

17th Annual Scarecrow Festival set for Sept. 28 in downtown Dixon Annual event to feature Doggy Zoo, The Great Pumpkin Patch and more The 17th Annual Scarecrow Festival Presented by Hicks Insurance will be in downtown Dixon on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m.

- 3 p.m. This year, the event will feature many of the fan favorites like: Pumpkin Painting, The Great Pumpkin Patch, Craft and Food Vendors, kids games, Doggy Zoo, Pie-in-the-Face Throw, and much more.

The festival entertainment stage will feature three great shows throughout the day to entertain the crowds. At 10 a.m., Jeremy The Amazer will perform his magic show, at 11 a.m. bluegrass band Truman’s Ridge will perform, and at 1 p.m. the Hoo Haven Wildlife Refuge animal showcase will take place. The festival stage

will be set up at the corner of First and Hennepin Avenue in the heart of the downtown.

“The Scarecrow Festival is definitely one of the great fall traditions in downtown Dixon,” said Josh Albrecht, executive director of Dixon Main Street. “It is a great day for families to come and explore the downtown.”

The festival is a favorite for families and kids with a wide selection of activities for children. Nearly 5,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event.

The Doggy Zoo continues to grow in popularity, as well. With more than 80 different dog breeds on display, kids can learn about what makes each dog unique while they talk with

the dog’s owner. The Doggy Zoo takes place on the Old Lee County Courthouse Lawn from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Great Pumpkin Patch will be set up at the parking lot on the corner of First and Peoria Avenue, where families get to hunt for their gourd in a maze of pumpkins.

Again this year, the Lee County United Way Campaign Kick-off will take place during the festival.

The United Way volunteers are planning many great family activities throughout the day. And Habitat for Humanity will host their garage sale fundraiser, and the 4-H clubs will host their annual bake sale.

“Every year we continue to grow with new events

during the festival,” Albrecht said. “And we are excited that the traditional events stay with us year

after year.”

For more information on the Scarecrow Festival, g o o n l i n e t o w w w.

dixonmainstreet.com or w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / dixonmainstreet

A listing of some events at Scarecrow Festival PUMPKIN PAINTING Located at the corner of First and Peoria Ave. Sponsored

by Dixon Paint Company.

PIE IN THE FACE Sponsored by Immanuel Lutheran Church corner of Hennepin & First Street.

RETAIL AND DINING SPECIALS Come and Visit the variety of retail and dining options in downtown Dixon during Scarecrow Festival. Try some great food, find some great shopping bargains and enjoy our wonderful downtown

DOGGY ZOO Located at the Lee County Courthouse lawn. Over 80 breeds of dogs will be on display with their owners to answer questions. 10 - 1 p.m.

HUNTER’S HOPE 3K WALK Hunter’s Hope Every Step, the Walk for Expanded & Universal Newborn Screening - Every Child. Every Time. Everywhere. 3K walk on the Riverfront, 9am registration/10a.m. Start $10 fee. Register online www. everystepwalk.org. More info lisamc4674@hotmail.com.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GARAGE SALE Located at the Kenzley Title parking lot at the corner of Commercial Alley and Hennepin Ave.

MOPS BOOTH The local MOPS group will be holding a food booth featuring apples and other treats.

FLOWER POT PAINTING Sponsored by Lee County Master Gardeners. Located in front of Town Square Center on First Street.

The GREAT DOWNTOWN PUMPKIN PATCH The Great Downtown Pumpkin Patch featuring a field of pumpkins. Come and pick out your favorite pumpkin or try your luck at the Pumpkin Raffle. Enjoy homemade soaps, gourds, and other fall decorations! Corner of First and Peoria Ave.

JEREMY ‘THE AMAZER’ HAAK – 10 AM–3 PM Performance at 10 a.m. at the corner of First & Hennepin.

PALMYRA HILLBILLIES 4H BOOTH Located on First Street between Hennepin & Galena Avenues on the south side of the street, the 4H will feature crafts and a bake sale.

FARMERS MARKET - 8 a.m. - noon Dixon Park District’s weekly Farmer’s Market. Come check out fresh foods, crafts, and more at Haymarket Square.

CHRISTMAS WALK 50/50 TICKETS Dixon Main Street will be selling our 50/50 Christmas Walk Raffle Tickets during Scarecrow Festival. Drawing will be held at the Christmas Walk on Friday, Dec. 6.

VENDOR BOOTHS A variety of craft vendors will be on display including Mary Kay, Thirty-One and more!

UNITED WAY KICK-OFF PARTY The United Way is hosting their campaign launch party during the festival. Corner of First and Galena Avenue.

Brunch in the Woods Try one of our Every second Sunday Sept., 2013 through May, 2014 $12.50 per Adult $10.00 for Seniors 60+ $5.00 per Child ages 4-11 Children 3 and under eat free

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13

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Entertainment Taste of Fiesta, Fiesta Parade Veterans invited to Oct. 6 family event veterans are invited to bring their families to the “We can all unplug, kick Highlight Hispanic Heritage Week to All an afternoon of food, fun 2-6 pm event. There will back, relax, eat and have Spencer Schein Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce believes in honoring a tradition that joins Sterling and Rock Falls together.

The annual Fiesta Parade was canceled in 2012 due to construction on the First Avenue Bridge. This year, the parade returns, along with the Taste of Fiesta that took its place last year.

“It’s a tradition and people want it,” said Mary White, the Chamber’s chair for the Hispanic Business Leaders.

Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing the Fiesta Parade, which traverses through Sterling and Rock Falls, and Taste of Fiesta, as part of Hispanic Heritage Week, Sept. 7-to-14, celebrating the many Hispanic cultures in the area.

“Dixon has the Petunia Festival, we have the Fiesta.

It’s the only parade that goes through both towns,” said Kimberly Ewoldsen, the executive director of Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.

The 2013 Fiesta Parade will start at noon Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, at the inter-

section of 10th Street and First Avenue, Rock Falls. It will then travel north, crossing the First Avenue Bridge into Sterling, and continue north on Locust Street before turning east. It will then turn back to end at Sterling’s Grandon Civic Center.

Taste of Fiesta will take place Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at Grandon Civic Center, along East Fourth Street in Sterling, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. A resource session will take place through 2 p.m. with service agencies and businesses giving out information.

Sterling Mayor, Skip Lee, and Rock Falls’ Bill Wescott will proclaim Hispanic Heritage Week for both towns during a ceremony slated to start at noon.

Taste of Fiesta will continue through the evening with entertainment from local and Chicago Hispanic bands, dancing from Folkloric Dancers and Colleen’s School of Clogging and Celtic Dance, both of Sterling, and various art and children’s events.

Food vendors will be available throughout the Taste of Fiesta, and will line the route of the parade.

and fellowship on Sunday, October 6 at Hillcrest Farm, 5412 South Lowell Park Road, about 6 miles north of Dixon.

Veterans are encouraged

Summer Hours: Tue-Fri 2-6pm Sat 10am-6pm Sun Closed except

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Tricia Lewis

The Fiesta Parade grand marshal is Jack Hippen, of Dixon, a Fiesta committee volunteer, who often can be found as one of the cooks at the Rock Falls VFW cookouts. Hippen was chosen to be grand marshal of the 2012 Parade.

Hispanic Heritage Week ends Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, with the annual Fiesta Soccer Tournament at Scheid Park at Woodburn Avenue on West 11th Street, Sterling.

The deadline to register for Taste of Fiesta and the Fiesta Parade is Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. To register, or for more information, call Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce at (815) 6252400 or send an email to chamber@essex1.com.

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great comradeship,” said Rich Sanders, a volunteer who is helping to coordinate the event. For further information, please contact Rich at 815-288-5093.

Musical Fridays

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be games and activities for kids and adults. Everyone is also encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

Food and beverages will be provided.

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It was a beautiful day on the Rock River, especially in Dixon! It’s lunch time and music is playing on the river front. Musical Fridays

is sponsored by Community State Bank and Dixon Main Street. It began on June 7th and will continue until September 27th.

The mini concert lasts about an hour. You can ei-

ther bring your lunch or purchase a box lunch from Ginkgo’s tree café for $5.00 The music was excellent and my lunch was delicious!

You’ll probably find me there next Friday.

14

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Dining

Martin’s Steaks & Spirits: An Upscale, Elegant Dining Experience rant you take your wife to spend an anniversary, where birthdays are celebrated, where a date starts, where you stop by after work for a drink.

While prices vary on its meals, Martin’s understands the economy of its patrons and offers special $10 meal selections on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I dined at the restaurant during one of these special nights with a friend. If you think the portion size will reflect the price, you would be

Spencer Schein Martin’s Steak’s & Spirits in Sterling is a gem. It is so elegant, beautiful to the extreme, and that’s just the feeling you get walking through the front door.

The way the restaurant is decorated makes for a great upscale dining experience, from the intricately designed carpeted floor, to the dark wood around the bar, to the black over white table clothed tables.

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You won’t go home hungry if you order Chicken Parmesan at Martin’s Steaks & Spirits.

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200 Keul Road, Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 284-0881 Don’s Seafood & Chicken Phone: 815-622-0258 1501 W. 4th St., Sterling

Hours: Mon-Thurs 10:30am - 8pm • Friday 10:30am - 9pm Saturday 2pm - 9pm • Closed Sunday

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wrong. I selected the Chicken Parmesan, and was puzzled when the waitress asked what potato I wanted.

Normally the selection is served with pasta, to which the waitress agreed, but at this price it was not. For a few dollars more I could have had the traditional Chicken Parmesan and two side dishes.

She indicated the meal I ordered was going to be quite a meal without the pasta. I decided to keep with the special and ordered steak fries. The salad bar was included.

My eyes were wide when the meal was served. A large oversized deep fried chicken breast covered in a layer of mozzarella cheese nearly filled the whole plate- enough for two portions or a diner with a hungry appetite. A nice selection of steak fries covered the other quarter of the plate.

Using a steak knife, the chicken was easy to slice, and sweet and juicy to taste.

I’m glad I went with my first choice, which generally is best.

My dining companion also enjoyed his meal- fried chicken fingers with steak fries.

We both enjoyed the salad bar. I particularly liked the deep green olive oil and vinaigrette dressing, as well as the authentic tasting threebean salad, pasta salad and toasted bread, which was soft inside.

If you choose Martin’s

The chicken tenders at Martin’s Steaks and Spirits are a great choice.

Spencer Schein photos

Martin’s is a great upscale dining experience.

for steak, chops, seafood, chicken or pasta, you won’t be disappointed, and your meal will just be topped if you leave room for dessert.

Martin’s Steaks & Spirits is a great place for Sterling, and a great place for the Sauk Valley Area. Make it your choice for lunch or dinner.

Located at 14 E. 3rd St., in downtown Sterling, Martin’s offers its customers on-street parking and an open parking

lot adjacent to the restaurant.

Closed Monday, Martin’s is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

For more information or to make private reservations, call Martin’s Steaks & Spirits at (815) 632-0761. For more information, check the restaurant’s website, www. martinssteaks.com.

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Reagan Home gears up for a mystery DIXON – A murder will occur at The Brandywine on November 1st. Who the killer is and the identity of the victim is still unknown.

Don’t call the police. The crime is only make believe. It is part of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home’s first Mystery Dinner Fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 1 at The Brandywine. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner itself scheduled for 7 p.m. The entertainment is provided by “It’s a Mystery Quad Cities,” a comedy troupe.

“I have no idea who the victim will be,” Brandi Langner, executive director of the Reagan Home, said.

“The group changes things from one performance to the next.”

“Whacked at da Wedding” is the theme of this year’s dinner. However this will be a wedding like they have never attended before.

There is strife in “da family” as Gina Gelatto and Rico Manicotti prepare to tie the knot. Secrets are abundant as

details of this whodunit unravel. Guests are encouraged to interact with the actors as they become familiar with their background stories and personalities and ultimately solve the case of “Whacked at da Wedding.”

“Some murder mystery theater is serious,” Langner said. “This is an exceptionally funny production.”

The idea for the fundraiser came after Langner attended a performance . She enjoyed the experience so much that she thought it was something Sauk Valley’s residents would also have fun with.

“There is already a buzz about the murder mystery among those in the know,” Langner said. “I predict tickets will go fast once people learn more about this event and the troupe.”

The evening’s events will also include live and silent auctions and a dinner buffet.

Businesses wishing to donate auction items, display an event poster at their business or sell tickets should contact

the Reagan Home for information. Those who serve as a ticket location will be listed on the Reagan Home website and mentioned as an outlet in advertising.

“Fundraising is a vital part of the formula for a nonprofit,” remarks Langner.

“The important thing is to remember the first three letters, which spell ‘fun.’” The Reagan Home invites the Sauk Valley to FUNdraise with them this November.

Tickets are now available from the Boyhood Home at 816 S. Hennepin Ave, Dixon.

For more information call (815) 288-5176 or at www. reaganhome.org. Tickets are being sold at an early bird rate of $45 through September 15 and $50 thereafter.

Table sponsorships for eight can be purchased for $400.

Guest are cautioned that the show includes adult themed content that may be inappropriate for young children.

Submitted by Reagan Home volunteer, Greg Smith

Pass It On!!!

Tricia Lewis I was shopping at a local store and bought some merchandise. The amount was $21.24. I went to write a check for the amount, but did

not have my ID in my purse.

No ID, no merchandise!

I must have looked really stressed out because a young woman with a child in a stroller ahead of me paid my bill. I offered to write another

check; she said no and that it was her pleasure. I didn’t even get her name.

So, I’m going to pass it on and thank the young woman with a child in a stroller again! You made my day!

M

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

A cook looks at books Judy Bell “Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking” by Marcella Hazan (Knopf) Cookbooks you purchase don’t need to be the “latest” to be the best choice.

Larry Dunfey, proprietor

of Books on First, Dixon, and I agree on this principle without hesitation. We sometimes lament those “oldies but goodies” that are no longer in print.

Fortunately for you this is not true of this “goodie” “The Essentials of Classic

Italian Cooking” by Marcella Hazan. Much like Julia Child, Marcella (Mar-chella) was a foodie before we had defined the term. The book we are speaking about today was preceded by others 20 years before! She knows her stuff. Her recipes

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Both Larry and I have cooked from Marcellas’ books for years. His copy of this book is full of evidence 1 ½ lb. zucchini ½ cup thinly sliced onion ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ teaspoons coarsely chopped garlic 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 2/3 cup canned Imported Italian plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped with juice (or 1 large fully ripe tomato, chopped - saving juices) Salt Fresh ground black pepper 6 or more fresh basil leaves Soak zucchini in cold water for 30 minutes. Rinse under cold running water, rubbing briskly with your hands or a rough cloth to remove any grit imbedded in the thin, tender

chini, tomatoes a n d basil.

A mélange of flavors that always pleases the palette.

skin. Trim both ends. Cut into slices less than ½-inch thick.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Choose a flameproof oven-to-table pan…preferably enameled cast iron ware.

Put in the onion and oil and turn heat to medium. Cook and stir until the onion is colored a light gold. Add the garlic. When garlic is colored a very pale gold, add parsley, stirring it quickly once or twice. Add tomatoes with juice. Cook at a steady, gentle simmer until the oil floats free of the tomatoes, about 20 minutes.

Add the sliced zucchini, salt and pepper. Turn the zucchini over once or twice to

coat well. Cook for 5 minutes on top of the stove. Transfer the pan to the top rack of the preheated oven. Cook until the liquid shed by the zucchini dries out and the zucchini slices are tender.

(The dish may be completed up to this point several hours in advance of the day you are going to serve it. Do not refrigerate. Reheat in a hot oven before proceeding to the final step.)

Remove pan from the oven.

Wash the basil in cold water, tear the leaves into one or two pieces by hand, distribute them over the zucchini and serve.

Makes 6 servings.

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of its use just as mine are well marked with culinary telltales of activity Thankfully this book is easily available and contains the essence of this fine Italian culinary master.

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Home & Garden Cooking With Kids

Making corn bread

Tricia Lewis Food brings children and parents together. Children learn through their senses-by seeing, touching, smelling and tasting. What better way to have a teachable moment than to spend a morning or afternoon cooking with your children?

One of my favorite times of the year to cook with my children is autumn. It is probably because it is harvest time for many varieties of fruits and vegetables like corn and apples.

Apples Apples are one of my favorite things to bake because the recipes I use are simple, fun and yummy!

When my children were little, I told them the story of Johnny Appleseed and I have continued this tradition with my grandchildren.

Johnny Appleseed was an American folk hero of frontier times. Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman September 26,1774. He was a peace-loving man who walked barefoot throughout the Midwest. He wore a cooking pot on his head and carried a bag of apple seeds on his back. Everywhere he went, he planted the seeds or gave them away.

Baked Apples Directions 1) Wash six to eight apples and remove the core to 1/2 inch from the bottom(you may have to do this, depending on the age of the child).

Place the apples upright in a baking dish.

2) To make syrup for filling for the apples, pour 1 cup apple juice into a saucepan.

3) In a small jar with a lid, shake together 1 teaspoon corn starch and 3 to four teaspoons of the apple juice.

4)Stir the cornstarch mixture into the apple juice in the saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat.

5) Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.

6) Spoon the syrup into the cored apples in the baking dish.

7) Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Serve with whipped cream mixed with a small amount of the apple syrup, if desired.

Sing Happy Birthday to Johnny Appleseed!

Have fun!!! Until next time pumpkins and vegetable people!

Apple Sauce Directions 1) Quarter,core and peel three to four small apples (you may have to core apples, depending on the age of the child).

2) Cut the quarter pieces in half and place them in a saucepan.

3) Add 1/2 cup water and sprinkle 1/2 half teaspoon cinnamon and simmer, cov-

Bridge the Community Saturday September 14 Put on your running or walking shoes for the historic first time event: a 5/10K walk around Sterling and Rock Falls. Kids can join in, too, with a “dash across the bridge”.

Registration is required for all races. It can be done on-line at www.bridgethecommunity.webs.com until September 9th. Afterward, the registration form is downloadable. It can be turned in on race day. Forms will also be available on race day from 7:30-8:30.

The Kids’ Bridge Dash is free. It starts at 8:30 am.

The 5K/10K starts at 9 am.

The Bridge the Community event is a partnership of seven community organizations: Cities of Rock Falls and Sterling, Sterling Main Street, Rock Falls and Sauk Valley Chambers of Commerce and the Rock Falls Development Corporation and various community business sponsors including: Art Johnson, Arthur’s Garden Deli, Brothers Floor

Covering, CGH Medical Center, Community State Bank, Country Companies, Culver’s, John Berge, CPA and Consultant, L&L Sterling, Inc., Sauk Valley Sun, Peabudy’s, Sauk Valley Bank, SBM Business Center, Select Employees Credit Union, Wal-Mart DC, Jack Spencer State Farm, Sterling Chevrolet, Sterling Federal Savings & Loan, US Bank, Wither ’s Broadcasting, Wahl Clipper, Wheelock’s Furniture, and Whiteside County Farm Bureau.

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ered until the apples are tender.

4) Mash the cooked applesauce with a potato masher.

.

3) Bake 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean

2nd Ave

Family Corn Bread Ingredients 1 cup milk 1/2 cup butter melted 1 large egg 11/4 cups yellow cornmeal 1 cup all purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions 1) Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of a 8-inch square pan with shortening.

2)In large bowl, beat egg, milk and butter with a hand beater or wire whisk. Stir in remaining ingredients all at once until flour is moistened(batter will be lumpy). Pour into pan.

Larry Hannelman photos

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18

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Business

Krieder’s Secure Recycling Center opens Carol Chandler I was so pleased to tour a new facility in our area that not only is environmentally sound, but produces a very unique product, adds to our local economy and offers employment opportunities.

It’s Secure Recycling, a part of Kreider Services. I had a million questions and Becky Reilly, Kreider Marketing Coordinator, and Greg Gates, Director of Recycling and Information for Kreider Services, were happy to accommodate me. I had no idea that “in vessel food scrap composting” could be so interesting! The InVessel composting equipment is twenty-eight feet long, five feet wide and nine feet tall.

It will be filled with 15,000 pounds of compost material at a time. The equipment rotates the material and checks the temperature by computer and the rotation adds oxygen.

The compost consists of food scrap material that is obtained from local school districts, the local correctional facility, restaurants, special events, and other local facilities. The scraps are mixed with cardboard, sawdust (from untreated lumber), newspapers, leaves and other biodegradable materials that

will absorb fluids and help to eliminate odor. It is in the “vessel” for seven to ten days and then placed in a concrete area to cure for a period of 30 to 60 days and is turned frequently. Afterwards, it will be bagged (in biodegradable bags) or large yard-sized containers for sale.

Kreider also has a huge recycling department here.

The building, which contains 70,000 square feet, was full of materials: electronics, cardboard, paper, plastic, and metals. It was overwhelming!

The cardboard is baled and sold or used as “brown material” to add to the vessel. The plastic is recycled and sold back to industry. I can’t even begin to list all the items that Kreider can accept - I counted 55 on one of their brochures.

Now I know where to take that printer that I have been carrying around in my trunk

for about six months. Some items that contain materials that have to be specially handled are assessed a fee: microwaves, TV wood consoles, fluorescent bulbs and TV projection equipment.

A very special part of the recycling program is very dear to my heart - it’s the VETS Training Center. It assists honorably discharged vets from Lee, Ogle and Whiteside Counties who, after honorably serving our country, find it difficult to transition from the front line to the work line.

If you have any questions, call 815-288-1602 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or e-mail www. securerecyclingservices. com. I want to thank Becky, Greg and Randy Harden for taking the time to show me the facilities and answer my questions.

Recycling electronics is a multi-faceted process requiring specialty training.

The cardboard baler is HUGE.

Jill Horn photos

Greg Gates, Director of Recycling and Information, Kreider Services, greets guests with a smile.

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September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Business

Doty composes portraits making memorable photographs Our new iPhone mobile app!

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Terry Doty has created a photographer’s dream for his clients...unique settings that are Photos courtesy Doty Studio perfect for portraits and family group photos.

By Jason Smith DIXON ‑‑ Terry Doty likes to do more than just create photographic portraits for his clients. For him, the goal is to capture the way a person looks today for tomorrow’s memories while creating an enjoyable experience for the customer as well as himself.

“I like to have fun while I work and I want the person whom I’m photographing to have a good time too,” said Terry, owner of Doty Studio of Dixon, located north of town on Route 26. “I also like to give my clients cookies, freshly baked, when they come in to pick up their photographs.”

Terry started out as the family shutterbug. His interest in photography eventually led him to start his own studio back in 1975 on a parttime basis. By 1979, he had turned what had once been a hobby into a full-time career.

“I worked two jobs at the beginning,” Terry said. “I’d go to the studio during my lunch hour and after work.”

Terry started out by buying a studio from a photographer that was retiring. The studio was located in downtown Dixon. In May of 1985, he moved it to its current location. The move provided him with one of the largest outdoor studios in northern Illinois.

“I like the current location because the studio sits on five acres of wooded area,” Terry said. “I have created scenes that are great for outdoor portraits. I also have a large variety of indoor backgrounds.”

Over the years, Terry estimates he has photographed hundreds of high school seniors, families, couples, and children. Many of his clients return to have him create additional portraits of family members.

“The portraits allow my clients to capture the way they look today for future memories,” Terry said.

“They get something they

can look back on.”

Continued education and constant equipment upgrades keeps Doty Studio up-to-date on the latest techniques and style of portrait photography. He earned a Fellowship Degree from the Northern Illinois Professional Photographers Association. He is also a former president of the association and belongs to the Associated Professional Photographers of Illinois.

In addition to the other two associations, he is a member of Senior Photographers International.

“The change from film to digital photography has

meant that I am now doing what professional labs used to do for me,” Terry said. “I need to stay on top of the latest equipment and software in order to provide the professional service and quality my customers deserve.”

Even though the equipment may have changed, the basics of good portrait photography have remained the same, according to Terry.

“I still use light and color to create an image,” Terry said. “My ability to compose a portrait is what makes what I do different from someone who snaps a picture.”

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As we celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers past and present, we want to wish you a safe and relaxing holiday – and also to thank you for your business.

Terry Doty, a photographer for almost 3 decades keeps up with technology without sacrificing the art of photography.

Kim Pettygrove 203 W. 1st Street Dixon 815-288-3838 Tom Wold, AAMS 2522 E. Lincolnway Sterling 815-564-0487 Nick Lareau 415 Locust Street Suite C Sterling 815-626-1588 Chad Weigle, CFP 203 W. 1st Street Dixon 815-288-3838

A rustic wagon and wooden barrel set one stage among many that Doty uses for his customers’ photographic needs.

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20

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Business Sauk Valley Sun

DIXON - STERLING - ROCK FALLS

John Deere Historic Site

Crocheting helps pay the bills Spencer Schein

www.saukvalleysun.com Staff Judy Bell Publisher Ken Hauck VP Operations Katie Hauck Administrative Manager Julie Reeder Editor Robert Bell Distribution Manager Joshua Hauck Marketing Representative Production Karina Ramos Art Director Samantha Gorman Graphic Artist Website John Yada Web Developer/IT Support Writers/ Contributors Donald R. Lewis, MD, FACS Carol Chandler, RN Jill Horn Rev. Scott Porter Pastor Jeff Coester Bobby Dillon Spencer Schein Nancy Nesyto-Freske Josh Albrecht Ann Lewis Brad Monson Jill Straw Greg Smith Tom Demmer Patricia Lewis Cody Cutter Larry Hammelman © Sauk Valley Sun, 2013 www.saukvalleysun.com The opinions expressed in the Sauk Valley Sun do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sauk Valley Sun staff.

Advertising Policy: Acceptance of an advertisement by Sauk Valley Sun does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of its sponsors or the products offered. We will not knowingly publish advertisements that are fraudulent, libelous, misleading, or contrary to the policies of Sauk Valley Sun. We reserve the right to reject any advertisement we find unsuitable. Please direct all advertising inquiries and correspondence to the address below.

Editorial Contributions, Letters to the Editor, and Advertising Inquiries: Please submit all correspondence to our office by e-mail, at info@sauksun.com.

All correspondence must be dated and signed and include the writer’s full address and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Email would also be helpful. All editorial content is subject to editing to fit the publication’s format. Word count for letters is 250.

Sauk Valley Sun 24,000 copies published monthly 22,300 copies direct-mailed to homes and business addresses in Dixon and Sterling Postage paid at Dekalb, IL Permit No. 321 Phone (815) 888-4403 Fax (815) 572-0153 Address: 459 Illinois Route #2, Dixon, IL 61021 Email: info@sauksun.com

Photo courtesy www.deere.com

ic Site is open from May through October. The admission fee is $5 for ages 12 and up. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Docents lead visitors on a tour of the Deere compound. The location of Deere’s original shop and foundry is enclosed within a building where one can view the excavation outlining the post holes, the forge and artifacts unearthed, and view a program about Deere’s years in Grand Detour. A replica of a blacksmith shop with a blacksmith working at a forge is a must-see stop on the tour. The house and additions that John Deere built in the 1830s and 1840s contains household items like the family would have used while living in Grand Detour. The final stop is the gift shop located in the Dana house, or the “Neighbor’s House,” dating back to the 1840s.

The John Deere Historic Site was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1964.

If you are looking for something to do on a nice day, consider touring the John Deere Historic Site, located adjacent to scenic Illinois Highway 2, six miles northeast of Dixon. Wooded hills, rugged St. Peters limestone outcroppings (such as Whirlpool rock across from the village) and charming old homes on quiet treelined streets come together to effuse a charm that has made this area a tourist destination for many years.

by Duane Paulsen History abounds in the Rock River Valley, especially in Grand Detour where John Deere, who arrived from Vermont in November 1836, established a blacksmith shop to serve the needs of the residents of this new village nestled in a three-mile bend of the Rock River.

Perhaps it was fate that led John Deere to build a steel plow that cut through the tough prairie soil that resisted the efforts of farmers using the iron plows they brought from out east. During a trip to make repairs at a sawmill on Pine Creek, he acquired a broken steel saw blade and fashioned it into the self-scouring plow that transformed Midwestern agriculture.

In 1843 Deere partnered with Leonard Andrus and built a plow factory adjacent to the raceway along Rock River. The partnership was dissolved in 1848 when Deere moved to Moline to take advantage of the Mississippi River for water power and transportation.

In 1919, Katherine Butterworth, daughter of John Deere’s son, Charles, purchased the site of the home and property on which the original blacksmith shop stood. In 1953 she deeded the property to the John Deere Foundation, and in 1962 work began to develop the historic site that exists today. It was opened to the public in 1964.

The John Deere Histor-

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When you think about crocheting, an image of an older grandmother sitting in a rocking chair may come to mind.

Well, think again. Jill Jones is making crocheting a modern art.

“I just have crocheted since I was really little, about when I was 10 years old,” Jones said, mother of three and employed at Prophetstown schools.

Her mother taught her crocheting and she was also in 4-H. “I have made dish clothes, Afghans for adults and baby, scarves,” said Jones, a Sterling-native who now resides with her family in Prophetstown. “I love to crochet, but also do some sewing. I have made scrub tops and throw pillows.”

One of Jones’ specialties is making crocheted towels.

“I actually make the top of the towel. I sew the top to make it secure and make sure it will not ravel, then I crochet the top on to the towel and make a button hole for it, and place a button on there,” Jones said.

“Most of these people use it on the oven door handles.

I also have one on my refrigerator.”

Jones can just about make any design on a towel. She had done coffee designs, sunflowers, mocha, wine bottles, and many more. She takes special requests, too.

“I see different patterns in crochet books, and just think of things myself. I look at some towels that I think are beautiful or others might like, also have had others request a certain color or design so I would go look for a towel like that,” she said.

It would seem as if crocheting takes quite a bit of time. Not really, according to Jones.

“It takes me about 30 to 45 minutes to make one of these,” she said.

It probably would not take most as long, but Jones said she doesn’t rush her projects, taking her time to finish.

“I also have a family so I get interrupted as I am working on these, because my family comes first,” she said. “Afghans use to be what I loved to make and they are beautiful, but take a very long time to make, depending on how big you make it.”

The towels, blankets, even pillows Jones makes are gifts to friends and family, but they also are a chance to make a little money on the side.

Jill Jones crocheted tops onto the dish towels, making them easy to hang on oven handles.

Jill Jones crocheted these afghans, which she has already sold. She makes them per order and can do them in any design.

“I sell them to anyone interested; post them on sale sites on Facebook and spread the word around to family and friends,” she said.

She likes to sell them to help raise extra money for her children, which will help with medical supplies.

“But I also love crocheting as well,” she said.

Selling direct to order is about as far as Jones has gotten with her sales.

“I have never gone to shows or events. I do not feel I have enough different items made to do that,” she said.

However, someday, Jones said she would love to partner with someone else and have a variety of items to show.

Jones has been married to her husband, Matthew Sr., for 20 years. They have three children: Taylor, 18; Matthew Jr., 16; and Taya, 12.

Taylor and Matthew Jr. have severe medical problems, and their parents work extra hard to make money to pay the bills. Taylor is in a children’s home with severe mental retardation and he is not able to see, talk, sit-up by himself, Jones said. Matthew Jr. is type 1 juvenile diabetic.

Jones calls her husband “the best husband you could ask for.”

She also said his family is

Jill Jones

Courtesy photos

his life and he works hard to take care of them.

Jill Jones works in the kitchen at ProphetstownLyndon-Tampico Community Unit School District No. 3, which she calls a great job for a variety of reasons.

“I couldn’t ask for a better job as I am off when my kids are off; I need to be around with the boys as they go through medical problems: then I also get to see all there school events and sports they are in,” she said.

Jones said although family comes first, “…you also need to enjoy your hobbies.”

If you want to get in touch with Jones, you may do so through her Facebook account, www.facebook. com/jill.jones.775, or e-mail her at green22@mchsi.com or call or text at her at 815590-1467.

Visit us online at www.saukvalleysun.com

21

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Business Wooden letters made special Sauk Valley Pest Control for you ‘Guarantees’ its Work Spencer Schein “What’s your name, what do you like, and would you like to see it in wooden blocks?”

You may hear those questions and more if you talk with Heather Walrath, a Sterling resident, who creates personalized wood blocks to order in her spare time.

“I love having something new to make every day. Every project is different and my imagination is always reeling, trying to come up with new ideas,” Walrath said.

She uses wooden blocks ranging in size from 4 inches to 10 inches, and can draw and design them into any name, initial or theme.

“The possibilities really are endless,” Walrath said.

And that’s not all.

“I also make wreaths. I have made seasonal and also everyday wreaths. I would love to have a bigger selection, but for now this is working well for me,” she said.

She makes all the wreaths and personalized letters at home. Walrath purchases the letters already made, then she paints and personalizes each by hand.

“Some things I’ve sketched and painted free hand. Others are prints that I use. It all depends on what the order entails,” Walrath said.

“My downtime has turned into craft time. I get a lot done on weekends or after my son has gone to bed,” she continued to say.

Making wreaths and personalized letters has not been a life-long job for Walrath. In fact, it’s a fairly new addition.

“I got started selling the wreaths in autumn in 2012 after a friend asked me to make her one for her front door. Her friend ordered one, and then I made another,” she said. “Then the Christmas season came along and the people that had wanted fall wreaths ordered Christmas wreaths.”

I f t h a t w a s n ’t b u s y enough, she got noticed for her other craftwork.

Spencer Schein

An assortment of the personalized letters Heather Walrath has designed for her customers.

“As for the letters, I had an idea for a holiday decoration for my home, which I made. I posted the photo online and someone asked if they could buy it. So I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ I haven’t stopped making them since,” she said.

Walrath has given some of the letters she makes as gifts to friends, and said many of the orders she makes are for gifts for others.

“These are really great, unique items that you cannot get anywhere else. Everyone is always looking for a special gift that isn’t overdone.

These are perfect, because they are personalized. There is no limit to what I can create for my customers,” she said.

Most of Walrath’s customers say they’d like the wooden letters a certain way, or they tell her what the interests are for the person receiving the letters.

“Some have given me general ideas and I come up with something on my own. I try my very hardest to make each one unique and not like any others,” Walrath said.

While she has had

Heather Walrath of Sterling sells real estate by day and creates specialized wooden letters by night.

thoughts of selling her crafts in stores, she currently sells her items on a Facebook group, by word of mouth and to friends.

“I have had several storeowners ask me to put my things in their stores. For now, I am home-based,” Walrath said. “It is a goal of mine in the very near future to be able to have my product out in different local shops and maybe even somewhere like Etsy.com.”

To contact Walrath or to place an order, go online at www.facebook.com/ heatherJustForYou.

Walrath also creates handmade wreaths And that’s not all.

“I also make wreaths,” Heather Walrath said.

“I have made seasonal and also everyday wreaths. I would love to have a bigger selection, but for now this is working well for me,” Heather said.

“I got started selling the wreaths in autumn in 2012 after a friend asked me to make her one for her front door,” she said.

Her friend ordered one, and then she made another wreath.

“Then the Christmas season came along

and the people that had wanted fall wreaths ordered Christmas wreaths,” she said.

Who ya gonna call when there’s bugs on the wall – Preston!

Who ya gonna call when there’s rodents on the floor – Zigler!

Over the past eight years, Preston Zigler, 33, has entered countless restaurants, taverns, offices, homes and apartments, and left knowing the owner would be satisfied with his work.

A licensed pest exterminator and business owner through the state of Illinois, Zigler and his wife, Michelle, started their own company this summer – Sauk Valley Pest Control, Inc. “There’s a lot of people out there that don’t like bugs,” Zigler said.

As summer gives way to fall, insects and rodents will try to find their way inside structures. In the summer, they either try to get away from wet conditions or go inside if it’s too dry, Zigler said.

“The winter plays a big factor with insects as well as rodents,” Zigler said.

This is good information for homeowners who may want to take preventative action now in order to keep bugs and rodents outside.

While products sold at the store may take care of an immediate issue, they won’t stop the issue from arising again. When Zigler goes to work, he tells his customers they can be assured the pests and rodents won’t return.

“I guarantee my work. I can guarantee eradication of the pests and rodents,” Zigler said.

While people flock to stores to purchase bug sprays and rodent traps that may state they are as good as any exterminator, Zigler knows better.

“The amount of money

Preston Zigler, owner of Sauk Valley Pest Control, places a locked rodent trap in a kitchen. Zigler guarantees eradication of bugs and rodents.

Spencer Schein photo

they are going to spend to buy the products, I’ll charge about the same to come out,” he said.

The word “guarantee” means a lot to Zigler’s customers. Many followed him from a past company he worked for, which was sold and its operations moved to Iowa, to Sauk Valley Pest Control on June 4, 2013.

Two months after starting the company, Zigler said he already had 35 monthly customers. During our interview he took a call for what could be No. 36.

Zigler offers a preventative, EPA approved spray outside for pests such as spiders, earwigs, beetles, box elder bugs and more.

Inside a home or business, Zigler uses a different spray that is also EPA approved, is odorless and low toxic, and is safe for people and pets. The sprays are resistant to rain, something storebought products may claim but can’t guarantee, he said.

Locked traps are set inside with a specialized bait that attracts mice and rats. This

bait kills them by drying out their insides, leaving odorless remains for Zigler to take away.

These products are not sold in stores and are only made available to licensed exterminators, he said.

Zigler and his wife, Michelle, 32, a branch manager of Community State Bank in Sterling, live in Sterling with their daughter, Madison. Michelle is the vice president, treasurer and secretary of Sauk Valley Pest Control, which she co-owns with her husband.

Helping others is not new to Preston Zigler, who for 13 years has worked as a paid on call firefighter for Sterling Fire Department.

He keeps working toward his goal of getting hired on full-time.

Should that happen, Zigler may have a situation occur in which he enters a business one day for emergency services, and returns the next day to spray for pests.

That would be a great day for Preston Zigler.

22

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Government Right to Carry Concealed Firearms Now a Reality for Illinois Law Abiding Citizens

Tom Demmer State Representative -90th District During the 2013 Spring Session of the Illinois Gen-

eral Assembly, we dealt with many issues affecting gun owners and sportsmen alike, but none more important than the Second Amendment-guaranteed right of concealed carry.

A ruling by the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals last December required Illinois to join the other 49 states with concealed carry laws. The Court struck down Illinois’ ban on concealed carry on the basis that it was unconstitutional and mandated the General Assembly pass legislation within 180 days of the Court’s decision, setting the

date as June 9, 2013. After extensions were granted, the final deadline was extended to July 9th.

On May 31st, after years of hard work to bring concealed carry to Illinois, the General Assembly passed House Bill 183, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, establishing statewide standards for the issuance of licenses to carry concealed firearms in Illinois. Unfortunately, Governor Quinn issued an amendatory veto of the bill on July 2nd, including language that would make it more difficult for lawabiding citizens to exercise

their constitutional right to carry concealed firearms.

On July 9th, both the House and Senate voted to override Quinn’s amendatory veto.

In addition to concealed carry, there were several other bills passed that affect hunters and sportsmen. HB 1003 removes “pure water” from the definition of “bait” deleting the provision that technically made it illegal for farmers to place out water intended for livestock.

HB 1652 prohibits the use of drones to videotape hunting and fishing activity. SB 1538 allows certain types of fish to be taken with a sling shot

bow. SB 50 would allow Illinois veterans to obtain a hunter’s education card by taking the online portion of the test. Finally, HB 2754 allows for the issuance of National Wild Turkey Federation license plates.

For more information regarding concealed carry, please visit my website at www.tomdemmer.com and sign up for my e-newsletter for further updates.

As your state representative, I will always stand up for the rights of law-abiding gun owners, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts. I hope you

will find the information in this letter to be helpful.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact my district office at 815.561.3690 or e-mail me at tom@tomdemmer.com I would also like to invite everyone to join me at the next Legislative Town Hall I will be hosting on Wednesday, August 22nd at the Ogle County Historic Court House at 6:00pm. I will be giving a full overview of the 2013 Spring Legislative Session with an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have.

ing committee, headed up

by Jack Spencer, and all of the participants from various Rock Falls-Sterling associations and clubs working to plan and see this event be successful are truly amazing.

Both Mayor Lee and myself have been involved as well, and I think that I can speak for both of us when I say this event has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can work together to create wonderful opportunities for both of our towns. If you have not yet registered, you can do so on line at

www.BridgeTheCommunity.webs.com or register the day of the event at E. 2nd St. & Avenue A from 7:30 -8:30 a.m.

“GET INVOLVED.” Some folks have called and said they are not runners, but asked if they can help with the event in any other way. The answer is yes, we will need volunteers along the course, as well as at the start and finish lines. There is something for everyone who wants to be involved in showcasing our communities. On Monday, September

9th starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Rock Falls Community Building at 601 W. 10th Street, there will be a meeting for anyone that wants to get involved. Please join us.

Following the events on Saturday morning, remember to stick around after the race and enjoy the Fiesta Day Parade and activities throughout the Twin Cities.

Make plans know to either participate as a runner, or volunteer your time to help make the event a success.

See you there……

Rock Falls Mayor’s column

Bill Wescott Rock Falls Mayor What a great month August has been for our two communities. Let’s begin by providing recognition where recognition is due.

Congratulations to two outstanding youth teams that represented not only the local Little League Program, but the City of Rock Falls as well. Congratulations to the 9-10 year old Girls Softball Team, winning the State Championship in Peru for the second consecutive year. I had the opportunity to go down with Ald. Jim Schuneman to see the girls play in their opening game.

The best words to describe this team- “NEVER QUIT”.

Secondly, the 13-14 Year old boys, who not only won

the State Championship held this year at Foley Field in Spring Valley’s Kirby Park, but by virtue of that achievement advanced to the Junior League Central Regional Tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 3-10, as the State of Illinois representative. There they finished pool play with a record of 3-1, which advance them into the Final Four. Unfortunately, they lost a heartbreaker 8-6, but represented the league, the city and themselves in an outstanding manner. The city will be recognizing both teams and coaches at the August 20th council meeting.

Thirdly, Margaret Sadowski and the members of the First Christian Church in Rock Falls for taking the lead in coordinating the National Night Out activities on August 6th at Centennial Park. Unfortunately, the City Council could not attend that evening, due to it being Council Meeting night.

None the less, an outstanding job by everyone that participated and next year will be even better.

Fourth, kudos to Chairman John Watts and members of

the Rock Falls Optimist Club for hosting the 3rd Annual Touch-A-Truck program at the Riverfront Patio on August 10 th. Outstanding turnout of area Police, Fire, EMS, Lifeline Helicopter, and local businesses and contractors which all contributed to the successful activity. The proceeds from this event will be used to support local youth programs.

The Club will be hosting their Annual Fishing Derby at Centennial Park in Rock Falls starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013. They look forward to seeing everyone again this year.

Lastly, only three weeks remain until the 1st Annual “Bridge the Community” 10K -5K Run /Walk and the Kid’s Bridge Dash. The Bridge Dash will be the first event starting on the First Avenue Bridge at 8:30 a.m. for Kids 10 and under, and will be followed by the 10K5K races starting off at 9:00 a.m. This is really going to be an outstanding event for our communities, and I have no doubt that it will become an annual gathering. The steer-

Dixon Mayor’s column

Jim Burke Dixon Mayor From 1926 through 1932 Ronald Reagan worked as a lifeguard at the beach along the Rock River in Lowell Park near Dixon. Now the city is spearheading efforts to create, design and con-

struct a 7-foot bronze statue of a young Ronald Reagan overlooking the beach site and river in the park.

The well-known photo of Reagan in his lifeguard shirt in the beautiful 200-acre park was taken by a Dixon lady now deceased. A core committee of Dixon residents has met with sculptors and representatives of Rottblatt-Amrany studio of Highwood, Illinois. The studio is nationally known for sculpting statues of Michael Jordan in front of the United Center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles, Harry Carey at Wrigley Field, and Vince Lombardi at Flambeau Field in Green

Bay, Wisconsin. The estimated Reagan statue cost is $120,000 with design, casting and construction to take 10-12 months. Dixon tourism will spearhead and raise funding for the project.

Lowell Park is a national historic site and the Rock River, with 3 miles of frontage through the center of Dixon, is a national waterway trail. If anyone is interested in getting involved with this project, please contact me. Thank you.

Contact person – Mayor Jim Burke Phone - 815-288-1485 Email - james.burke@ discoverdixon.org

Sports Sun Spotlight: Rock Falls Cross Country

By Cody Cutter The runners are out once again at Centennial Park.

Cross country season is underway for Rock Falls High School.

August 14 was the official kick-off of the season, with 25 boys and girls gathering near Centennial’s Larson Shelter for the first official day of practice.

Running around the park’s pond for the duration of the practice session, the kids took in advice and guidance from cross country coach Mark Truesdell – who took to his bicycle to make sure he could meet each runner while they learned the feel of the course.

When it was all over with, newcomers Bailey Smith and Michaela Spreier felt first hand what it was going to take to fit in with a quality program.

“It’s different than summer running because there’s more people here and you have to push yourself harder,” said Smith, a freshman.

“It’s harder than I expected it to be, compared to the summer runs,” said Spreier,

a junior. “The competition is harder. There’s more people.

There’s more expectation now that we are in the actual season.”

Despite having separate teams, the boys and girls all practice together. That is how things go in the program, which has seen its girls squad achieve plenty of State Meet success – five State qualifying teams – during the eight years Truesdell and assistant coach Mindy Porter have been in charge.

Last year, the girls squad placed fourth at the IHSA State Meet at Detweiler Park in Peoria. Katie Anderson led her team with a 32nd place finish at State, and

followed not too far behind

by Sandra Gomez (58th) and Maklay Velazquez (69th).

The trio will look to maintain this level of success and keep its running pack tight despite losing half of last year’s team to graduation.

“Our goal is going to be the top three again,” Gomez said regarding the State Meet. “If we all work real hard during practice and just click during meets, we can reach our goal and perform.”

Needless to say, some of the success rubs off onto the boys in the practice setting.

Goals are high among the Rocket boys, whose team see XC, page 26

23

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Health

Hope Life Center – Earn While You Learn

with donations. HLC also has volunteers who work in the store sorting and pricing clothing, diapers, and other items in the store. Volunteer Becky Rhea says, “It makes me feel good knowing I’m bringing hope to others.”

That’s what EWYL does for people.

EWYL is only one of the services offered at the center. There are many more such as pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound, STD testing, referrals to com-

Debbie Case, secretary and volunteer at Hope Life Center.

Jill Horn photo

HLC has three paid employees who also volunteer their time as client advocates. Currently, there are 15 volunteers. HLC will have their next volunteer training in January. Volunteers do a variety of jobs. Some are nurses and doctors who use the ultrasound or do STD testing but most are people from all walks of life who just want to help people in their community. Other volunteers meet with clients and go through a program with the expectant mothers called Earn While You Learn (EWYL). This program is available for expecting mothers and mothers with a child under the age of five.

Grandparents raising grand-

children are also encouraged to call the center and take advantage of EWYL. The client sets up an appointment with a client advocate by calling the center or by coming in to the center. The client advocate and the client meet and go through lessons regarding what to expect regarding pregnancy, nutrition, child rearing issues, and much more. The client earns points every time they attend these sessions and then can spend their points in the store inside HLC. Items they can buy with points are clothing, car seats, pack-nplays, baby furniture, diapers, toys, books and the list goes on. All the items in the store are donated or bought

By Jill Horn Hope Life Center’s (HLC) mission is to empower individuals to make educated, life-affirming choices by ministering the truth about health, sex and pregnancy.

HLC has been open since 1986 and has two locations: one in Sterling, 2323 E Lincolnway and one in Dixon, 404 N Galena Ave. Volunteer Kari Brown says, “I came to HLC with the intention of helping others without any expectations of receiving, but I feel blessed every time I leave the center.” Hope Life also has services for men, not just women, and does have male volunteers.

Are you concerned about the Cost of Assisted Living?

munity agencies, abortion education, help for women experiencing problems after an abortion, Bible studies, information on sexual abstinence, parenting information, adoption referrals to licensed agencies, courses for goal setting and developing life skills.

HLC is funded completely by donations. Their fundraising banquet for the fall is coming up Oct. 24 at the Deer Valley Country Club and begins at 6PM. The



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              

Heritage Woods of Sterling

Invites you to a Free Seminar:

Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 6:30pm RSVP to 815-625-7045 Join us for refreshments!

2205 Oak Grove Avenue Sterling, IL 61081

Presented by Dennis Young, licensed insurance agent of Veterans Financial, Inc.

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Join us to learn about available

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veterAns Benefits

Wartime Veterans or their Surviving Spouses may be eligible for significant income from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

keynote speaker for the evening is Shawn Carney, Cofounder of 40 Days for Life.

If you would like to believe as Betty Hollis does, “I feel so fulfilled and love being able to give hope and encouragement to others in a Christian setting,” then become a volunteer by calling the center. To learn more about HLC call 815625-5300 or 815-284-4673 or visit www.hopelifecenter. com.

 

MAIN CLINIC

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24

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Health

The Doctor is In: Sleep, snoring, aging, and you

Dr. Donald Lewis, MD FACS Special to the Sauk Valley Sun Good sleep is not just a timeout from the rigors of daily life, it is a chance to “re-

charge your batteries.” More than 120 million Americans do not get a good night’s sleep. Lying in bed for eight hours does not mean you are sleeping eight hours. Many sleeping disorders exist which can lower a person’s quality of life, reduce personal health and endanger public safety by contributing to traffic accidents as well as industrial accidents. These disorders may cause difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, staying awake or maintaining a regu-

lar sleep-wake cycle. We are fortunate in this area to have two really good sleep centers, one at CGH and one at KSB. General practitioners help in the diagnosis and treatment, along with specialists in neurology, pulmonary medicine, pediatrics, otolaryngology, and even the individual specialty of sleep medicine itself.

Some common causes of sleep disorders in older people include illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, arthritis, yielding pain, fever, and

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coughing. On the other hand, some medicines used to treat our medical problems may contribute to the disruption of sleep, so it is important to read the instructions regarding what time of day you are supposed to take it. Even interactions of drugs can contribute to this. Before taking sleeping pills stronger than something like acetaminophen with Benadryl, it is best to consult your doctor. The overuse of prescription drugs and overthe-counter medicines at the same time by elderly people to aid sleep is of significant concern. It is good to remember that while people over 65 currently make up less than 15% of the American population, they take more than 30% of the prescription drugs and 40% of all sleeping pills.

Since some of those sleeping medicines may not work well in older people and may even make problems worse, it is best to discuss the issue with your physician. The value of a formal sleep study, called a polysomnogram, cannot be over stated.

Alcohol use is another problem, because while it may help you fall asleep quickly, you might find yourself waking a few hours later.

That is sort of a rebound from the use of alcohol. That is not a very smart idea. Difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early, and sleep disruption may also be symptoms of depression, which grows more common as we grow older. Sometimes it is more than just “feeling blue,” and can manifest as a chronic mental illness. As poor sleep progresses, some people stop eating regularly or lose interest in their usual activities and sort of become hermits.

Contributing factors may be personal stresses such as loss of a loved one, or loss of mobility such as loss of ability to drive, or even a change in place of residence.

One of the big problems my colleagues and I see, which affects the working-

age population a lot, is obstructive sleep apnea. It is important to understand that while most people with obstructive sleep apnea snore, not everybody who snores has obstructive sleep apnea.

Differentiating between the two requires a sleep study, but suffice it to say that very loud snoring with snorts and gasps followed by long pauses in breathing is just not healthy.

Often this is not even remembered in the morning but causes great concern to those

3. Establish pre-sleep rituals such as a warm bath, a light bedtime snack, or 10 minutes of reading.

4. Avoid watching television right before bed.

5. Exercise regularly and do a little mild exercise at least four hours prior to bedtime.

6. Avoid eating right before bedtime because that can lead to reflux, which only makes you feel worse.

7. Avoid caffeine and caffeine-like chemicals within six hours of bedtime. So

around. This can be caused by obstruction of the upper airway or a malfunction within the central nervous system.

Those affected by the latter may not even snore. There are other possible diagnoses though, which is why it is important to conduct an overnight sleep study. Variables such as brain waves, breathing, blood pressure, and pulse are all monitored closely by a technician, recorded on a computer, and then evaluated by a specialist- either a neurologist, pulmonologist, or sleep specialist.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to take sleep disturbance of any type seriously. I do have some suggestions, however, on how to sleep well: 1. Use your bedroom only for sleep, sex, and times of illness. Do not make it the only place in the house you hang out or a place to watch TV until the middle of the night.

2. Try to go to bed only when you are drowsy.

avoid regular coffee, regular tea, even green tea if it is not decaffeinated, and chocolate. Do not drink alcohol late in the evening and expect a good night’s sleep.

Although you should avoid smoking anyway, certainly do not smoke right before going to bed. Do not take sleeping pills without checking with your doctor, and do not use them regularly for periods longer than three weeks.

There are many useful resources on the subject available, and I invite you to contact your doctor or your doctor’s nurse to get them.

Do not just go to the internet.

There is lots of information on the internet- unfortunately, much of it is incorrect. One trustworthy online source is the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and their web site is www.aasmnet.org.

Wishing you a good night’s sleep.

hen someone you care Wabout needs caring for.

To learn more about our community in Prophetstown, call (815) 537-5175.

All faiths or beliefs are welcome.

25

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Health

Why do we feel the need to push?

Nancy Nesyto-Freske Certified Yoga Teacher In my practice, working with people, both one on one as well as in groups, there is an overall tendency to push- to move fast, hard, play the edge.

Clients and students are always surprised when I ask them to slow down, to

apply less effort and to make the movements slower and smaller. At first they think, “Well, what is this going to do for me?” and then all of a sudden a shift happens and they say, “Wow, I don’t know why that works, but it does”.

In my training, we have always followed a principle we call “Less is More”.

Why is that?

From my personal experience, I find when I work harder, which is really less efficiently, I am just trying to “get ‘er done”. There is no purpose, I’m very much in my head, just thinking about the end result or checking it off my list.

My clients and students, when they finally under-

stand the principle, concur with what I experience.

They find that they have more energy and they accomplish their task in about the same amount of time, and they have greater joy when they’ve finished.

So, why does this work?

I’m going to give my explanation in terms of physical movement, specifically when there is pain, tension, kinks or “a knot”.

When we experience these sensations noted above, our nervous system is on “alert”.

We will generally be tenser or tighter in the muscles.

And then we add pushing or force on top of that and what are we doing? We create more tension and tightness and our pain, kinks, and

knots usually get worse.

If we were to do the same activity with mindfulness, meaning paying attention to our breath, the pain, tension in the body, and not allowing that sensation to increase, we can find a way to move with less effort, with fewer compensations; our nervous system responds accordingly and muscles release, there’s less tension.

This is one of the ways I work with my clients in-

dividually and also how I encourage my students to move in class. That is why they are successful in either eliminating or reducing the pain, stress, kinks and knots that they experience. Also, stress levels go down and they leave feeling much lighter and happier!

Give this some thought next time you are in the gym or class where you’re working hard. Are you holding your breath, grunting,

pushing through the pain?

That is your clue as to why things are not improving.

The body is just holding on for dear life!

Nancy Nesyto-Freske is a Certified Yoga Instructor a n d a C e r t i f i e d Yo g a therapist. She currently teaches in Dixon, IL and Naperville, IL. Her Dixon location is at 103 S. Peoria Ave. Nancy can be reached at 815-509-6479 or Nancy@ journeyyogastudio.com.

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26

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Faith

God’s way marriages to thrive...loving and giving without expectations Scott Porter Pastor of Abiding Word Church I know that Valentine’s Day isn’t until February, but I thought I’d give all the gentlemen reading this a head start. I think Valentine’s Day is a day that needs examination in the age in which we live. When I say “examination”, I mean in a positive way. If there is one thing our society needs today, it’s a dose of caring for one another. Especially in our families. Love is a commodity that seems hard to come by, if you are judging by the news headlines of our day. Yet I really believe that there is more love around us than we realize.

Common ordinary decency is plentiful. The two places that love should abound are in marriage, and in our houses of worship.

Love, abound in marriage? That might be a question that some cynical types may ask in 2010, or 2000, or 1990, or 1980, or 1970 for that matter. There always have been, and always will be negative people. I’ve just made the choice to help them, and ignore their depressing negativity. In order

for a marriage to grow in the love that was intended, the second aforementioned type of love is needed. The love of God found at church. My favorite pre-marriage counseling session is on love.

In that lesson I point out that in the New Testament, two main types of love are mentioned. One is from the Greek word Phileo and the other is Agape.

Back in the day, whenever the Chicago Cubs traveled to Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia (phileo) to play the Phillies, the late Harry Caray would bellow, “Welcome to Philadelphia the city of brotherly love”.

That is phileo love. Phileo is “buddy-buddy love. I’ll love you, IF you love me.

IF you treat me right, I’ll treat you right, but if there is any type of failure or let down by one, the relationship crumbles.” Too many marriages are built on “phileo-love”. For you see, this type of love in marriage becomes “performance based”. “As long as the meal is on the table when I get home from work.

I love you.” “As long as you mow the lawn and paint the trim. I love you.”

This is performance based,

conditional love. There are strings attached.

The second type of love is different. It is an aggressive love. A love that is always abounding. It is based on the nature of the giver, and never based on the actions or performance of the re-

Rodney and Sandra Cain to be at October Dixon Area Christian Women Luncheon On October 4th the Dixon Area Christian Women’s group is sponsoring a pot luck luncheon open to all women. The event will be at the First United Methodist Church, 202 South Peoria starting at noon. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to pass. Drinks and table service will be furnished.

The program for the event will be Rodney and Sandra Cain from Loves Park. Both are active musicians and drama professionals with

combined careers totaling more than 50 years in the Harlem School District.

They remain active in vocal and instrumental music.

In addition Rodney has two puppet teams that minister to seniors and children that have included performances at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

There is no charge for the luncheon. A free will offering will be taken. Proceeds of this offering will be given to the local PADS shelter.

Saint Luke’S epiScopaL church 221 West Third Street, Dixon, IL 61021

Join us for our 175 Anniversary Celebration

ceiver. This is AGAPE love.

This is God’s love. The kind of love that caused God the Father to send His Son Jesus Christ, to earth. God’s love.

This is the type of love that is needed in order for marriages to thrive. Too often people are only looking for their marriages to SURVIVE. God has provided a way for your marriage relationship to THRIVE, grow, and be exciting. It has been

said that marriage will be the closest thing on earth to heaven or hell that we will ever know. I’m so thankful for an angel of a wife that makes my everyday on this planet a little bit of heaven.

By the way, that was a compliment given, expecting nothing in return.

That is exactly what love does. It gives. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his

only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Did you catch that? “...God so loved...that He GAVE...”

God gave us His best. Sinatra sang it well. Love and marriage DO go together like a horse and carriage.

You can’t have one, without the other!

XC from page 22

we’re pushing each other, me and him are taking the top spots right now,” Williams added. “We’re really hoping for State this year.”

Cayden Erickson, a junior, and Kasey Anger, a senior, also return to the Rockets from last year’s sectional qualifying team.

“I think this season is going to be very interesting,” Erickson said. “We lost a lot of runners, but we gained a real good one in Brayden. I think he’s going to be real good if he’s pushing hard.

If we push hard together, I think we’ll be real good as a team.”

The program’s first meet of the season was the Rocket Run at Centennial Park on August 27. Eleven meets are on the calendar for this season, in addition to the

Big Northern Conference meet at Harvard on Oct. 19. Postseason competition begins on Oct. 26 with regionals.

Of the 11 meets, Williams is looking forward to the Charger Classic hosted by Aurora Central Catholic High School on Sept. 28.

“I’m looking forward to Aurora,” Williams said. “It’s all downhill and is a very fun run. That was my first good meet (last year).”

Gomez is looking forward to the Twin City Meet on September 17 at Hoover Park in Sterling, where the Rockets will race against neighboring rivals Newman and Sterling.

“It’s a fun meet and it’s real fun to run,” Gomez said.

will also look to reload from senior losses. However, the team has high expectations for Hamblen, who received word from Truesdell on the first day that his pace was already that of typical postseason success.

Pounding the ground on those summer runs with sophomore Seth Williams has helped both runners.

Williams racked up about 450 summer miles, with Hamblen running about 200.

“We’re pumped,” said Hamblen. “Coach was telling us that we could get in the 15’s. That pretty much guarantees us a spot to go to State.”

“He’s basically saying that with our talent that we’re having right now, and

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27

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Faith

Reaching the Unreached

Lois Fletcher

Lois Fletcher at Gospel for Asia home office in Carrollton, Courtesy photos Texas

Jill Straw In October 2010, Lois Fletcher was called to be a full-time missionary. She had already traveled to Uganda in 2008. In May 2011, following a mission trip to Bolivia, Lois received an email that mentioned the book “Revolution in World Missions.” She said that she requested the book from the Gospel for Asia website, but by the time it arrived, she had already downloaded, and listened to the audio version from the website.

By the end of the book she knew that was where God

was calling her to serve.

In a telephone conversation, Lois shared information about Gospel for Asia.

The organization, which has been in existence for thirty-three years, has missionaries in ten Asian countries. Instead of sending Westerners to one of these countries, natives are used as missionaries. Lois said that this is “very effective because native missionaries already live there and are familiar with the culture.

Westerners are not well received because they don’t have first-hand knowledge of the culture and Jesus is

perceived as a foreign god.”

It is also cost effective to use native missionaries. Gospel for Asia is unique among missionary services, as one hundred percent of funds designated for the field go into the mission field.

Gospel for Asia was founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan, a native of India. At the age of sixteen, Dr. Yohannan responded to the Lord’s call to serve. In 1974, he moved to the United States where he received theological training and ministered a church for four years. The Lord reminded Dr. Yohannan about the millions living in Asia who had never heard of Him. Dr. Yohannan and his wife left the United States and returned to India where they founded Gospel for Asia. Native missionaries go to school for three years at a Gospel for Asia bible college. Over ninety

eight percent of the graduates minister in places where the Gospel has never before been shared.

The Dalits, or the “Untouchables,” are the lowest level in the caste system that exists in India. Gospel for Asia reaches out to these individuals. Food, clothing, and education are provided for children through Bridge of Hope. These children then share the good news of Jesus with their family and friends. There are sixty thousand children enrolled in the Bridge of Hope program.

Compassion Services is another function provided

by Gospel for Asia. A fishing

village in India has recently had significant flooding following a tsunami. Blankets, food, and drinking water were provided by women from the nearby Gospel for Asia Bible College. Slum ministry, leprosy ministry, and medical ministry are provided by Gospel for Asia.

As a home-team staff member, Lois Fletcher is the link between funds raised in the United States and missionaries in Asia. Hometeam members must raise their own support money to receive a salary to cover basic living expenses without taking any money away from the mission field. She

has spent the last eighteen months trying to raise her support money. She is still shy of her goal. She has recently put her house up for sale and is planning to move to Carrollton, Texas, where the United States home office is located. She travels around Northern Illinois to share information about Gospel for Asia. Lois has a book stand at The Good Book Christian book store in Dixon, Illinois. Free copies of the book “Revolution in World Missions” are available there, as well as brochures detailing what Gospel for Asia does for the unreached and how you can support Lois in her calling.

Grand-Angels Tricia Lewis National Grandparents’ Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September after Labor Day. It is a day for families to express their love and appreciation for their grandparents.

For some grandchildren, it’s grandparent’s day every day because many grandparents have stepped up to the plate to raise their grandchildren when the parents

are not able to care for them.

According to the U.S, Census of 2000,over 2.4 million grandparents have responsibility for their grandchildren. In the state of Illinois, over 200,000 children live with their grandparents.

If you are one of these grandparents, you are invited to join Grand-Angels.

Grand-Angels is a newly formed group for grandparents to receive useful

information regarding services available to them. It is sponsored by the Salk Valley Sun and Good Neighbors in Sterling.

The first meeting will be on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. at Good Neighbors in Sterling. The address is 2705 Ave E, Sterling, Illinois.

Please RSVP by calling 815-285-2659.

All grand-angels are welcome!

28

September 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

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