ONE PRICE ONE PLAN ONE GOAL

(815) 288-3366 www.dixonflm.com 489 Il. Route 2, Dixon, IL

Our best price upfront and displayed on very vehicle every day.

To sell all vehicles without having the pressure of negotiating a price.

To provide a hassle-free vehicle buying experience.

KarmaSalon & Spa

Yourself

See Our Ad On Page 8!

FIND

AT

May 2013 | Vol. 1 Issue 2

Sauk Valley Sun

FREETake One!

INSIDE

Karen Abele is making dreams come true

See page 8

Business

see page 18

Local

National Jellybean Day celebrated in Dixon

see page 9

Education

Winners of Student-Teacher Art Exhibit announced in Sterling

see page 22

Street Beat

Spin Doctors to headline Petunia Festival in Dixon

see page 2

Dining

Bring your family to La Familia in Rock Falls!

see page 11

Sterling’s Air Play Sports& Espresso can best bedescribed as eclectic

Local

The man behind the badge in Whiteside County

see page 4

Photo from left to right – Janelle Beyer, Natalie Buck, Karen Abele

Karen Abele has been a volunteer with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois for 15 years. She is a Wish Granter volunteer and has also volunteered with the Speaker’s Bureau for the past two years. “It’s a really rewarding experience, and I meet the most amazing kids!” she said.

Courtesy photo

DIXON - STERLING - ROCK FALLS

Fourth Fridays has returned!

Mark your calendars for high school postseason sports

We’re being invaded!

Fourth Fridays... Where People and the Arts Collide returned Friday, April 26, 2013 in Downtown Sterling.

see page 7

Postseason tournaments for the area’s spring sports kick off this month. For some, the postseason is the acceleration point of trying to meet goals and reach full potential

Illinois is being invaded by insects! If you haven’t heard about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), you must have had your head in the woodpile!

see page 23

see page 20

POSTALCUSTOMER

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE PAID

DEKALB, ILPERMIT NO.321

ECRWSS

Sauk Valley Sun459 Il. Route #2Dixon, IL 61021

2 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

www.paperescape.com

T

he Paper Escape

205 West 1st Street, Dixon, IL815-284-7567

Used Paperbacks & Comic Books

Trading Cards & Supplies

Role Playing Games & Accessories

Fantasy Collectibles

Coin Supplies

Costume Rentals

& Much More!

Sauk Valley SunDIXON - STERLING - ROCK FALLS

Helpful, like people, energetic, enthusiastic, organized, love our communities? Join our exciting marketing team! P/T or F/T positions available. Marketing experience desired.

Contact Judy Bell, Publishersauksun@gmail.com / 815-260-4350

SAUK VALLEY SUN MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES

The Street Beat Upcoming events and activities in Dixonby Josh Albrecht, Executive Director of Dixon Main Street

For the 49th Annual Dix-on Petunia Festival, the music stage will be mov-ing to the Riverfront in the downtown. The Petunia Festival prides itself on hav-ing the best entertainment in the area and in 2013 we have done it again. For up to date information on the festival go to www.petuniafestival.org. Here is the music lineup for this year’s festival.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3Wednesday night, July

3rd,we will kick off the entertainment with our Country Concert on the new river front stage with “Back Country Roads” opening for “Brushfire”. Brushfire is burning up the country music scene, fresh off of their victory at the BATTLE FOR THE SADDLE at Nashville, Tennessee’s legendary Wildhorse Salon in early 2012. Out of over 300 national bands that entered, Brushfire was dubbed the champ. Since that time they have shared the stage with many country music legends as they continue to make a name for themselves. For more info go to brushfireband.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4 Thursday July 4th, the

stage will be rocking from noon to midnight with a wide variety of musicians including the “Woodlawn Academy bands”, “Tristan Bush”, and “Burn N’ Bush” during the day. At night, the stage will feature local blues/rock band “Robbie LeBlanc and the Real Live Show”.

Headlining on the Fourth of July will be “Aaron Wil-liams and the Hoodoo.” Hailing from Madison, Wis-consin,” Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo” received first round Grammy nomi-nations in 2011 for “Blues Album of the Year” and “Best New Artist”. Ever since, they’ve been skyrock-eting towards a nationwide breakout. They also had the distinct pleasure of being named WAMI Blues Artist of the Year (2012). A “Madi-

son Favorite” the last four years, a title voted on by Isthmus Newspaper readers, and taking home 6 MAMA awards in 2010 & 2011 (in-cluding the coveted “Artist of the Year”), these titles have been a testament to the band’s success in a very short period of time. Their debut full length album “It Ain’t Easy,” won Blues/Rock Album of the Year 2010- Real Blues Magazine. For more information, go to aaronwilliamsandthehoo-doo.com

FRIDAY, JULY 5Friday night we are proud

to have Dixon’s own “Gina Venier and the Gentlemen” taking the stage. Fresh off of winning the Bar 1 Big Break competition in Chicago last year, Gina has been playing her “blue-eyed soulful pop music” throughout Chicago. More information is avail-able at www.ginavenier.com.

Friday night finishes up with crowd favorite “Dot Dot Dot”. They have been rocking the Chicago area since 2007. “The co-ed quintet may be familiar to some as finalists on FOX TV’s “American Idol” spin-off show, “The Next Great American Band,” during its 2007 season. High-profile shows have followed, in-cluding appearances at the Sundance Film Festival, a VH1 “Save the Music” benefit, events for WGN, T-Mobile, Victoria’s Se-cret, Wrigley, and an in-vite to perform at President Obama’s 2010 “Moving America Forward” rally in Chicago. More information can be found at their website www.dotdotdotonline.com.

SATURDAY, July 6Saturday will be another

full day of live music with a little something for ev-eryone. Artists that day include great local talent with “Acoustic Circus”, “Trippin Molly”, and the “Noyz Boyz”. Headlining on Saturday night is famed alternative/blues legends the “Spin Doctors”.

The Spin Doctors first burst onto the scene in 1991 with the album “Pocket Full of Kryptonite” which would eventually go triple platinum, breaching the Top Five among Billboard Pop Albums while spinning off two major hit singles: “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and the No. 1 Rock radio song of 1993, “Two Princes.” Ultimately, “Pocket Full Of Kryptonite” sold over five million copies in the US and another five million overseas.

Recently, the Spin Doc-tors announced the upcom-ing release of their latest album “If the River Was Wiskey”. According to their website, it is “the blues album the band was al-ways meant to make, and their confidence shows as they give the songs lots of room to breath and let the tracks come alive via the road-tested musicianship of Chris Barron (vocals), Aaron Comess (drums), Eric Schenkman (guitar) and Mark White (bass)”. With no overdubs, irrever-ent lyrics, soulful drums and guitar licks that are on fire, ‘If The River Was Whisky’ captures lightning in a bottle and further cements Spin Doctors’ reputation as a live act to be reckoned with. Perhaps Schenkman puts it best, “We’ve been playing together for 25 years & we’re all badasses!” Listen to streaming samples, here: soundcloud.com/spin-doc-tors/sets/if-the-river-was-whiskey-album” For more information, go to www.spindoctors.com

SUNDAY, JULY 7Sunday afternoon we kick

off with festival favorites “Lyle Grobe and the Rhythm Ramblers” followed up by “South of Disorder”, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band from suburban Chicago that is sure to please Parrot Heads and festival goers of all ages. The group boasts an 11-piece band that will entertain the crowds up until we raffle off the Harley and light the fireworks!

Live music to highlight the summer in DixonDixon Main Street is de-

lighted to bring back another year of the Musical Fridays Concert Series. We invite you to spend your lunch-time (12 p.m. - 1 p.m.) with

us each Friday from June 7 - September 27 on the Riverfront in Downtown Dixon. Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Com-munity State Bank! And

don’t forgot to stop by one of our great restaurants for a to-go lunch or visit our great downtown stores after the music.

Musical Fridays Concert Schedule pre-sented by Community State Bank.

June 7 - Kathy Cecchetti 14 - Nate Gordon 21 - Lowell Harp 28 - Robbie LeBlancJuly 5 - Ray Rose 12 - Drew Dawson 19 - Eileen Quest 26 - Jay VonBruchhaeuser

Aug. 2 - Burn N’ Bush 9- Rowan Dierksen 16 - Tristan Bushman 23 - Mark Hobbs 30 - Jeff KagaySept. 6 - Ray Rose 13 - Nick Mahan 20 - Nate Gordon 27 - Kathy Cecchetti

Spin Doctors to headline Petunia Festival

Reagan Trail Days to bet the Blues Reagan Trail Days will

be highlighted this year on Saturday, August 10 with the addition of a new mu-sic event featuring Blues,

Brews, and BBQ. More information about this new music event for the city of Dixon to come in June. The day will feature a great

lineup of live music, a selec-tion of craft brews, and great BBQ to sample.

More details to come soon!

Courtesy photoSpin Doctors

1963 – The Class of 1963 will hold their reunion the weekend of August 16 & 17. They will start off this week-end celebration at class-mate Tom Hermes’ home in Dixon Friday at 7PM for a casual gathering. Saturday afternoon at 1PM, the class will meet at Newman for a tour of the school, including the practice facility. Class-mates should meet in front of the Chapel doors for the tour. Saturday evening, the classmates will reconvene with dinner and reminiscing at 6:30PM at Rock River Country Club. For more information, please contact

Newman High School upcoming class reunions

classmate, Tom Hermes. (815) 440-2967

1967 – 50th reunion will be held Columbus Day Weekend 2017.

1973 –This Class is plan-ning their reunion for the weekend of September 13 & 14, 2013. NHS Class of ’73 will be meeting at Joe Bittorf’s home Friday night. Saturday, they will gather, along with the 1973 graduating class, from SHS at Moonlight Bay. “Save the Date” postcards have been sent out. If you did not receive one, please contact Newman’s Development Department. Chairs of this

event are Julia Beatty Jones and Tony Papoccia

1988- The Class of 1988 will have their reunion July 20th. For more information please contact Dan Webber or Jamie Sanders.

2003 – The Class of 2003 is planning their first re-union to be held the first weekend of May 2013. For more information, please contact Diana Vasquez Fox.

For all the latest news on reunions and happenings at Newman, we encourage all alumni to join the Alumni of Newman Central Catholic High School, Facebook page.

3May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

• Cafe• Books• Wooden toys

BOOKS

FIRST

ONSauk Valley's Premier Bookstore/Coffeehouse202 West First Street, Dixon, IL815.285.BOOK (2665)

Committed to being a great place to visit and the community resource for reading, learning & enjoying life through books, music, coffee, art, conversation and much, much more.

• Puzzles• Greeting cards• Journals

B� t

Oregon Soap Shoppe& Green Art Etc...

We are list ed with Diane Sawyer’s

MADE IN AMERICA

It’s made local with the b� t ingredients by our own soap lady

www.OregonSoapSho� e.com

We can help your spring cleaning to be easier, safer & greener!Shower, soak, shampoo, and shave

with the SAME bar of SOAP! No more little plastic bottles to juggle!

91-C Daysville Rd. Oregon, IL 61061(866) 411-6614

FREE Gift Wrapping

B� t

We were GREEN before it was KEEN!

Roasted TurkeyRoasted PorkFried ChickenHomemade Stu� ngMashed PotatoesBeef Gravy

Great selection of breakfast & lunch items! Come enjoy a great day

with great food!GalenaSTEAKHOUSE

1101 N. Galena Ave. Dixon, IL 61021

Phone: 815-285-1625

Mother's DayBrunch

Brunch for Adults: $14.99Kids 10 and under: $7.99Kids 3 and under eat FREE

Open 10am to 3pm for Brunch5pm to 9pm for Dinner

MenuChicken GravySteamed VegetablesBaconSausage LinksScrambled EggsDiced Potatoes

Biscuits and Sausage GravyWa� esPancakes and French ToastFresh Baked

Cinnamon RollsSoup & Salad Bar

and Dessert Bar

SpecialsLunch 11am - 2pmDinner 4pm - Close

815-564-2252609 Depot Avenue

Dixon, IL 61021

HoursTues: 6am - 2pm

Wed & Thurs: 6am - 7pmFri: 6am - 8pm

Sat & Sun: 6am - 2pm

All Day Breakfast Sundays

Tues: LUNCH - Meatloaf

Wed: DINNER - Pan Fried Chicken

Thurs: $1 Tacos ~ 11am - close

Fri: DINNER - Cod & Fries

By Jill Horn

Many of you may enjoy the summer band concerts at the Grandon Civic Center in Sterling. This summer activ-ity has been a tradition for many years. The band was originally called Sterling Silver Cornet Band, which began around the 1850s. The next band was called the Keystone Band. This band was under the direc-tion of John Kadel for 21 years. Kadel also directed the 6th Regimental Band of Illinois around the time of the Spanish-American War. The Sterling Municipal Band began around 1900. The first conductor was Jake Hitzelberger in 1919. Hitzelberger played taps at the burial of his predecessor, Kadel. Since the formation of the band with the cur-rent name, there have been

nine conductors including the current conductor, Jon James. He has conducted the band since 2003.

The band hasn’t always performed in the Grandon Civic Center, since that facility wasn’t constructed until 1938. Mr. Grandon himself presented the Civic Center to the city of Sterling during a special dedication ceremony featuring many local bands as well as the Sterling Municipal Band.

This summer the first con-cert will be Wednesday, June 12 beginning at 7:30pm. The concerts usually last about two hours. The last concert will play August 14. There are usually refreshments served during the evening as a fundraiser for a school or organization. The musi-cians range from teenagers to retirees. They blend their talents together for a free

evening of listening plea-sure for people of all ages.

Here are the concerts that will feature special guests during June and July:

June 12 - Featuring guest trumpet soloist Mark Baldin, principal trumpet of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.

June 19 - Featuring guest conductor Brian Balmages, an award winning composer, producer, conductor and performer.

Saturday, June 22 - A chamber concert, small ensemble concert, featur-ing groups from within the Sterling Municipal Band. Specific groups to be an-nounced at a later date.

July 3 – Patriotic concert.July 17 – Featuring Peg

Cornils, a Sterling native and flute soloist who has performed at Carnegie Hall.

Sterling municipal band’s summer concerts to feature special guests

Courtesy photo

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend the Hos-pice of the Rock River Val-ley yearly memorial service to honor loved ones who died during the past year. The service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 19 at the Wesley United Method-ist Church, 2200 16th Ave. in Sterling.

Remembering is how we

carry our loved ones into the future with us. Come remember and celebrate those being missed. There will be a candle lighting service, special music, and readings. We welcome all who have lost loved ones regardless of using hospice services. Light refreshments will be served following the service.

If you did not use hospice and would like your loved one’s name and/or photo-graph included in the pre-sentation, contact Hospice of the Rock River Valley at (815) 288-3673 or email market@hospicerockriver.org.

Hospice of the Rock Riv-er Valley is a United Way Agency.

Hospice schedules memorial service

Publisher’s NoteWe are one: The Tri-CitiesJudy Bell

Publisher

Dixon, Sterling, Rock Falls…we are one. We are connected by the beautiful Rock River, by hundreds of years of being neighbors, friends, relatives, by our criss-crossing to the best of each community. We go to specialty stores in each area; we attend special events, we reach out to help and we reach out for education and information. We are one.

Each person who is a part of Sauk Valley Sun echoed this sense of oneness. Our Sauk Valley Sun will relect this oneness as we celebrate each community’s unique gifts to the whole.

Let’s think: Tri-City. Let’s enlarge the vision of our connected communities. Let’s explore what this might mean for expanded t o u r i s m , e x p a n d e d e d u c a t i o n , d y n a m i c seminars, entertainers, and the arts.

What could you envision? What might you, your friends and family want to have in our Tri-City?

The Sauk Valley Sun is here to connect our community, to support your efforts, to celebrate and encourage the good, the honorable and every positive aspect of community life.

Call me. 815-260-4350. I’m here. I will listen. Together we can achieve more!

4 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

Things we want you to know: A new 2-yr. agmt. (subject to a pro-rated $150 early termination fee for feature phones, modems and hotspot devices and a $ 350 early termination fee for smartphones and tablets) required. Agmt. terms apply as long as you are a cstmr. $30 device act. fee and credit approval may apply. Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee applies (currently $1.40/line/month); this is not a tax or gvmt. required charge. Add. fees, taxes and terms apply and vary by svc. and eqmt. See store or uscellular.com for details. Kansas Customers: In areas in which U.S. Cellular receives support from the Federal Universal Service Fund, all reasonable requests for service must be met. Unresolved questions concerning services availability can be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. Offer expires 8/31/13. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. © 2013 U.S. Cellular

#SunTimes13

Northland Mall2900 East LincolnwaySterling, IL 61081

AccentsACCENT-UATE THIS SEASON WITH ACCENTS!

Phone: 815-625-1999Fax: 815-626-5654

Great Gifts for Spring

and Mother's

Day

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN

200 Keul Road, Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 284-0881

Margarita SpecialJumbo

MargaritaBuy 1Free!

Buy 1 MealGet 1 Half Off!

Please present this coupon at time of order.

Please present this coupon at time of order.

Get 1 SmallMargarita

AUTHENT C MEX CANAUTHENTIC MEXICAN

if it was important. I didn’t call.” He encourages people to call and let the police de-cide if it’s something to be concerned about. If a person calls when a crime is hap-pening, it has a much bet-ter chance of being solved than if the person waits a day to call. Wilhelmi says, “We need neighborhoods to get involved.” The more people involved in keeping our neighborhoods safe, the better off we are.

Another program that he and the local police depart-ments worked together on was called “What your Kids Know That You Don’t”. Area high school students came together with parents and local law enforcement. The students made the par-ents aware of the fact that drugs were available if they wanted to get them. They knew where and how to get them, even if they didn’t use drugs. Hopefully parent awareness encourages fami-lies to discuss topics so the children feel comfortable discussing important issues with their parents.

“Summit of Hope” was another program put to-gether by the Sheriff’s office and local police depart-ments. This was a social gathering with 30 different vendors. All parolees and persons on probation in Whiteside County were required to attend. The goal was to give the participants all the tools necessary for them to integrate back into society. Some of the vendors were church groups, col-leges, GED programs, social agencies, NA, AA and the Secretary of State was there to issue state IDs or driver’s licenses. This program was something new, so he will wait to see the results of it. He believes if only a few of the attendees used the tools provided and integrated back into society, then that’s better for the whole county. He hopes all participants do just that.

The man behind the badgeBy Jill Horn

Whiteside County Sher-iff, Kelly Wilhelmi, didn’t start out in law enforce-ment but looked for a job at the Whiteside County Jail and at the Dixon Cor-rectional Center because he wanted a stable job that would provide a pension for him. He found work first as a correctional deputy at the Whiteside County Jail. Now he says it’s the best thing he

ever did. He likes helping people and protecting the public from the “bad guys”. He and the rest of the people who work for the sheriff’s office take their job very seriously.

One of his goals as the sheriff is working on crime prevention. The Whiteside County Community Ac-tion Network (WeCAN) is one way the law enforce-ment agencies in White-side County work together

with community agencies to help the public. WeCAN would like to have a larger neighborhood watch that en-compasses all of Whiteside County. Sheriff Wilhelmi says that people don’t know their neighbors anymore. He encourages us to check on our neighbors and to call his office if we see anything suspicious. People might say after a crime has happened, “I didn’t want to be a pest, and I wasn’t sure

Whiteside County Sheriff, Kelly Wilhelmi Courtesy photos

The Sheriff feels it’s im-portant for himself and his staff to have interests out-side law enforcement. He likes hunting and fishing. These interests allow him a slight reprieve from the wor-ries of his job for a while, although he says it never really leaves him. But he be-

lieves balance is important to make him effective when he is on the job.

I’d like to conclude by saying thank you to Sheriff Wilhelmi, and to all the lo-cal law enforcement agen-cies for making Whiteside County a safe place to live.

5May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

441 IL Rte. 2 - Dixon

www.BrandywineDixon.com

Treat Mom To Our Elegant Mother’s Day Brunch

Seating Limited Call Today 815-284-8484

113 E. 1ST ST. SUITE 100, DIXON, IL 61021 • 815.973.5903

Open House

Matt Appleman Stylist, Jena Lachat StylistJessica Peterson Esthetician/Massage Therapy

• Spa Package specials• Come in to meet the staff• FREE door prizes

• Enter a drawing to win: - Eye Lash Tints - Hair Coloring - Clear Shine Treatment - Hair Cuts - $5 - $10 Gift Cards

Saturday MAY 11th

6-8pm

STERLING – Area junior high students performed “Little Mermaid Jr.” for packed houses in four shows the weekend of April 12th-14th in the J. Mark Beaty Performance Center at Woodlawn Arts Academy. The students spent 12 weeks rehearsing under the in-struction of Director Anne Whalen, Music Director Patrick Sheehan and Stage Director Faith Morrison. Woodlawn Arts Academy, an agency of United Way of Whiteside County, presents our next junior high the-atre performance, “Alice in Wonderland Jr.,” this July. Registration for the show begins at 9am Monday, May 6th.

‘Little Mermaid Jr.’ wows audiences at Woodlawn Arts Academy

6 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

Call Jill Horn to learn more! 815-441-3959Shaklee Independent Distributor • www.jillhorn.myshaklee.com

Cleaning is aseasy as 1-2-3

Nontoxic, natural superconcentrate.Just a little for an unbelievable amount of clean.

Got a thousand things to clean?We’ve got a thousand uses for Basic H2®.Try it on:Barbecue grill grungeSticky countertopsMuddy doggie printsGreasy pansCrayoned wallsSplattered tomato sauce on stovetopsKitchen appliancesBathroom fixturesStreaks on windowsDusty tablesAdhesive residueMicrowave mishapsPatio furnitureWooden decksChrome lighting fixtures

Spotty silverwareSpilled juiceWater-marked windshieldsShoe track marksGrimy toiletsRemote controlsFilthy volleyballsDirty gym bagsRefrigerator inside and outSteering wheelsDusty ceiling fansChandeliersTelephonesBanistersFingerprints on bathroom mirrorGreasy kitchen sinksChocolate on kitchen wallsCoffee mug rings on tabletopsPizza dough on countertopsDog slobber on glass doorsVeggie drawers

©2011 Shaklee Corporation. Distributed by Shaklee Corporation, Pleasanton, CA 94588. LL371A (New 3/11)

Sterling can become “a des-tination place”. He says, “In the same way that Sandwich, Illinois has become known for antiques by using its fairgrounds for vendors, Sterling can be known for Sterling Street Faire. This could grow into much more.

“Unique products do well in a street faire environment. Sterling Centers may be able to help small businesses get to the next level and be permanent contributors to Sterling’s economy. Special opportunities such as these bring specially gifted people to the forefront, and com-munities respond.”

Princeton, Wisconsin is such a community where a small event has become a statewide tourist attrac-tion. 180 vendors and other businesses are promoting the town throughout the Midwest.

Inspiration and direction has come from Sterling Main Street, Sauk Valley Chamber of Commerce, The

City of Sterling, Fourth Fri-days, Janna Groharing and Tim McNinch. Also, Tim Obrien, formerly of WSDR, has been hired as coordina-tor to oversee the growth of the project. Tim’s back-ground in entertainment will add flavor to what they hope to see. Everything from street performers to local and bigger name profes-sional acts could be a draw.

All those involved believe that downtown areas are re-covering across the country; and this is not the time to be idle. This is the time to act.

A Facebook page will be the primary source of ongo-ing information. Sterling Street Faire will be located in the 300 block of West Third Street in Sterling. Hours on Friday are designed to complement the Fourth Fri-day events and increase the downtown traffic, with ven-dor set up at 2 p.m. and hours from 3-7 p.m. Saturday hours are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. with vendor set up at 6 a.m.

Sterling Street Faire will begin May 24th and continue on 2nd and 4th weekends until October 12th. Vendors will receive a space 10 x 20 foot (about the size of two parking spaces) for a $25 fee in order to buy, sell, trade and pro-mote. To provide support to the community, non-profits, schools, clubs, churches, and other organizations will be allowed space for free. No produce will be sold because they do not wish to under-mine the excellent Farmer’s Market already established in the downtown.

“Certain rules will apply. You can buy, sell or trade anything except for firearms, fireworks, animals or other commodities prohibited by law, or anything that violates trademark, trade name or copyright laws.”

For more information email info@sterling-cen-ters.com to get Sterling Street Faire dates, rules and regulations and vendor ap-plications.

Sterling Street Faire begins May 24

A deserted parking lot does not look like much to a casual passerby. But to Doug Wiersema looking out his window at Sterling Centers Inc., it is a vision of health and activity that will contribute to the vitality of downtown Sterling. 67 year old Wiersema, with a twinkle in his eye and mischief in his grin, does not see an empty lot. Doug sees Sterling Street Faire! More importantly, he sees a growing economy, people encouraged and a stronger downtown.

According to Wiersema,

Courtesy photos

by Greg Smith

Residents of Sauk Valley are being asked to leave out more than just letters to be picked up by mail carriers on Saturday, May 11. On that day, postal workers will be collecting canned goods and other non-perishable food items for local food pantries as part of the Na-tional Association of Let-ter Carriers campaign, the “Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive”.

“All the food that is col-lected goes to local food pantries.” Kris Assellborn, postmaster for the Dixon Post Office said. “The drive is organized by the carriers themselves.”

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide effort that provides food to local food banks and pantries that rely on dona-tions. Residents who wish

Postal carriers organize Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

to participate are asked to put items in bags next to their mail box for the car-rier to pick up. Examples of non-perishable items in-clude; peanut butter, canned soup, canned meats and fish, canned vegetables, fruits and juices, and boxed goods such as cereal, pasta and rice.

“In the past we’ve had help from the Boy Scouts.” Darla Rangel, officer in charge of the Rock Falls Post Office said. “The carri-ers usually recruit their fam-ily members to help out.”

In Sterling, the food col-lected by the mail carriers goes to churches and other organizations with food banks and pantries, accord-ing to Jo Bittinger, post-master for the Sterling Post Office. “The donations are needed because hundreds of families need help, es-pecially in this economy.”

Bittinger said.This will be the 21st year

the letter carriers have col-lected non-perishable food for pantries, according to the National Association of Letter Carriers. Last year, mail carriers who worked for the Dixon Post Office collected 12,496 pounds of food for the local pantries. Nationwide, the carrier as-sociation collected more than 70 million pounds of food in 2012.

“All the food will be dropped off at the food pan-tries by the time the carriers punch out at 4 p.m. May 11,” said Rangel. “They put a lot of effort to make this successful, but they need the community’s support.”

For more information about Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, contact your local mail carrier or post office.

7

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

Dine InCarry-OutDelivery

Dine IN SpecialsEVERY NIGHT!

Weekdays 11am - 11pmFri & Sat 12pm - 2am

Sun 12 - 11pm

119 E 3rd St, Sterling, IL

MARIA’S PIZZA

(815) 625-5050

LARGE 1 TOPPING PIZZA

$7.49 Plus TaxMust present this coupon

Exp. 5/31/13

MARIA’SPIZZA

Sterling, IL – Fourth Fri-days... Where People and the Arts Collide returned Friday, April 26, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. in Downtown Ster-ling.

Walking Maps outlining a complete list of venues and events may be picked up at any of the participating busi-nesses and sponsors, or by downloading a copy online at www.fourthfridayspac.com.

A complete listing of

venues and events for the evening:

Sterling Main Street Of-fice - 318 First Avenue

▪ Woodlawn Arts Acad-emy featured artist John Gragert & Sons

The Hair Gallery – 501 First Avenue

▪ Traveler’s Tale – Art-work by Victoria Sels featur-ing watercolor and acrylics on paper and canvas

First Congregational Church - 410 2nd Avenue

▪ Artwork by Ben Perez▪ Stanly Kurasz, hand-

crafted wood games, toys and children’s furniture

▪ Penny Henderson, Memories in Stone

▪ Informational Displays on the 30 Hour Famine

▪ Make & Take May Bas-ket Project for the kids

Champs - 216 Locust Street

▪ Music by Dickie John-son and Joe Kodak from 6-9 p.m.

Main Street Wine Cellar - 1 E. 3rd Street

▪ Artist Linda VonHolten▪ Music by Matt Kinneman

from 6-9 p.m.▪ Music by Lewis Knud-

sen from 9-12 p.m.The Precinct - 113 E.

3rd Street▪ Acoustic Duo North-

bound Train 7-10 p.m.Air Play Sports - 115 E.

3rd Street▪ Guitarist Daniel Bom-

bliss

▪ Metal Sculpture by Sloane Wolfe

Beans Coffee House & Music Cafe - 121 E. 3rd Street

▪ The Return of Open Mic Night

Fourth Fridays PAC is a monthly cultural event brought to you by Sterling Main Street which features downtown Sterling business owners partnering with the local arts community,

working together to enliven the downtown and showcase the works of the artisans right here at home. To learn more about Fourth Fridays PAC, you may call Janna Groharing at 815.625.1248, or contact the Sterling Main Street Office at 815.626.8610, visit our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/FourthFridaysPAC or e-mail us at FourthFridaysPAC@gmail.com.

Fourth Fridays has returned!

STERLING – Just in time for Mother’s Day, Woodlawn Arts Academy is giving boys ages 3-13 the chance to take their moms on a date! Make long-lasting memories with dinner, making cookies & a

craft, dancing, games & a spe-cial story from 5:00-7:30pm Saturday, May 11th in the J. Mark Beaty Performance Center at the Academy. Feel free to dress up for this special night! Tuition is $30 per boy;

moms attend free with son’s tuition! Registration for this event started 9am Monday, April 22nd. Register online atactivenet.active.com/wood-lawnarts or by calling (815) 626-4278.

Just in time for Mother’s Day: Mommy-Son Date NightGlenda Sisson, Sisson

Lawn and Landscape Com-pany, has answers to your questions about attracting birds to your yard. She has a series of free booklets that tell you about what the birds

like for nesting, feeding, how to provide water, etc.

Some of the bird book-lets currently available: Hummingbirds, Orioles, Cardinals, Bluebirds, and Goldfinches.

Just stop in and ask for the brochures at Sisson’s , 1910 East 4th Street, Sterling. 815-626-7989. Your efforts may be rewarded by having feathered friends visiting all season.

Brad Monson

Don’s Seafood and Res-taurant, Sterling, is a small place yet home to the BIG-GEST Pork Tenderloin we’ve ever seen. Give it a try next time you at at his place, 1501 West Fourth….

Choices! That’s our big-

Attracting birds to your yard

Brad’s BEATgest challenge at the Oregon Soap Shoppe…there are over 300 varieties…all hand made (lovingly) by Lynnel Camling with supportive assistance of her partner Michael Olson. We found our Mother’s Day gifts…and more. It’s worth the drive! 866-411-6614.

We wish it was our May wedding! Dr. Hey, Dixon, has a FREE OFFER $: a $350 teeth whitening. Call Patty at 815-288-4731 and ask for an appointment and have a dazzling wedding!

Tara at Gazi’s Restau-rant is the ultimate serving person…she never stops moving, she never let’s your coffee cup get empty or cold. And, they may have

the best breakfast on 1st Avenue in Rock Falls. 815-626-4294

When we dine at Mama Cimino’s in Dixon we love having Shandi as our serv-er…such loving attention! Also Mama Cimino’s buffet chicken wings are DELISH!

Thanks Mama! 815-288-4448.

Sterling’s Asian Buffet on Lincolnway has opened and we are all happy for Mike, John and all of the extended family who have worked so long and hard to bring this stunningly beautiful restau-rant to our area. Congratu-ations!!!!! 815-625-7838.

It’s Brad on his Beat. Aloha!

by Ann Lewis

Newcomers to the area often ask about the origin of the name “Sauk Valley” and the relationship of its 3 main towns: Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls.

The name was derived from Osawkee, meaning “the people at the outlet.” From the sound of Osawkee, the French derived “Sac” and the English “Sauk.” In the 1600s the Sauk Indians lived along the St. Lawrence River.

The Sauk migrated to Sa-gniaw Bay in the Huron area of Michigan. In the 1700s, the Hurons drove the Sauk into southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, along the Rock River. This is when

Sauk Valley Sights and Insights

Dixon’s Ferry

our area became the Sauk Valley. Chief Black Hawk was born in a village on the Rock River in present-day Rock Island, IL.

In 1826, word of the richness of the Galena lead mines spread to the southern Illinois settlements, includ-ing Ft. Clark (now Peoria). Springtime brought hun-dreds of miners who headed directly north, crossing the Rock River at Dixon, thereby avoiding the Winnebago swamp. Around 1828, Jo-seph Ogee established a rope ferry and cabin at this loca-tion. In the spring of 1830, John Dixon bought Ogee’s Ferry.

Dixon’s Ferry was a quiet outpost when in 1832 the

Blackhawk War broke out. Because of its central loca-tion between Fort Dearborn (Chicago) and Ft. Armstrong (Rock Island), a log fort, Ft. Dixon, was built as the central command post for the Illinois state militia and the regular army.

Two years after the Black-hawk War, in June, 1834, He-zekiah Brink came to Dixon looking for a homestead. The next day, he traveled south along the Rock River, up Elkhorn Creek to Prophet-stown. Brink made his claim on the north bank of the Rock River, east of present-day Broadway in Sterling. The name Sterling was selected in 1838 in honor of Major James Sterling who fought

Founder of Dixon, John Dixon Early Sterling

Early Rock Falls

in the Blackhawk War.In 1839, Brink built a rope

ferry across the Rock River. Using the water power, in-dustries grew. The south side remained undeveloped for about 10 years until, in 1867, Augustus Smith bought the right to water power on the south side. He founded Rock Falls and promoted the use of water power to other businessmen.

Around 1845, Dixon’s first dam was built. In 1851, a more substantial dam was constructed, stimulating in-dustry.

Founder of Sterling, Hezekiah Brink

Courtesy photos & images

So, we see that Rock Falls, Sterling and Dixon all have prospered as a result of the rich land in the Sauk Valley and the lifeblood in the Rock River. In the early days, it was the power of the river that brought industries; to-

day, all three communities are revitalizing their river fronts, looking to tourism as the new lifeblood. A new day is dawning for the “Tri-Cities”, along with a new spirit of cooperation.

Founder of Rock Falls, A.P. Smith

8 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

CUSTOMIZEyour LOOK

KarmaSalon & Spa

(815) 622-75001512 5th Avenue • Rock Fallswww.mysalononline.com/karma

SPECIAL OCCASION STYLES

Makeup

SALON and SPA SERVICES

AIR BRUSH “TANNING” BY JENI

Nontoxic with Norvell productsHealthier and looks better than bed tan

Mirror Landscapes, Inc. provides complete

landscape design, installation and

maintenance to a wide range of industrial,

commercial and residential customers.

"Experience a re� ection of excellence"

Photo courtesy of Unilock

815-946-9962 info@mirrorlandscapes.comwww.mirrorlandscapes.com

REFLECTING INTEGRITY | CREATING AN EXPERIENCE

1609 1st Ave.Rock Falls, IL

(815) 626-5626

2403 N. LocustSterling, IL

(815) 625-1860

Building Futures... Realizing Dreams

� BUY YOUR HOME� GROW YOUR BUSINESS� ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS

Karen Abele: The wish granter

Karen Abele

By Jill Horn

Karen Abele has been a volunteer with Make-A- Wish Foundation of Illinois for 15 years. She is a Wish Granter volunteer and has also volunteered with the Speaker’s Bureau for the past two years. As a speaker, she makes speeches to local clubs about the organiza-tion and what she does. As a Wish Granter, she works with children to discern what the wishes are and then work with other wish volun-teers to make the wish come true. There are six different ways one can volunteer within Make-A-Wish. One can also volunteer as an event volunteer, an office volunteer, a meet and greet volunteer, or as a committee member volunteer.

Once a child is referred to Make-A- Wish by a doc-tor, themselves, or a parent or guardian, Make-A-Wish verifies that the child has a terminal illness and the wish is approved. Karen is part of the next step. She is given a name and then contacts the family and makes arrange-ments to meet with them. She usually asks, “If you could have anything, what would it be?” Most often the wish is a trip to Disneyland

When the Make-A-Wish 5K Run/Walk happens May 18th, Trevor Belzer, Walgreens Dixon Manager, and Race Director, will have promoted two races in 16 months. And, he is convinced it is a “little race with a BIG cause.”

Inspired by his wife Kar-la’s experience of organiz-ing a 5K got Christ Lutheran church, Trevor partnered with Lisa Knebel-Cullen, Make a Wish Representative to orchestrate the May 2012 and May 2013 events.

And it has simply grown. The first year there were 194 registered with 177

completing the race. “This year we have surpassed that registration,” Trevor said, “ and many, many people wait until the day of the race to register.”

For all attendees there will be music, entertain-ment, Dr. Jacob Stegmaier, Now Care, will provide chiropractic adjustments, and after-race giveaway packets and samples from local restaurants including Culvers and Cobblestones.

For pre-race informa-tion and to register on-line: www.makeawish5k.webs.com; Facebook: Dixon Make a Wish 5K and www.

getmeregistered.com.All proceeds benefit

Make-a-Wish Foundation.Trevor believes the little

race with the BIG cause will grow every year because it is “good to do good for others. I am only a part of a group of people who want to make our community bet-ter. Walgreens encourages me to make a difference in our community,”he said. Trevor is also an active member of Dixon Rotary Club. Karla and Trevor are parents of two little ones, 3 and 5 years old who will, no doubt, experience the joy of giving, too.

or Disney World. Karen says, “Those are easy wishes to arrange since Dis-ney has a place to stay for wish chil-dren and a program for the children during their stay.” Some other wishes she has granted are a playground set for a 3-year-old child, whose face lit up the second she saw it in her backyard. She also has arranged shop-ping sprees for wish children or room re-decorations. She arranged a wish for one child to meet Adam Sandler. The child was able to meet Adam, along with Drew Barrymore, while they were in Hawaii. The wish child was able to hang out with them for a few days, and Adam even took the child to an amusement park while in Hawaii. A current wish she is working on is for an 18-year-old boy who wants to meet one of the New York Giants and go to a game. That wish was set for last fall but then he became ill and couldn’t go to the game. Now he must wait until the football season starts again.

Make-A-Wish 5K Run/Walk is a little race with a BIG cause

As a Wish Granter, Karen is asked to work on grant-ing three wishes per year. If a trip is wished for, she doesn’t accompany the child - the family does. She usu-ally works alone on wishes since there aren’t that many volunteers in this area. She is currently working with Janelle Beyer on a wish for 7 year old, Natalie Buck. Karen says, “It’s a really rewarding experience, and I meet the most amazing kids!”

For more information about Make-A-Wish or to become a volunteer, log on to www.wishes.org.

9

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

• Walk-In Play• Kids Parties• Field Trips• Group Rates

INDOOR INFLATABLE PLAYGROUNDOver 8,100 square feet!

Climb, bounce and slide on 6 fun inflatablesOpen year round!

www.funjump.us(815) 632-3630

505 West Lynn Blvd. Sterling (Located behind Kroger)

FOR SPECIALS!

f pu nj u m

May hours: Tue-Fri 3-7pm; Sat 10-6pm; Sun 12-5pm Closed on Mother’s Day

Visit our website or Facebook page for theextended summer hours from June to August!

Homes For Sale

More Homes Available At:Rock River Estates in DixonChateau Estates in Dixon

Mt. Morris Estates in Mt. MorrisValley Vista in LyndonTall Pines in Morrison

Call Today For More Information!

815.284.2000

2 bedroom/1 bath with large tip-out in Dixon

$21,900

3 bedroom/2 bath home in Mt. Morris

$34,900

2 bedroom/2 bath home in Dixon - Very Nice!

$23,900

2 bedroom/1 bath with deck & shed in Mt. Morris

$12,900

3 bedroom/2 bath newly

$24,900

3 bedroom/2 bath just outside of Morrison

$24,900

Brand New Home For Sale! Put It In Any Of Our Communities, Or On Your Own Land!! Three Bedrooms, 2 Baths

Exceptional Quality!!Priced At Only $61,900

Price Includes Delivery & Setup.See Us For More Information Or To Set

Up A Showing!

Buying A Home Is Part Of The American Dream, But For Many Seems Impossible.

CHECK OUT THE LEASE WITH OPTION

PROGRAM AT HAUCK HOMES.

Our new program has helped many people get in to

the home of their dreams. It does not

require perfect credit and the

purchase option amount starts as

low as $1000.

Stop by today or call 815-284-2000 for

more information.

NEW PRICE

Ronald Reagan’s favorite candy was the center of attention during National Jellybean Day celebration at his boyhood home in Dixon on April 22.

“The kids had a blast coloring and participating in a jelly bean game,” Brandi Langner, executive director of the Reagan Home said. “This was the first time we have done this and we definitely plan to do it again next year.”

During the two hour event, children enjoyed

coloring and creating Jel-ly Belly mosaics on cake boards and pizza rounds. They also sorted jelly beans into different bowls with the use of a straw and sucking in to capture the bean and drop it into the correct bowl.

Nearly everything was donated, according to Lang-ner. The cake boards were donated by County Market and the pizza rounds were donated by Angelo’s. The free samples of Jelly Belly beans were donated by Jelly Belly.

There was also a contest to see who could come the closest to guessing how many jelly beans were inside a gallon jug. The winner was Margie Jonic of Rockford. There were approximately 3,200 jelly beans in the jar.

“She was really serious about wanting to win those jelly beans,” Langner said. “She had a pad and pen in hand and tried to calcu-late how many were in the container by counting how many were in a row.”

National Jellybean Day celebrated in Dixon

10 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

Anita L. Shore, L.M.T.HEARTLAND PROFESSIONAL BLDG.

1254 N. Galena Ave. Dixon, IL Mon.-Sat. By Appointment

815-440-7662www.massagebyanita.com

Massage TherapySwedish Massage ~ Deep Tissue Massage ~ Reiki

Relaxation ~ Pain Relief ~ Wellness

Rock River OutfittersOregon, IL

Relax.We have what you need!

114 N. River Rd., Oregon • 815-732-9999

Bait - Tackle - Firearms - Gift Cards - More!

RockRiverOutfitter.com

JOIN OUR VIP TEXT

LIST

Text to:36000

Message:RROUTFITTo receive exclusive

of fers & specials!Join now to receive

a FREE target!

Panda Chinese Restaurant

208 Keul Rd. Dixon ~ 815.288.2288

DINE IN & TAKE OUT ~ CATERING AVAILABLE

Come Join Us For Lunch Today!

Bring this ad into Panda and receive

10% OFFANY ORDER

Dine In or Carry Out. Exp. 5-31-13

Hours: Mon-Thu 10:30am-10:00pmFri & Sat 10:30am-10:30pm • Sun 11:30am-9:30pm

Tom Demmer

State Representative, 90th Distruct

The flood waters are final-ly receding and while some folks in our area saw some property damage, we’re lucky we didn’t bear the brunt of the flooding like the Peoria area or communities along the Fox River and the Des Plaines River. In the 90th District, both LaSalle County and DeKalb County

Legislative updatewere declared disaster ar-eas by Governor Quinn. The official designation for those counties will bring additional state resources for recovery and repair ef-forts. If you live outside a disaster area but still saw some personal property damage from the floods, you may still be eligible for a low-interest recovery loan through the state treasurer’s office—look for details on http://treasurer.il.gov

This week the House re-convenes in Springfield for an intensive session before our May 31 adjournment. We still have a number of big issues to address: the state budget, pension re-form, concealed carry, and a proposed expansion of Medicaid, among others.

All residents of the 90th District will soon receive a survey in the mail. In the mailer you’ll find contact information for my district office and have the opportu-nity to share your opinions on several key issues. I believe it’s important that elected officials ask ques-tions of constituents and listen to the replies. That’s why I’m hopeful you’ll complete the survey and mail it back in. In order to be a good representative for you in Springfield, I need to listen to your opinions, concerns, and perspectives. That’s just what this survey helps me do. If you’d like, you can also visit www.tom-demmer.com and complete the survey online.

Over the past week, several of my colleagues joined minority leader Rep. Tom Cross in support of a package of bills for welfare reform. The bills make com-mon sense improvements to the welfare system by adding a photo ID to LINK cards to ensure that the user

of the card is the rightful owner. Another bill would prohibit using government cash assistance to buy alco-hol, tobacco, lottery tickets, tattoos, and other items that are not what the assistance is intended to fund. The other bills prevent incarcer-ated inmates from obtaining welfare, and prohibit those with outstanding criminal warrants from receiving benefits.

These welfare reforms are not only responsible safeguards, they protect the integrity of the program. Programs for food and cash assistance are designed to be a safety-net for people in need. Every dollar spent inappropriately is a dollar taken away from those who truly need it.

Switching gears to fire-arms legislation, we still face a ticking clock toward the court-imposed deadline of June 9 for passage of a law that allows for con-cealed carry. A restrictive, “may-issue” proposal of-fered by Rep. Kelly Cassidy was soundly defeated 31-76 after a lengthy debate on the House floor. The following day, a permissive, respon-sible concealed carry bill offered by Rep. Brandon Phelps and supported by the NRA gained 64 yes votes, but failed to reach the nec-essary 71 votes for passage.

The Senate is weighing sev-eral proposals too. I suspect more votes to happen in the coming weeks, but our action so far demonstrates the difficulty of getting 71 members of the House to agree to any proposal. The bar is set high, and we’re working hard to protect our second amendment rights and gain the votes necessary for passage.

We’re also faced with a significant challenge on the budget. I sit on the Ap-propriations for Human Services Committee, which oversees half the state bud-get and allocates funding for Medicaid, developmen-tal disability care, mental health care, the department on aging, and a variety of social services. Over the past several weeks, we’ve heard testimony from pro-viders and users of all these services. We have a steep curve in finding adequate funding for needed services while trying to do things more efficiently and in a less costly way.

The month of May will be a long and busy month. I’m hopeful we’ll find re-sponsible solutions to some of our problems, and begin to take steps to correct the course that led Illinois to the situation we’re in today.

STERLING – Woodlawn Arts Academy is excited to offer more than 100 classes, workshops and c a m p s t h i s s u m m e r ! Summer brochures are in your mailbox now, or view the brochure online at www.woodlawnartsacademy.com.

Registration begins at 9am May 6th. Register online at activenet.active.com/woodlawnarts, by calling (815) 626-4278 or in person during our regular business hours: 9am-8pm

Summer registration begins May 6th at Woodlawn Arts Academy

Monday-Thursday, 9am-6pm Fridays and 9am-noon Saturdays. Woodlawn Arts

Academy is proud to be supported by United Way of Whiteside County.

11

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

startersOnion rings 3.95Mushrooms 5.95Clam strips 5.95Cauli ower 5.95Fried pickles 5.95Corn nuggets 5.95Cheeseballs 5.95Wings (bold & spicy or seasoned) 6.95Gizzards 3.95

1/2 order of any above 4.00(excluding wings) Coop combo 8.95(mushroom,cheeseballs,pickles,corn nuggets, and onion rings)

Bodacious ribs!Try our St. Louis ribs! Slowcooked and grilled to perfection, then topped with our signature sauce!!!Half rack 11.95Half rack combo 13.95Full rack 16.95Full rack combo 18.95

Save room for the homemade Dessert!What’s in season....it’s homemade!Strawberry shortcake 2.50Blueberry cobbler 2.95Apple crisp 2.50

Brenda’s (815) 622-4999208 W. 10th St. Rock Falls

Open Wed-Sun 4:00pm to 8:30pmPlease allow extra time for all dinners as all meals are freshly made to order! ~ Brenda

DinnersChoice of potato, salad, dinner roll or cornbreadLarge chicken strip 10.95Small chicken strip 7.951/4 Chicken Dark 7.25 White 8.251/2 Chicken Dark or mix 8.95 White 9.95Walleye 9.50ALL U CAN EAT WALLEYE 9.95Jumbo Shrimp 12.50Cat� sh Strips 9.95Land and Sea (popcorn shrimp w/strips) 8.95Chicken & Biscuits 7.95(Buttermilk biscuits w/homemadek chicken gravy) 1/2 order 6.95add 1.00 for full dinner

Coop Buckets(choice of cole slaw or macaroni salad) * 12 pc mix or chicken strips - w/ 3 fries 1 pt salad 3 rolls* 16 pc mix or chicken strips - w/ 4 fries 2 pt salad 4 rolls* 20 pc mix or chicken strips - w/ 5 fries 2 pt salad 5 rolls* 24 pc mix or chicken strips - w/ 6 fries 2 pt salad 6 rolls

samitches Served with french fries & pickleCoop burger 6.951/3 lb charbroiled steakburgerBacon cheeseburger 7.951/3 lb charbroiled steakburger w/bacon & cheeseB&T burger 8.95Double charbroiled steakburger w/bacon & cheeseWalleye � sh samitch 5.95Walleye on a toasted bun with our tartar sauceGrilled ham & cheese 6.95Grilled ham and cheese on cottage breadDustin’s chicken samitch 5.95Your choice of grilled or crispyPork tenderloin 6.95Awesome pound pork loin breaded and crispyBLT 5.95bacon lettuce tomato on cottage bread

brendas homemade soupBowl 3.00Cup 1.75

saladsComes with yummy breadsticksCoop salad 6.95Crispy chucks of chicken with slice onion, tomato, cucumber & cheeseGarden salad 4.95Cliced onion tomato & cucumberChef salad 7.95Crispy checken ham bacon tomato egg slice onion & cheeseB&T salad 7.95Brenda’s favorite.... grilled seasame ginger chicken breast with a seasame ginger dressing!!

Chicken Only8 strips 9.508 pc mix 12.9512 strips 13.5012 pc mix 15.95

beverages 2 liter pop 3.00Co� ee, tea, or hot chocolate 1.50Iced tea 1.50Milk 1.50

kids meals (served with fries)Kids nuggetsCorn dogHot dogGrilled cheese

sidesCornbread plain or jalapeno .50Extra coop sauce 1.00Macaroni salad 1.65Cole slaw 1.65Potato salad 1.65Kidney bean salad 1.65Mashed tater with gravy 1.95Baked tater 1.95French fries 1.95Pint mashed tater w/ gravy 3.50Pint of any salad 3.50Side of chicken gravy 1.95

CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS! DINE-IN, CARRY-OUT OR DELIVERY AVAILABLE!

Dining

Photos & story by Spencer Schein

When looking for a hearty authentic Mexican meal in a casual setting, a great place to go is La Familia Restau-rant located at 201. W. 2nd St., Rock Falls.

The restaurant has genu-ine features befitting a fam-ily Mexican restaurant, such as photos of family and friends, as well as artwork fitting the theme.

I sat in one of the seven booths, which are set on each side of the restaurant with tabletops in the center, and was greeted by my waitress who brought me a basket of chips and a mild salsa. She then asked for my drink order. I usually stick to a typical, American beverage such as Pepsi, but instead I ordered a Pine-apple soda from Jarritos, a Mexican soft drink brand.

The sweet-tasting pine-apple soda was a great com-pliment to the meal.

The menu offers indi-vidual and dinner platter selections of tacos, burritos, tostas, enchiladas, quesadil-las tortas and more.

Although I was originally thinking about ordering a

Bring your family to La Familia!combination meal, I instead ordered a chimichanga with shredded beef. I was not disappointed.

My waitress first served a cup of soup, which comes with the meals. The House Soup features a tomato/vegetable base with many elbow noodles and an array of vegetables.

The chimichanga was served with a sizeable por-tion of refried beans and rice. I asked for a spicier version of the salsa, but told my waitress not as spicy as the Habanero bottles on the table.

The spicier salsa added the perfect touch to the meal, which was heavily flavored with beef, lettuce and tomato. The outer crust was a bit flaky from being deep-fried. It’s enough for two servings for some eat-ers. I was very impressed by the flavors and textures.

Open for lunch and dinner, La Familia offers special dinner specials on Wednes-day and Friday nights. These specials are announced on the restaurant’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/La-Familia-Restau-rant-Bakery/66391267907).

The restaurant is a good

stop for couples and families with children. Carryout is available.

The La Familia restaurant is right around the corner from Dave’s Coffee Cake, 209 2nd St. Both the bakery and restaurant are operated by David R. Barajas, Sr.

For more information, call La Familia at 815-626-0158.

Cakes can be ordered by calling 815-441-0708. Go to davescoffeecake.com on the internet for more infor-mation.

La Familia Restaurant Hours

Tue - Thu: 11 am - 8 pmFri: 11 am - 8:30 pmSat: 8 am - 8:30 pm

AmericanENERGY SAVERS

5” & 6” Barnet .032 Alloy Aluminum Seamless Gutters & Accessories Leaf Shelter, the best in gutter protection

Save your house! Update & fi x your gutters today!

SAUK VALLEY’S OLDEST & BEST SEAMLESS GUTTER COMPANY

DIXON, ILDan Maloney

(815) 288-4525 & (800) 847-4392

STERLING, ILShaun Maloney(815) 590-9652

Always Flow Seamless Gutters

Chimichanga with rice and beans The house soup

12 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

MOOREMONUMENT& GRANITE COMPANY“Where Memories Matter”

Granite Monuments ● Glass Monuments ● Cemetery Vases ● Boulders ● Signs

Serving the Sauk Valley for over 150 yearswith:

● Area’s Largest Indoor Showroom ● Area’s Largest Outdoor Display● 2 Laser Engravers On Site● On Staff Artist

and offering:● Custom Monument Designs● Quality Granite ● Professional Installation● Guaranteed Foundations● Cemetery Lettering● Cemetery Monument Cleaning● Monument & Bronze Restoration

www.mmgran.com ● 2501 W 4th St ● Sterling, IL ● (815) 625-0806 ● facebook.com/MooreMonument

AFFORDABLELIVING

Dixon, Lyndon, Morrison, Mt. Morris, Freeport, Poplar Grove, Galesburg &

the Quad Cities

Hauck Homes, Inc.291 Illinois Route 2

Dixon, IL 61021815-284-2000

consider themselves to be obese, while 36.6% of area residents consider them-selves overweight, numbers both higher than that of Il-linois. The recent County Health Rankings ranked Whiteside County much higher than both Illinois and the national benchmarks in both obesity and physical inactivity. Obesity is one of Whiteside County’s 2010 I-Plan goals and this project will allow the health depart-ment to expand its efforts to provide obesity prevention to youth in our community.

Whiteside County Health Department understands that money spent on preven-tion often pays off by reduc-ing treatment costs in the future. Helping to establish good nutrition and activity habits at an impressionable age may provide life-long behavior changes for stu-dents and result in reducing the overall health care costs of chronic disease.

For information on this Childhood Obesity Pilot Project, please contact Whi-teside County Health De-partment at 626-2230.

Whiteside County Health Department awarded grant

Whiteside County Health Department was awarded a grant by the American Cancer Society to imple-ment a Childhood Obesity Pilot Project in our com-munity. This pilot project addresses the public health problem of excess weight and obesity in youth ages 2-18. This program has been presented to 2nd and 3rd graders in two local schools. The students have learned about My Plate, serving sizes, avoiding sugary drinks, anytime and sometime foods, and have a healthy snack example and activity during the lesson. The program provides edu-cation in nutrition and phys-ical activity with the goal of behavior modification. The health department has developed program compo-nents including curriculum, evaluation plans, participant materials and program goals that can all be easily repli-cated and shared with other communities. A Parent Tip Sheet is included in every lesson to communicate with parents what their children are learning and to broaden the reach of the lesson.

According to a recent Community Assessment performed in Whiteside County, 27% of adults

13May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

CIN06HD

CIN06HC

Find us atgreatclips.com | salonjobs.greatclips.com | greatclipsfranchise.com

$699 Not valid with any other o�ers. Limit one coupon per customer. At participating salons.

Any Haircut

OFFER EXPIRES: 4/30/13

$699 Not valid with any other o�ers. Limit one coupon per customer. At participating salons.

Any Haircut

OFFER EXPIRES: 4/30/13

A great haircutwill never goout of style.

Sterling(In Front of Menards)

4312 E. Lincolnway Ave.815-625-3244

HOURS: M-F 9-9; SAT 8-6; SUN 9-5

Menards

E. Lincolnway (Route 2)

Farm &Fleet Walmart

Staples

BuffaloWild Wings

Walmart

OFFER EXPIRES: 6/14/13 OFFER EXPIRES: 6/14/13Valid only in Sterling Valid only in Sterling

14 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Local

St. Luke's Episcopal Church welcomes you... Join us!

10:15 AM Sunday Service followed by coff ee

& Fellowship.Children welcome!

SAINT LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

211 S. Peoria St., Dixon, IL 61021 • (815) 288-2151

Sunday School 10:00 AMWednesday Healing Service 10:00 AM www.stlukedixon.org

(174 Years Young!)

7

6 8

2

2

6

8

6

1

3

8 9

4

4

9

3

9

7

8

2

1 9

1 9

4

3

1

2

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. Answer key is found on page 19.

Sudoku Puzzle By Jill Horn

By Spencer Schein

When I entered the Gink-go Tree Café on a wet and dark Thursday morning for breakfast, I didn’t know what to expect. When I left I knew I made the right choice.

It was my first time at the café at 216 W. 1st St., Dixon. It is much bigger than any café I had visited. Kitchen Manager Laura Santos ex-plained that most of the breakfast service is done at the back tables where the kitchen is located, although people are welcome to sit anywhere they choose.

She greets everyone who walks in with a big, “Good Morning!” with her vantage point in the kitchen giving her full view of the front

Ginkgo Tree Café breakfast service highly recommendeddoor.

I took one of the three tables in the back, where a semi-circle counter with jewels adorning the top will soon be refurbished to be a breakfast counter. Santos recited the menu for the day, which included an Apple Panini and a casserole full of eggs, roasted potatoes, spinach and goat cheese. Other items included an egg scrambler served on a ba-gel, English muffin, whole-wheat toast, and oatmeal.

I asked if it would be too much to order both the scrambler (which includes fresh vegetables, cheese, and sausage) and the oat-meal. Santos suggested I pick one or the other and then see for myself. I chose the scrambler and had some

Dining

coffee while waiting for the meal to be prepared.

Each meal is prepared from fresh to order and from scratch, sans the bread. The casseroles, described as more like a quiche, are made from scratch but are prepared in advanced.

The coffee was very ro-bust, dark and full of flavor.

The soft music, glowing light from lamps and strung

lights, and the pastel color on the wall created a relax-ing ambiance.

My breakfast was served on a lare square plate with a great presentation of the ba-gel cut in half and fresh fruit scattered in a structured pile in the lower-right corner. The sandwich consisted of two free range jumbo eggs – one whole and one white – scrambled and combined with cheddar cheese, a soft cream cheese infused with fresh herbs, slices of yel-low bell pepper and onion,

and an organic sausage free of nitrates. The concoction was placed between a softly toasted “everything” thin bagel, which was easily pli-able with a fork.

With my first bite I could taste the quality. The eggs were hearty and the cheeses most favorable. The sausage was a bit spicy. The meal was very filling.

“Usually whole grains and fresh ingredients will make that happen,” Santos said.

The raisin bran muffins

Santos makes are full of rich flavors.

I highly recommend the breakfast service of Ginkgo Tree Café. Anyone who has a distinctive palate or who wants to try a health-ier breakfast (full of whole grains, fresh ingredients, and made from scratch) are sure to enjoy.

Service is from 7-to-10 a.m. Monday through Sat-urday. Carryout orders are taken. Menus may change daily or by the week.

ROCK FALLS, IL – Blackhawk Hills Regional Council will hold their an-nual meeting on May 15, 2013, at Basil Tree in Dixon, IL. The event will begin at 6:00 PM and dinner will be served at 6:30 PM. The

Blackhawk Hills Regional Council to hold annual meeting

meeting is open to the public and will feature Josh Al-brecht, Executive Director of Dixon Main Street, as the speaker. Cost to attend the event is $20.00 per person or $35.00 per couple with a cash bar.

To attend the event, please RSVP by contacting Black-hawk Hills at 815-625-3854 or by email at info@black-hawkhills.com. Reserva-tions are due by May 10, 2013.

About Blackhawk Hills Regional Council

Blackhawk Hills Region-al Council is a not-for-profit corporation based in Rock

Falls, IL, that serves Car-roll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside Counties in northwest Il-linois. Services include community planning, de-velopment assistance, natu-ral resources conservation and protection support, and grant writing and adminis-tration. Blackhawk Hills is sponsored by local county boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is overseen by an 18-mem-ber council, consisting of three representatives from each of the six counties.

Questions about Black-hawk Hills Regional Coun-cil may be directed to (815) 625-3854 or info@black-hawkhills.com.

Linda Von Holten, Visual Arts Instructor, Newman High Schook, Sterling, is shown with some of her art as the current featured exhibitor at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Dixon. The Undercroft of the church has been used to exhibit members' artwork for several years. For further information about exhibits contact the church office, 815-288-2151.

Courtesy photo

Von Holten exhibits art at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

15

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

621 Reynoldswood Rd.Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 284-6979

BRUNCHSunday

in the WoodsMother's Day

Sunday, May 12 10:00am-2:00pm

A percentage of profi ts will go towards providing day camp scholarships for local youth.

Treat mom to a special brunch, and enjoy the beautiful grounds of Reynoldswood Christian Camp (Dixon).

$12.50 (Ages 12-59)$10.00 (Ages 60+)$5.00 (Ages 4-11)

Free for children 3 and under

$2.00 offBRUNCH

in the Woods

Mother's DayGood for one adult Brunch in the Woods on Sunday,

May 12, 2013.

FOR GROUPS OF 6 OR MORE, PLEASE CALL 815-284-6979 FOR RESERVATIONS.

Summer Day Camp

June 10th - August 9th

Grades K-6For more information or to register, please email us at:

Reynoldswood@niccamp.org, or phone: 815-284-6979.

Scott PorterPastor of Abiding Word Church

In the day and age in which we live, we must determine to set ourselves to have a heart for what matters most.

If we truly want to have a heart for what matters most, there are two spiritual priori-ties that I would suggest we set. Are you ready?

First off is, to have a heart for God

In Matthew 22 when Je-sus was asked what the greatest command in the law was, Jesus responded in verse 37: “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…”

Here, a lawyer is cross-examining Jesus. Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there? Now, after this one, you might not even need the rest of the list if you really got this one right, you’ve got

Rev. Jeff Coester Pastor of The Big Red Church

When children are small they often respond to ques-tions and instructions with an emphatic “NO”! This can be cute. It can be annoying. Yet, something in the early instincts of a child tells them that “NO” is not about nego-tiation. “No” simply means “NO”!

The story of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-39 il-lustrates the importance of a simple, emphatic “NO” perfectly. Scripture reveals one flaw in young Joseph. Other than speaking when he should be quiet, Joseph is outstanding in every detail.

The favoritism of his fa-ther, the dysfunction of his home and too much talking

THE HARDHAT Parent - The Importance of a Firm “NO”offend Joseph’s brothers and they sell him into slavery. Being a man of skill and character makes Joseph rise above other servants. Joseph manages the estate of the powerful man, Potiphar, who owns him.

Potiphar’s wife finds Jo-seph attractive and would seduce him, but Joseph is firm in his resolve to be pure. Even so, his method of responding creates a prob-lem for him. Joseph could say ”NO”. Instead he offers reasons for refusing her of-fer. She sees these reasons as objections to overcome.

She found him power-ful and attractive. She said “Sleep with me”. She was relentless in her pursuit and it went on day after day.

Joseph offers three ex-cuses for not being with her.

I know more about the house than your husband and control everything. – She hears, I am forgotten and neglected. She was at-tracted to power.

I have everything I want here except you. – She thinks, I am offering my-self to you.

Joseph points to his mo-rality. He respects her mar-riage, which she is already demonstrating is not an issue to her. Joseph cites his commitment to God. This woman does not wor-ship God.

Because they have no common values, Joseph is not persuading her to be-have. In her mind, Joseph is giving her objections to overcome. Once she feels the objections have been adequately overcome she

feels scorned and is angry. To make it even worse, his objections could easily sound like a tease because they are clumsy.

We should not fault his sincerity, only his strat-egy. An emphatic “NO” is definite. It is not intended to engage a discussion.

Children are not an evan-gelist of the values of their parents. They are young people whose character is in formation. Parents can help a child by teaching them logic at home, and not to argue with peers.

Peer pressure works like this:

“Here Chris, smoke some weed with me; you will love it.”

“No Pat, my mom will kill me.”

“Ok Chris, don’t worry!

We have this private place we go to get high. The par-ents will never find out. We even have deodorizers for clothes and stuff for breath. You don’t have to be a chicken! Your mom will never have a clue.”

What Chris meant to say was, “No. Smoking weed isn’t for me.” Instead, Chris did not want to look like a dork or endure uncomfort-able silence. So the game begins. Pat is a determined salesman, because Pat likes to win at any cost. Bring on the objections; the one most prepared to argue might win the day. The problem is the lure of compromise is always strong.

If Pat’s first response is “NO” and the second re-sponse is an equally firm “NO”, then there is no

verbal web to weave in which they might become entangled.

Young people do not eas-ily admit it, but I can tell you after years of counseling that they respect a strong will. They expect a strong will in their parents and re-spect it. They do not expect a strong will in their peers, but they respect a strong will just the same.

A strong parent can teach their child the difference between making a strong argument and exercising a strong will, but we must teach them to say “NO” with firm resolve.

Rev. Jeff Coester is The Pastor of The Big Red Church in Sterling. Like them on Facebook! Send Questions to hardhat1@juno.com

Pastor Scott’s CornerHave a heart for what matters most

them all. I have come to the conclusion that if I maintain my deep, passionate love for God, everything else flows out of that love relation-ship. The problem is that so many approach God through rules instead of relationship - duty instead of devotion. Rules, regulations, religion or relationship? Jesus didn’t come to bring us more rules, regulations, or a new reli-gion. He came to earth so we could have a living, vital relationship with His Father, through Him.

Here is the second spiri-tual priority. A heart for people.

Jesus in continuing his conversation with that at-torney told him that the 2nd greatest commandment was like the first: “…Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

The “Pastor Scott” trans-lation of these two verses is simply this, “love God and love people…”

Do you ever stop and

think about the way you treat people? ASK YOUR-SELVES THE QUESTION: HOW DO I TREAT PEO-PLE? Several years ago, I started thinking about this. I looked at the way I was treating people, looking at people, thinking about people, I knew that there was room in my heart for me to grow. I’m sure the same is true for you. Imagine what our life would be like if we saw people and treated people the way Jesus does, and enlarged our circle of love to include others.

I was recently at a con-ference for ministers, and it dealt with the subject of leadership. The speaker really challenged me in many areas, specifically in the area of enlarging my heart to others outside of my present circle. I’ve always loved people. I’m a people person, but we must never think that “we’ve arrived” and that there is no room for us to grow.

Keep an attitude of learn-ing and growing, and watch what happens in your life! Remember that God loves you & I do too!

Hello, my name is Scott Porter. I am the pastor of Abiding Word Church in

Sterling, Illinois. I have been in ministry at Abid-ing Word for 27 years in May. I was born in Dixon, raised in Rock Falls, and I now live in Sterling. I have been invited to share with you each month, a column

I call PASTOR SCOTT’S CORNER. I hope you enjoy it. You can send questions or comments to scottd16@aol.com or check out our church website at www.abidingwordchurch.org.

Kay MillerExecutive Director, Dixon Riverfront

Spring is here and the thought of being outdoors is on all our minds.

Now is the time to order your commemorative paver for our next engraving. The pavers make a great gift for a loved one, school reunions, birthday, weddings and a multitude of other ideas. The engraving will take place around the middle of June and the deadline to

purchase these will be the first of June.There are many locations still available and the choice will be up to you.

Check out our web-site at www.dixonriverfront.net, where you will be able to view the prices and pic-tures of the pavers, as well as other amenities. We still have a few benches and cafe tables available. These items can also be dedicated by an attached plaque.

For any other questions please call me at 815-973-0931.

The Dixon Riverfront is also starting on the Phase II program to develop a bike and walking path along the Rock River east of Dixon along RT.2. In addition, a project to install the boat dock facilities is underway.

Your donation is tax deductible! The Dixon Riverfront Commission is qualified as a Section 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

Dixon Riverfront 2013 Spring sales and pledge program in full swing

16 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Health & Beauty

2705 Avenue E, Sterling IL 61081815-622-2800 • www.gncsterling.com

Find Us On Facebook

GOOD NEIGHBOR CARE of Sterling

Our Philosophy of Services• Encouraging Independence• Preserving Dignity• Enabling Freedom of Choice• Fostering Individuality• Protecting Privacy• Nurturing the Spirit• Involving Family & Friends• Spacious Carefree Living

Are you concerned about the COST OF ASSISTED LIVING?Heritage Woods of Sterling

Invites you to a Free Seminar:� ursday, May 30, 2013

at 6:30pmRSVP to 815-625-7045Join us for refreshments!

2205 Oak Grove AvenueSterling, IL 61081

Join us to learn about available

VETERANS BENEFITS

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

Wartime Veterans or their Surviving Spouses may be eligible for signi� cant income from the Department of Veterans A� airs.

up overnight. Think about it. It is called breakfast because you break the fast. Eating a bad breakfast can be the topic for a different article, but it suffices to say that, if you are smart, you eat three meals a day with only mid-morning and mid-day fruit or vegetable snacks. Then, eat nothing at all in the way

of solids within two hours of reclining. That doesn’t mean just sleeping, it includes flopping down on the couch. If you do, you are just asking for stuff to come back up. If you have these symptoms, try raising the head of your bed six inches on wooden blocks.

The point I want to stress

is concentration on diet and lifestyle before looking to doctors and medications. Eat right, don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol regu-larly, avoid any carbonated beverages, get off caffeine, and don’t hit the recliner right after you eat. Come on, that’s easy.

The doctor is in: “Throat-clearing, a lump in the throat and a mild cough”

Dr. Don Lewis, MD

Otolaryngologist

Reflux laryngitis and pharyngitis is a very com-mon problem. Although it can exist in patients who already have a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux (or GERD), it is often an isolated and separate prob-lem. Thus, it can, and often does, exist in the absence of heartburn. It is the source of frequent complaints of bad breath, post-nasal drip, the feeling of a lump in the throat, and throat clearing. In our modern American culture, in which we eat a great deal of fast food (read that as, unapologetically, BAD food), drink carbon-ated drinks of any sort, and ingest far too much caffeine, it is a common entity often invisible to the sufferers. Lots of cough syrup, antihis-tamines, decongestants, and even asthma medications are used by persons for what is

a wrong diagnosis. Left un-treated, permanent damage to the larynx (voice box) can result. I hope by bring-ing you this column, I can you give greater insight and thus help you to take simple, effective steps, without re-sorting to medication of any sort, to feel better. I am drawing on over thirty years of experience, so please read further.

There are two valves in your esophagus (swallow-ing tube) keeping the things you swallow from coming back up. The lower one, just “north” of your stomach, is relaxed by nicotine and caf-feine. Even though choco-late doesn’t contain caffeine it contains theobromine, which is chemically almost the same. Tea contains the-ophylline, again, almost identical. Thus, eliminat-ing caffeinated coffee, and drinking “decaffeinated” tea would be a great improve-ment. There is no other op-tion for chocolate though. Carbonated beverages and beer contain gas which is liberated by the digestive process, hence the burping. This increases pressure in your stomach and makes things, especially liquids, come back up.

The upper valve is located

just behind the opening of your trachea, or windpipe. When that valve is relaxed by the same chemicals, you can have spillage of little bits of gas-propelled acid into the airway. That is how reflux can damage your voice. If the reflux goes a little higher, for example up into the area behind your nose, as of course it will when you lie down, you can see how irritation results. You end up with puffy, irritated tissue in your nasopharynx, where your adenoids were when you were young. It can even ir-ritate the opening of the Eu-stachian tubes, leading to ear pain and the development of middle ear fluid. You feel that irritation, and of course the “lump”, and try to “clear it”. That is the situation in which many people com-plain of “post-nasal drip”, which seems unassociated with either allergy or cold symptoms.

In our hurried world, we often do really unwise things when it comes to our health. For example, instead of hav-ing a wholesome breakfast of whole grains and fruit, we either miss it entirely or eat junk food. If we miss it, we miss the chance to buffer all that stomach acid building

A normal larynx, left, versus one with reflux laryngitis, above

Photos courtesy of Voiceproblem.org

You served your country in its time of need. Let your country serve you in your time of need. Heritage Woods of Sterling to Host Free Workshop on VA Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit

Who can qual i fy to receive over $13,000 to $24,000 per year tax-free? According to the United States Department of Veter-ans Affairs, about a quarter of the nation’s population – approximately 70 million people – are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.

The VA Aid and Atten-dance Pension benefit, one of the many benefits avail-able through the VA, offers eligible veterans or their surviving spouses a signifi-cant monthly pension, rang-ing from $1,113 to $2,054 per month tax-free for home care, assisted living, or skilled nursing. To be eligible, veterans must have served 90 consecutive days or more with at least one

day during a wartime period (World War II, Korea, etc) and meet a few medical and financial eligibility criteria.

As part of our on-going commitment to making el-der care more affordable, we are working to educate the local community about the availability of Aid & Attendance benefits. Dur-ing our workshop, we will be reviewing the eligibility criteria and show how thou-sands of families, EVEN IN CASES OF HIGHER NET WORTH, have become eli-gible for this benefit helping to offset the cost of the care being provided.

Heritage Woods of Ster-ling is hosting this educa-tional workshop about VA benefits on May 30, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. The event will take place at our community, which is located at 2205 Oak Grove Ave, Sterling , Illinois]. The workshop is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Please call 815-625-7045 to register – and if you know someone else who could benefit from this

VA Benefits for wartime Veterans and their spouses

information, please bring him or her along. If you are unable to attend the workshop, please visit www.veteransfinancial.com for more information about the benefit, or email at info@veteransfinancial.com.

Heritage Woods of Ster-ling is your affordable as-sisted living community in Sterling, Illinois designed to serve adults 65 and older of all incomes who may need some help to maintain their independence and daily living. It especially benefits those who cannot afford private pay assisted living.

For more information contact Diane Lopez at 815-625-7045 or e-mail at: marketing@hw-sterling-slf.com.

17

Health & BeautyMay 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

BACK TO HEALTH CHIROPRACTIC

Putting backs back on track for over 10 years in Sterling!

2317 E. LincolnwaySuite D - Sterling815-625-5400

DoctorTami

StringerHEALTH PASSNew Patient Services Only $35!Bring This Coupon In. Includes Consultation Exam,

Nervous System Scan. Regular Price $360! Coupon Expires 7/31/12Coupon Expires 5/31/13

STERLING - According to the American Academy of Audiology, approximately 36 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. During the month of May, Better Hearing Month, CGH Au-diology Services encour-ages the community to make hearing health a priority.

Hearing problems are commonly associated with the normal aging process, but it is important to know that more than half of the people with hearing loss are younger than age 65. Hear-ing loss can affect people of all ages – newborn, children and adults. There are a mul-

titude of causes of hearing loss, some of which can be treated medically and others that are better treated with hearing aids. Ear-related diseases often result in prob-lems with dizziness and balance. It is important to address any problems with dizziness or balance before an injury occurs.

“We want to make people aware that it is important to have your hearing and balance tested if it seems diminished,” explains Mary Martin, CGH Audiologist. “It is also important to pro-tect your hearing by using ear protection devices, such

CGH’s Clinical Audiologists, Dr. Laurie Zollinger (left) and Dr. Mary Martin (right), are specialists in the assessment and treatment of hearing disorders.

Hearing loss: the third most common health problem in the United States

Courtesy photos

as ear plugs or ear muffs, when likely to be exposed to excessive noise such as lawnmowers or firearms.”

An audiologist is a highly educated health-care profes-sional who specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating people with hearing loss and balance disorders. You may have a problem with your ears and need to see an audiologist if:

• You have trouble hearing people talk in noisy environ-ments,

• You are unable to un-derstand conversation when people are not facing you, or if

• You have a constant ringing or pain in your ears.

At CGH Audiology Ser-vices, our goal is to help you. A good first step in treatment of an ear problem is evaluation by an audi-ologist. If you experience hearing loss, better hear-ing can help you enjoy life more and feel safer. If you are experiencing problems with dizziness and balance, we may be able to help. Ask your doctor for a referral to the CGH Main Clinic Audi-ology Services Department, where the audiologists are experienced professionals with a combined 50+ years

Nancy Nesyto-Freske

Yoga Instructor

When people hear that I am a yoga teacher or yoga therapist, the first thing that comes out of their mouth is “Oh, I’m not flexible”. Translation: “I can’t do yoga”. They imagine a class full of students bent in pret-zel shapes, eyes closed, everyone seemingly in a state of bliss.

Yoga with NancyWant to know the real-

ity? That doesn’t happen most yoga classes, let alone my own.

What really happens in my classes is that every person in the room has very little flexibility, including myself! Everyone is en-couraged to move only how and where it is appropriate for them!

“Hmm,” you may say. “Should I try yoga?” Of course you should, however, it is important to find an appropriately taught class. That is why I encourage be-ginners to start in a beginner level class, not an “all levels class”. You want to really understand what the teacher is talking about instead of looking around the room to see what everyone else is doing, because you have

no idea what the teacher is actually saying! That is what I hear students say to me when they finally over-come their fear of attending a class, because that is what their initial experiences were.

You want to find a class that offers movements appro-priate for you, no matter what your experience level is. Not everyone should be doing shoulder or headstands, even if they’ve been practicing for 10 or more years!

You want to find a yoga teacher that has the ability to modify a pose to work for you, whether it’s putting you on a chair and showing you what to do or even sug-gesting that right now you should just sit, breathe and do nothing.

I, personally, work mainly

with Baby Boomers. This generation has certain chal-lenges physically in varying degrees, from an occasional bit of stiffness to full blown health challenges such as Parkinson’s or arthritis. Be-ing a Baby Boomer myself, I understand the challenges of this age group; most of us love life, we are pas-sionate about what we do, yet we find sometimes we are slower than we used to be, but we are not resigned to giving up. There’s the

dilemma.I encourage you to defi-

nitely pursue yoga, because it has so many health ben-efits, not only physically, but also mentally and emo-tionally. Just find a teacher and a class that works for YOU. Yoga is meant to be enjoyed. It is meant to help you reduce stress, ten-sion and leave you feeling rejuvenated and calm. You should never hurt during or after a class. If you do, that is a signal to stop (even in

class) and let the teacher know. She will be able to give you a suggestion on what you should be doing.

Nancy Nesyto-Freske is a Certified Yoga Teacher and Certified Yoga Instructor. She teaches group classes and one-on-one sessions in Dixon, IL as well as one-on-one sessions in Naperville, IL. She can be reached via email at Nancy@journeyyogastudio.com or by calling 815-509-6479.

STERLING, IL - People staying in the hospital, as well as their loved ones, all have unique needs that require unique care. At CGH Medical Center, this care may be directed by a hospi-talist—a physician trained in Internal Medicine or Family Practice – who is devoted to caring for inpatients from the time of admission until discharge. The hospitalist program was implemented at CGH in 2008 andhas re-cently expanded to include more physicians.

For patients, being treated by a hospitalist offers many advantages:

· Availability: Because hospitalists only treat people staying in the hospital, they are readily available to pa-tients and family members. They can answer all of your questions and are knowl-edgeable about services at CGH Medical Center. They are also close-by – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – in case of an emergency and are often able to spend more time talking to patients and

Dr. Nancy Tran, Hospitalist Director, is one of seven hospitalists now available to inpatients at CGH.

CGH expands hospitalist program to benefit patients

their loved ones about their care.

· Consistency: Hospi-talists can help achieve a smooth, speedy recovery by following up on tests, ad-justing treatments through-out the day as necessary, and serving as a centralized resource for information throughout your hospital stay.

· Communication: The hospitalist keeps your Pri-mary Care Physician (PCP) up-to-date on any changes in your condition. Your PCP can contact the hospitalist at any time during your stay to learn about your progress.

“Our hospitalists know that the key to providing quality care is excellent communication,” said Dr. Paul Steinke, CGH Presi-dent and CEO. “That’s why they stay in close contact with your primary care phy-sician throughout your stay. The transition between your hospitalist and your primary care physician is seamless.”

Another benefit of the CGH Hospitalist program

of serving the Sauk Valley.For more information or

to schedule an appointment, contact Mary Martin, AuD, FAAA or Laurie Zollinger,

AuD, FAAA at CGH Main Clinic Audiology Servic-es, (815) 632-5400.

is more office hours for your physician. Because CGH Hospitalists make rounds and handle emer-gent situations, your physi-cian can spend more time with you and other patients during their regular office hours. “Our hospitalist program is just one more example of how CGH is always working to enhance and improve patient care,” Steinke said.

To learn more about the Hospitalist Program at CGH Medical Center, visit www.cghmc.com/hospitalist.

18 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Business

Gaston Gragert is a for-tunate young man. He has known since the age of three that he wanted to be an art-ist. At 23, he has begun his career and there is no end in sight to what he may achieve.

“I am from a family of artists and was taught and encouraged even in my earliest years,” Gaston said. He noted that throughout school he won many awards even though he did not study art. As a Rock Falls graduating senior he was voted “most artistic.”

Today he balances his artistic endeavors with a

management position with the Candlelight Restaurants. Owner Matt Prescott is very supportive and understand-ing.

“I love working with the restaurant and I love my art,” Gason said.

Gaston’s art is both in-spired and practical. He is an engraving artist that is often called upon to create memories of a person’s life onto a stone monument or marker. He remembers vis-iting cemeteries all over the Midwest to see what artists before him had created. This exacting awareness of what was done has led Gaston to

Young entrepreneurs of the Sauk ValleyGaston Gragert

Courtesy photos

become focused and highly sensitive to what can be done. “I love making my work the most significant and personalized memo-rializing that can be…the family and loved ones will always know the art was totally individualized…to-tally persons and unique.”, he said.

These are works of art. They never look mechani-cal. This is what we, as a family of artists can create for our local community. Gaston and his extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles are committed to Family Stone Memori-

Gaston Gragert

als as an artistic choice for difficult times of memorial-izing and also as artwork that can be given on special occasions.

As a 3-year old Gaston

drew his favorite movie character of the time, “ Free Willie”. Today he recalls the pleasure and passion of that sketch. “I simply love to draw, to create beauty

and find my memorializing work greatly satisfying every day.

Gaston can be reached at Family Stone Memorials, 815-716-8047.

by Bobby Dillon

Sterling’s Air Play Sports & Espresso can best be described as eclectic: part disc golf retailer, part coffee shop, part art gallery and part micro-bakery. Further-more, Air Play’s venerable and tireless owner/opera-tor Tim McNinch plans to add “artisan bread bakery” to the mix in the not-too-distant future.

Air Play began in Mc-Ninch’s garage after he retired and wanted to start something of his own. “I kinda just said ‘I’m outta here.’ and took off my coat and tie, quit cutting my hair and then said ‘Okay, I quit my job, now what am I gonna do?’” McNinch remembers. “I just started looking for things to do. If I’m not working ten, twelve hours a day or more, I’ll go crazy.” With his newfound free time, he rediscovered his interest in disc golf. When he went online to try to buy a bag to hold his discs, he was taken aback by how expensive they were. “So after a couple of weeks thinking about

Air Play Sports & Espressoit, I decided to design my own. When the building came available, I kind of married all my hobbies: sports, music, fun, coffee, baking.” which explains the wide variety of goods, art, and people one can find in the small store on any given day.

Even more remarkable than Air Play’s variety is the effort being made by the small business and its employees to bring much needed vibrancy to Ster-ling’s downtown area. As a member of Sterling Main Street and co-creator of Fourth Fridays, McNinch has played and continues to play an active role in the revitalization of downtown Sterling.

Fourth Fridays started with a conversation. Mc-Ninch, along with Jana Groharing, owner/operator of The Precinct Bar and Grill (which, incidentally, is right next door to Air Play) noticed the success of Dixon’s Second Saturdays and similar endeavors in nearby towns and wanted to bring that to Sterling. “Basically, I said, let’s not

reinvent the wheel. Let’s find a night and a time that doesn’t steal from nearby towns,” McNinch says. And so Fourth Fridays was born. “The idea was to open up our business to the arts, both performance and visual arts, and the churches got on board because they could give back to the com-munity by providing space and opportunity for people to come in.”

“Bands are playing where we didn’t have bands be-fore, artists are able to come out and show their paintings or their sketches... We try to find people who’ve got something unique, some-thing different, so that when you come downtown on Friday nights you can ex-perience something out of the ordinary - it sure beats re-runs of ‘Law and Order’”

The bottom line is that, at the end of the day, “It’s not easy to buy a steak dinner over the internet. It’s not easy to buy a cup of coffee over the internet. It’s not easy to buy in-person entertainment over the internet. If downtown is gonna survive, it’s not

gonna survive on appli-ances. It’s gonna survive and grow based on catering to a specialty - things you

can’t get anywhere else, but satisfy either a craving or a social need that you can’t get over the internet.” Mc-

Ninch says. Considering the breadth of interests Air Play covers, it’s safe to say that they aren’t going anywhere.

Courtesy photos

19

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

* Offer good on new consumer loans and in-house fixed rate mortgage loans when you purchase a home or refinance a home loan from another bank. Contact a Sterling Federal loan professional at any of our nine convenient locations. Coupon also good on commercial real estate and rental property loans. May not be combined with any other offer. This offer excludes FHLMC, ARM, rural development loans, modifications and home equity lines of credit. Offer valid on applications taken through 6/30/2013.

Buying a car? Refinancing or purchasing a home? Present this coupon and we’ll trim...

off your interest rate!* 3 5 7

6 8 4

2 9 1

2 3 4

9 6 5

7 1 8

7 6 5

4 1 8

9 3 2

8 1 9

2 7 3

5 4 6

6 4 2

5 9 1

3 8 7

1 9 8

7 3 2

4 6 5

8 7 6

4 2 3

1 5 9

1 2 9

5 7 6

8 4 3

3 5 4

9 8 1

6 2 7

Sudoku answers for puzzle on page 14

A great community event is coming to Rock Falls July 12-13 on the Rock Falls Riv-erfront. Area non-profits, and local businesses are en-couraged to participate. If you are looking for an op-portunity to reach thousands and make a little extra cash,

this is it! The Rock Falls Chamber is looking for vendors and activity hosts for this event.

Thousands of people flock to the Riverfront to enjoy buffalo, elk, alligator, and more during at the Rock Falls Chamber ’s cook-

out. Vendors can rent a space for as little as $25. Activity hosts can raise funds for their groups. This event has a built in crowd and is the perfect opportunity to reach thousands without investing a lot of money. Your orga-nization could sell cotton

candy, offer a petting zoo, organize a bingo tent, have a cake walk, or do a bean bag tournament. What about a community safety program, like a bicycle rodeo, or car seat check? Maybe you just want to spread the word about who you are what

Fund raising opportunity for area non-profits

By Spencer Schein

The sweet salty caramels Janel Stahr makes in her kitchen often make her home smell like a sweet candy shop.

For a busy mother of two who runs a graphic design business with her husband, Nathan, and teaches piano lessons and volunteers at a preschool, time is often of the essence.

This makes for little time to have an interview. To make it work, Janel took a break and allowed me a 2 a.m. interview.

What are you up to at 2 a.m. this morning?

I’m glad to say I’ve been cutting back on my 2 a.m. workload, but it does still happen more frequently than I’d prefer.

How long have you made your own candy? What types of candy do you make?

I don’t make any other candies. In fact, I don’t re-ally enjoy baking at all. I love to cook because I don’t feel the pressure of measur-ing ingredients perfectly.

I have, however, started making salted caramels, which are a larger cut of the caramels I currently make, topped with sea salt. It’s a great blend for those who like savory and sweet flavors together.

How long have you been making caramels?

Sweet salty and savory caramels

Janel Stahr, right, with her husband Nathan

I’ve been making the car-amels myself for about four to five years.

What is the inspiration you get to make caramels?

This is a family recipe, and my mom taught me how to make them. She and my grandma and her mother-in law, have been making them for longer than I can remember.

If you hear the name Mama J’s Homemade Car-amels, that’s me. “J” is for Janel, of course, but more importantly it is a tribute to my mom and grandma, as my maiden name is Janssen.

It’s a family endeavor now too, as I have my daughter help stir sometimes and my husband helps cut and wrap. I have been married to Na-than for 13 ½ years. We have two children, Grace, 12, and Quinn, 5.

We hand-cut every cara-mel, so they are kind of like snowflakes in that no two are the same size or shape. And we hand-cut the wrap-pers too. For Christmas, my mom cut about seven rolls of wax paper into the wrap-pers, so I’m keeping track of how many batches of caramels we can wrap with the incredibly generous gift she gave us.

Tell me the feelings you get when you make the cara-mels and/or when you pres-ent them to someone. It must be special.

I love watching people try my caramels, especially for the first time. Almost everyone has had a caramel before, but the way these melt in your mouth is simply amazing.

What are the basic ingre-dients in caramel?

Butter, sugar and corn syrup are the most basic ingredients. You also need milk to keep them from becoming too hard. I always use high-quality ingredients, but I don’t give away our specific recipe or process.

Do you give your caramel creations away or sell them? How are they distributed?

Family, close friends and co-workers look forward to Christmas gift exchanges because they know they

are getting caramels. I also sell them. I try to always keep some in the freezer for “emergencies.” It’s a quick, easy and delicious gift for anyone from children to grandparents. They won’t even stick to dentures!

Orders can be placed by calling (815) 441-3664 or sending an email to janel@stahrfamily.com The cost is $5 for ¼-pound (fits in a snack-size Ziploc bag); $15 for a pound (fits in a quart-size Ziploc bag); or $40 for 3 pounds (fits in a gallon-size Ziploc bag). The salted caramels are $10 a dozen.

I will also gift-wrap any amount for an extra fee, which depends on the type of gift-wrapping. I also bring them to one or two vendor fairs around the holi-days, but they are available year-round.

Besides making caramels, what do you do for a living? Do you volunteer in the community?

I ’ m s e l f - e m p l o y e d , along with my husband. We own a graphic design business, Stahr Design (stahrfamilydesign.com), through which we design websites and print materials

for area businesses. I also teach piano lessons and music classes for Woodlawn Arts Academy, Sterling, and play the piano for weddings, funerals, etc. I volunteer my time doing some preschool music events and also designed and maintain the Fourth Fridays website (fourthfridayspac.com) as a volunteer.

Salted caramels topped with sea salt

you do. This is the place!

For more in-formation about how you can get involved, contact the Rock Fal ls Chamber at 815-625-4500.

20 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Home & Garden

Shou

441 IL Rte. 2 - Dixon

www.BrandywineDixon.com

815-284-8484

Carol ChandlerColumnist

Illinois is being invaded by insects! If you haven’t heard about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), you must have had your head in the woodpile! The EAB is a tree-destroying insect that originated in Asia, but was probably brought to Michi-gan in the late 1990’s in wood products. It was first discovered in 2002 but has spread across the eastern half of the United States since then and was discovered in our area last year. It affects only ash trees- mostly green,

Carol Chandler

Columnist Back in 2004, Bill Ost

suggested to the Dixon Area Garden Club during a meet-ing that they establish a public or botanical garden. He had in mind a 2 1/2 acre plot by the Brown Shingle. As the project developed, he contacted a landscape architect from Rockford and was advised to secure more land for parking and future expansion.

It was at this point the

We’re being invaded!

Photo courtesy of USDA

white, blue and black ash. It does not affect the Mountain Ash or most cultivars.

The EAB is a shiny, green insect measuring about one-half inch long and their larva are white and one inch long at maturity. As adults, they leave a one-eighth inch D-shaped hole as they emerge. They feast on foliage for one to two weeks before mating. Females produce about 50 - 100 eggs which are mainly laid on the surface of bark or within cracks or crevices. When the larva hatch, they tunnel into the tree and ex-cavate S-shaped galleries just under the bark. This disrupts

of EAB populations grows exponentially by a factor of fifty each year. One female can produce fifty trillion insects by the tenth year, and they are typically 56% female.

The EAB only colonize living trees; dead trees are left untouched. The early symptoms of EAB damage are thinning at the top of the tree, branch die-back and sprouts around the base of the trunk. Death usually oc-curs two to four years after the onset of infestation.

There are several types of treatment that are used on “adolescent” trees. The

older and very young trees usually succumb. There are sprays, injections and liquids that can be used in the ground around the base of the tree. Because of tox-icity, many products are not recommended to be used by those other than trained professionals.

If you believe that you have an ash tree in your yard and wish it to be treated, notify a professional tree service. Fees for treatment vary by the size of the tree. It should be noted that the treatments are recommended to be used on a regular basis, usually every two years.

the flow of nutrients to the tree. They feed through the summer and into the fall and winter within the outer bark or in the outer inch of

sapwood. Pupation occurs from mid to late spring. The adults emerge soon after to complete the typical one-year cycle. The growth

Nature’s Beauty - Plum Creek Arboretumestate bought 50 acres and donated it to the district, bringing the total ownership to 62 acres.

Then, two members of the Garden Club approached Deb and broached the sub-ject of a joint development of the project with a total of 16 1/2 acres- 14 acres owned by the Park District and 2 1/2 acres by the Garden Club. An agreement was reached and the two entities agreed to help with some special projects. The Park District mows the property except for the 2 1/2 acres and around buildings.

Work began in earnest and a concrete building was ren-ovated, a utilities disburse-ment building built for gas, electricity and telephone service, new roofs added to the garage, and a milk house. The concrete block build-ing is used as a shop and a meeting room for the Garden Club. The Master Garden-ers use part of the building

to meet with the public re-garding gardening concerns on Tuesdays. A bridge was recently built over a small creek using several dona-tions. So far, a total of $100,000 to $150,000 has been invested in the gardens.

At last it was time for planting! Lemme’s do-nated a lily garden and Joe Franklin donated an ori-ental garden. Funds were raised and other areas were planted with earnings from pancake breakfasts, the sale of Christmas trees at Dis-tinctive Gardens, cook-outs at the Dixon Food Center and private donations. The Garden Club continues to support the Dixon petunia plantings as it has since the early 1950’s.

The grounds today offer many deciduous trees as well as conifers and nu-merous shrubs and flowers along with a pergola that was built with the help of the Dixon Women’s Club. Two

years ago, Terry and Bonnie Nichols donated a green-house which is now mostly completed. The Plum Creek Arboretum is presently still under development.

Looking into the future, trails, more flowers and trees, and eventually an of-fice, restrooms and a class-room are anticipated. This will be a wonderful place to have a meeting with nature. We can all use a little relax-ation and the Plum Creek Ar-boretum is the place where you can get it! Or you can come out and donate some of your time to create a place of beauty that everyone can enjoy. The gardens are open to the public at no cost.

Contact Dixon Area Gar-den Club President Nancy Strock at 815-288-1000 for any questions. Nancy and her husband Ken have been instrumental in develop-ing the arboretum and are always willing to help gar-deners.

Walgreen Estate approached the Dixon Park District re-garding the return of a previ-ously donated 45 acres along the Lowell Park parking lot at the southeast border of the park. It was given back to the estate with the provision that it would not be sub-divided and a replacement of the acreage was needed. It was suggested the Park District locate a suitable replacement. This search led them to inquire about acre-age that abutted the 12 acres previously owned along

Plum Creek near the Brown Shingle. It was owned by a gentleman from Sycamore who was about to close a deal with Dr. Strom. Dr. Strom agreed to sell off part of the property after Deb Carey, executive director of the Dixon Park District, and Bill explained the plans for the arboretum. But the plans didn’t include the house that was considered a possible future liability issue due to its deteriorated condition. Finally, an agreement was reached and the Walgreen

Home and gardening questions?Call the Master Gar-

dener’s for help from May through September. In Lee County, Master Garden-ers are available at the Plum Creek Arboretum, Dixon, 815-285-3242.

In Whiteside County,

Master Gardeners can be reached Monday and Fri-days, 9 am-noon at 100 East Knox Street, Morrison, Il, 815-772-4075.

In Carroll County, Mas-ter Gardeners are at 807D South Clay Street, Thurs-

days from 1-2 pm. Phone 815-244-9444 Mount Car-roll, IL.

The Master Gardeners program is a part of the services of the University of Illinois Extension program, “Investing in You.”

21

Home & GardenMay 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

FOR RENTRiver Ridge Apartments

Sign a 12 month lease and get your

with approved application & Security deposit

1st Month FREE

2 Bedrooms All Electric

Laundry FacilityGarages AvailableQuiet & Peaceful

3602 River Rd - Sterling Located Next To Aldi

815-414-2288

Only $495 per month!

A cook looks at booksJudy Bell, MS

Food and Nutrition Tyler Florence and Betty

Crocker?Yes, they have a bond:

both are perfect choices for today’s young or not so young to-be-married. Today’s soon-to-be-married have a unique culinary per-spective. The influences of their choice is a good-bad scenario. They may have grown up with the Food network, fast food and food-like-substances. They know enough to know they don’t know enough.

Enter a true hero: Tyler Florence, a culinary leader charging forth into the quag-mire of today’s food world

with unabashed courage, skill and integrity.

Tyler, an iconic food star is more than his image. He is a true believer in fresh, healthy, food-as-fuel and if you don’t choose wisely, you are making foolish choices.

“Tyler Florence Fresh” is a choice Larry Dunphy, Books on First, Dixon, and I agree would be a great bride or groom’s book. In Tyler’s book you may be drawn into his novel combinations through the photography, his intense love of fresh ingredi-ents and his presentations…each is a work of art.

Be aware: Tyler Florence has your healthy choice up-permost.

Larry and I agree, Fresh is best! Larry liked this simple vegetable combina-tion. I second his choice. Anchovies are one of Tyler’s “hero ingredients’…their nutritive value and realistic sustainability is noteworthy!

Betty Crocker for the soon-to-be-married? For Mother’s Day? Yes. A resounding yes! Every home needs a basic cookbook and few with match the depth, breath or scope of the recently revised Betty Crocker. It would be great for a mom who hasn’t received a really basic cookbook since her own wedding. It will be in the married couples kitchen until the next version…or until their child takes it to off to their first abode.

A Cook Looks at Books is sponsored, in part, by

Books on First, Dixon, 815-285-2665.All books reviewed are immediately available

from Books on First.

Roasted Cauliflower with Anchovy, Capers and Fresh ThymeServes 4 to 6

Cauliflower:• 2 heads cauliflower (preferably different colors)• Extra-virgin olive oil• Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper• Garlic Chips• Olive oil for frying• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

Anchovy Sauce:• 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 3 oil-packed anchovy fillets, finely minced• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced’ 1 tablespoon salt-packed capers, rinsed and drained• 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only• ½ cup heavy cream• ¼ cup grated Parmegiano-Reggiano• ½ lemon• Freshly cracked black pepper• Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano

Roast the cauliflower: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove the green leaves from the cauliflower and reserve. Cut the cauliflower heads into half, then into bite-size florets. Cut the stalks into bite-size pieces also. Place the florets and stalk pieces in a roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until golden and tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a platter lined with paper towels to drain.

Make Garlic Chips. Pour ¼ inch of oil into a small saucepan. Add the garlic and set the pan over medium heat. Heat the oil until the chips are golden and crisp,

about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

Make anchovy sauce. Set a large skil-let over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and fry the anchovies, garlic, capers and thyme, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the anchovies and infuse the oil. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until fragrant. Add the cream and Parmesan, and bring to a simmer. Just before serv-ing, add the roasted cauliflower pieces and fold in the reserved leaves. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and top with the fired garlic chips, cracked black pepper and shaved Parmesan.

22 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Education

SUMMER CAMPREGISTRATION

Call to register!(815) 285-1033

Daycare

BrightBeginnings

1033 Franklin Grove Rd, Dixon, IL

38Franklin Grove Rd.

Chicago Ave.

C52

CountrysideLn.

Right on

State Route 38!

The StuffWrite- Grantswriting- Procedure Manuals- Employee Handbook- Newsletters- Family Histories

Patricia Lewis(815) 285-2659

- Faith Curriculum- English Tutoring - Organizational Needs & By-laws

- Learn to Read

Clear & professional

- Home School Consultant

STERLING –Soak Up the Sun, an oil pastel by Madi-son Meridian, ninth-grader at Polo Community High School, took first place in the high school category of Woodlawn Arts Academy’s 2013 Student-Teacher Art Exhibit. Community mem-bers were invited to view the artwork and vote on their favorite pieces during the first few weeks of the exhibit. First place in the junior high category went to Keagan, a pencil portrait by Sarah Marks, eighth-grader at Rock Falls Middle School. In the grade school category, Pointers, a marker piece by Tucker Mumford, fifth-grader at Centennial Elementary, Polo, took first place.

Woodlawn Arts Academy Facilities Manager Molly Cunningham visited the top winners’ schools to present the students with awards. “Congratulations to the very talented students and their exceptional teachers that displayed in the 5th Annual Student/Teacher Art Exhib-it!” Cunningham said. “We had many wonderful pieces of art and new schools ex-hibiting! Again, I would like to thank all of those who participated in this year’s exhibit, thus making the 2013 Student/Teacher Art Exhibit a delightful way to celebrate five years!”

Rounding out the top 12 were:

• Second place in the high school category: Untitled,

mixed media, by Peyton Taylor, 11th grade, Polo Community High School.

• Second place in the ju-nior high category: African Ages, metal jewelry, Gracie Young, sixth grade, Rock Falls Middle School.

• Second place in the el-ementary category: London Bridge, wax resist, Kody Velazquez, fourth grade, Nelson School.

• Third place in the high school category: Starlight Fiesta, mixed media, Ana Cazango, 11th grade, Polo Community High School.

• Third place in the junior high category: The Sod House, mixed media, Avary Bielema & Julia Walters, seventh grade, Morrison Junior High.

• Third place in the el-ementary category: Abstract Art Inspired by Kandinski, ink/watercolor, Anna Mick-ley, fourth grade, Southside Elementary, Morrison.

• Fourth place in the high school category: Army Dad, acrylic, Allie Johnson, 12th grade, Sterling High School.

• Fourth place in the ju-nior high category: Untitled, recycled art, Olivia Hop-kins, eighth grade, Apling-ton Middle School, Polo.

• Fourh place in the el-ementary category: Mardi Gras Mask, paper/glitter, Clara Bush, third grade, Southside Elementary, Mor-rison.

A special thank you to Dick Blick Art Materials for supplying gift certificates

for each of the 12 winners to help them further their ar-tistic abilities and creativity.

Photographs of each of the top 12 pieces will be featured in the Academy’s Summer Program Brochure. These and more than 100 other pieces can be viewed in the halls and lounge at Woodlawn Arts Academy, a Whiteside County United Way agency, through Fri-day, May 10th. The sum-mer exhibit, “Capturing the Rock,” featuring 2-D art and photographs of life in the Rock River Valley, opens Friday, June 7th, with a public reception planned for 5-6:30pm Friday, June 21st.

Woodlawn Arts Academy offers quality programming and ins t ruct ion to a l l ages in visual arts, dance, music, theatre, literature, heal ing ar ts , cul inary arts, and domestic arts, as well as events for the entire family. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Donations are welcomed and are tax deductible. Woodlawn Arts Academy is a 501(c)3 educational organization that is proudly supported by United Way of Whiteside County. For more information on Woodlawn Arts Academy programming or events, please call (815) 626-4278, vis i t www.woodlawnartsacademy.com, like our page on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. Where the Arts are for Everyone!

Donaldson’s Dennis Countryman, Susan Mattes, Dolan Bartels and Project VITAL’s Erika Anderson and Lana Coomes

Winners of Student-Teacher Art Exhibit Announced

Courtesy photos

SVCC’s Project VITAL receives donation

Sauk Valley Community College’s Project VITAL (the only free adult literacy program in the area) re-ceived a generous donation from the Donaldson Foun-

dation and Donaldson Com-pany, Inc. in the amount of $9,600. The grant will help introduce new and neces-sary technology that will be accessible to VITAL

tutor/student pairs at the Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls public libraries as well as within the adult educa-tion classrooms throughout the Sauk Valley area.

Courtesy photo

23

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

Wizard Of PawsDog Grooming

www.facebook.com/Wizard.Of.Paws119Join us on Facebook!

Dawn SeamanOwner & Stylist

$500 OFFANY GROOMING SERVICE

Wizard Of PawsDog Grooming

119 W. 2nd St. • Rock Falls, ILPhone: (815) 716-8490

Dawn’s Cell: (309) 525-4603 w. 2nd St.

1st Ave.

2nd Ave.

Sauk Valley SunDIXON - STERLING - ROCK FALLS

www.saukvalleysun.com

StaffJudy BellPublisher

Ken HauckVP OPeratiOns

Katie HauckadministratiVe manager

Julie ReedereditOr

Robert BelldistributiOn manager

Celeste Lightner-GreenwaltseniOr marketing rePresentatiVe

Joshua Hauckmarketing rePresentatiVe

ProductionKarina Ramosart directOr

Samantha GormangraPhic artist

WebsiteJohn YadaWeb deVelOPer/it suPPOrt

Writers/ ContributorsDonald R. Lewis, MD, FACSCarol Chandler, RNJill HornRev. Scott PorterPastor Jeff CoesterBobby DillonSpencer ScheinDarlene RegoNancy Nesyto-FreskeJosh AlbrechtAnn LewisBrad MonsonJill ShawGreg SmithTom DemmerPatricia LewisCody Cutter

© 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 Sun24,000 copies

published monthly21,000 copies

direct-mailed to homes and business addresses

in Dixon and Sterling

Postage paid at Dekalb, ILPermit No. 321

Phone (815) 888-4403 Fax (815) 572-0153

Address: 459 Illinois Route #2, Dixon, IL 61021

Email: info@sauksun.com

Summertime is an excellent time for your children to learn about God’s unconditional love for us. There are many opportunities for your children to explore God’s love at area churches.

First Baptist Church of DixonDates: June 10th-14thAges: preschool-6th gradePhone: 815-284-6823Call office for more information and

registration formsImmanuel Lutheran ChurchDates: June 17th-June 24thTime: 8:30 A.M.-11:00 A.M.Phone: 815-284-2808Call office for more information and

registration formsSt Paul Lutheran ChurchDates: June 24th-28thTime: 8:30 A.M.-11:00 A.MAges: 5 years-5th gradePhone: 815-288-2757Call office for more information and

registration forms.First Presbyterian ChurchDates: July 13th-19thTime: 8:30 A.M.-11:00 A.M.Ages: K-7th gradePhone: 815-284-7741Call church for more information and

registration formsGood Shepherd Lutheran ChurchDates: June 17th-21stTime: 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.Ages: pre-K-6th gradePhone: 815-625-3376Call church for more information and

registration formsF i r s t C o n g re g a t i o n a l C h u rc h

of SterlingDates: June 24th-26thAges: K-5th gradeDinner: 5:00 P.M.VBS: 5:30 P.M.- 8:00 P.M. Phone: 815-625-5112Call for more information and registra-

tion forms

Coleta United Methodist ChurchDate: July 27thTime: 9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.Ages: All ages are welcomePhone: 815-336-2226Call church office for more information

and registration formsHarvest Time Bible ChurchDates: July 22nd-25thTime: 9:30 A.M.-12:00 P.M.Ages: 5years-6th gradePhone: 815-626-1234Call church office for more information

and registration formsFirst Congregational Church of Rock

FallsDates: July 29th-August2ndTime: 5:30 P.M.-8:30 P.M.Ages: 3 years-8th gradePhone: 815-625-3314Call office for more information and

registration formsAbiding Word ChurchDates July 31-August 2Ages K-5th gradeTime: 6:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M.Phone: 815-626-3314Call office for more information and

registration forms

There are five churches in Sterling that are combining their Vacation Bible Schools. They are the following churches:

Grace Episcopal Church Phone: 815-625-0442St John’s Church Phone: 815-625-2634St Paul’s Church Phone: 815-625-3069Bethel Reformed Church Phone: 815-625-1816First Presbyterian Church Phone: 815-625-0452Please call churches for information

regarding dates, time and ages and registra-tion forms

Vacation Bible School

teaching career at Montmo-rency School and also taught briefly at St. Andrews. She is the head of the math de-partment and advisor to the Math Club.

Diana is married to Carl Wade and has three daugh-ters: Stephanie (Alex) DiBenedetto (’90) , Mi-chelle (Steve) Brunswick (’92), Kathryn (Kyle) Bjur (’02) and two grandchildren, Jake and Sophie DiBene-detto.

Please join us for an open house at Newman Central Catholic High School on Sunday, May 26th from 1-4 pm. You may enter by the gymnasium doors.

Diana Wade retires from Newman Central Catholic High School

We invite you to join in celebrating the retirement of Mrs. Diana (Devine ’66) Wade from Newman Central Catholic High school after 36 years of teaching.

Mrs. Wade began her

Diana Wade Courtesy photo

By Cody Cutter

While this spring has been largely one to forget due to Mother Nature, the clock is ticking toward the end of the accumulation of memories made by our area’s high school sports athletes.

Postseason tournaments for the area’s spring sports kick off this month. For some, the postseason is the acceleration point of trying to meet goals and reach full potential. For some oth-ers, high school seniors in particular, the postseason provides not only that, but the knowledge that such per-formances will be the final ones in which they don their respective uniforms.

Newman’s girls track and field squad will compete at the Class 1A Erie/Proph-etstown Sectional at Erie Middle School on May 9. Event winners and those athletes with performances surpassing Illinois High School Association State Final standards will advance to the IHSA State Final Meet on May 16-18 at Eastern Il-linois University’s O’Brien Field in Charleston.

Dixon, Rock Falls and Sterling’s girls track and field squads will compete at the Class 2A Burlington Central Sectional at Central High School. Event win-ners and those athletes with State Final qualifying per-formances will also advance to the IHSA State Meet in Charleston on May 17-18.

Girls soccer teams will kick off postseason play with regional tournaments starting on Friday, May 10. The area’s two girls soccer programs, from Dixon and Sterling, will be competing at the United Township Re-gional in East Moline.

The winner of the regional tournament will advance to the Notre Dame Sectional in Peoria on May 21-22. The sectional winner will

Mark your calendars for high school postseason sportsadvance to the University of Illinois at Springfield Supersectional on May 28 with the winner advancing to the Class 2A State Finals at North Central College in Naperville on May 31.

Starting on May 13, New-man’s baseball and softball teams will engage in playoff competition with week-long regional tournaments.

The Comet baseball team will compete at the Class 2A Oregon Regional at Park West in Oregon. If the Com-ets come away as regional champions, they’ll compete at the Byron Sectional on the following week, with further chances at postseason cham-pionships at the Augustana College Supersectional in Moline and the State Fi-nals at O’Brien Stadium in Peoria.

The Comet softball team will compete at the Class 1A Ashton-Franklin Center Regional in Ashton. If the Comets come away as re-gional champions, they’ll compete at the Dakota Sec-tional on the following week, with further chances at post-season championships at the Northern Illinois University Supersectional in DeKalb and the State Finals at East-Side Centre in East Peoria.

One week after the girls perform on the track and field, the boys will engage in sectional competition on May 17.

Newman will be compet-ing at the Class 1A Bureau Valley Sectional in Manlius. Event winners and those athletes with performances surpassing Illinois High School Association State Final standards will advance to the IHSA State Final Meet on May 23-26 at Eastern Il-linois University’s O’Brien Field in Charleston.

Dixon, Rock Falls and Sterling’s boys track and field squads will compete at the Class 2A Sterling Sectional at Sterling High

School. Event winners and those athletes with State Fi-nal qualifying performances will also advance to the IHSA State Meet in Charles-ton on May 23-26.

The area’s two boys ten-nis squads from Dixon and Sterling will be competing in Sectional competition on May 18. The Dukes and Golden Warriors will com-pete at the Moline Sectional. The top four placing singles and doubles competitors will advance to the IHSA State

Finals held in the northern Chicago suburbs beginning on May 24.

Finally, starting on May 20, the baseball and softball teams from Dixon, Rock Falls and Sterling will be competing in regional tour-naments.

The baseball teams are all at the Class 3A Rochelle Re-gional. The regional winner will advance to the Sycamore Sectional on the following week, with further chances at postseason championships

at the Augustana College Supersectional in Moline and the State Finals at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

The softball teams will all be at the Class 3A Ster-ling Regional. The regional winner will advance to the Rochelle Sectional on the following week, with fur-ther chances at postseason championships at the Judson University Supersectional in Elgin and the State Finals at EastSide Centre in East Moline.

24 May 2013 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun

Come See How

Our Growing

Team Of

Trusted Agents

Can Help You!Eric Bird

Broker/Owner815-973-6768

Laurie SandovalBroker Associate815-499-1587

Jo BrysonBroker Associate815-946-3999

John DorenbosBroker Associate815-718-0956

Bird Realty1688 Brandywine Lane

Dixon, IL(815) 288-0998

BirdRealtySells.com

*Does not include tax, title, license or doc fee. See dealer for details. Dealer not responsible for pricing errors. *3.84 @ 84 months, must qualify. See dealer for details.

(815) 288-3366 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm • Sat 8am-5pm

ONE PRICE OUR BEST PRICE UPFRONT AND DISPLAYED ON EVERY VEHICLE EVERY DAY.

ONE PLAN TO SELL ALL VEHICLES WITHOUT HAVING THE PRESSURE OF NEGOTIATING A PRICE.

ONE GOAL TO PROVIDE A HASSLE FREE VEHICLE BUYING EXPERIENCE.

DIXON FORD LINCOLN VOLKSWAGEN MAZDA489 Il Route 2, Dixon, IL 61021

www.dixonflm.com

Spring into BIG Savings!RATES AS LOW AS0%

ON SELECT MODELS

• NO GIMMICKS• NO HASSLE• NO PRESSUREIf we don’t have it we will get it!!!

Valerie FordGeneral Manager

MSRP .................................................. $27,630Dixon Ford Discount (Everyone Qualifies) .............. -$1,362

MSRP .................................................. $28,040Dixon Ford Discount (Everyone Qualifies) .............. -$1,338

MSRP .................................................. $25,950Dixon Ford Discount (Everyone Qualifies) .............. -$1,235Volkswagen Owner Loyalty (Must Qualify) ................ -$500

MSRP .................................................. $18,905Dixon Ford Discount (Everyone Qualifies) ................. -$975MFG Rebate (Everyone Qualifies) ............................. -$500Volkswagen Owner Loyalty (Must Qualify) ................ -$500

MSRP .................................................. $27,630Dixon Ford Discount (Everyone Qualifies) .............. -$1,362

MSRP .................................................. $30,390Dixon Ford Discount (Everyone Qualifies) .............. -$1,432Volkswagen Owner Loyalty (Must Qualify) ................ -$500

‘12 VW Beetle 2.5L Auto

‘13 VW GTI 4-dr Manual

‘13 VW Beetle Conv. Auto

‘13 VW Jetta S Auto

‘13 VW Golf TDI Auto

‘13 VW Jetta Hybrid SEL Auto

YOUR PAYMENT

$245*

YOUR PAYMENT

$364*

YOUR PAYMENT

$330*

YOUR PAYMENT

$231*

YOUR PAYMENT

$358*

YOUR PAYMENT

$388*

Stk# ED7646

Stk# ED7648

Stk# ED7648

Stk# ED7449

Stk# ED7610

Stk# ED7257