BCR_Illinois Valley Living_Spring 2022

iving L Spring 2022

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TIMES GONE BY Spots to revisit the past in Bureau County

ALSO: Bureau County Health Department fighting through the pandemic n Norberg Funeral Home, a trusted source of comfort n Sweet potato recipes to supercharge your nutrition n

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aboutsmh.org Living magazine

Build Your Tribe F

ebruary certainly came in with a roar. As this month kicked off, a huge storm hit, dropping inches and inches of snow on the Illinois Valley.

That led to remote learning for our school district and my two high school kids. On top of that, the internet went out at our house for three days, causing my family to panic about how we’d get our work and schoolwork done.

This dilemma was frustrating at the time, but it’s pretty small stuff in the grand scheme of things. Honestly, if this challenge is the worst thing that happens to me in the oncoming weeks, I’m one lucky lady. If there’s one thing you can count on in life, it’s that things go wrong, plans change, and you need to learn to adapt yourself to the new situations you find yourself in.

One thing that will always help you get through life’s setbacks and challenges is your tribe – the people you are surrounded by, either by fate or

choice. The people you choose to have at your side can either help or hurt, so it pays to choose wisely.

In the case of the downed internet, I was lucky – I had a lot of people I Shannon Serpette could rely on in my small town.

My mom, who lives just a mile away, welcomed all four of us to set up shop at her house each day so that we could work on our jobs and schoolwork.

That offer was accepted gratefully.

And although it was a little stressful, I was fortunate to have a list of people to choose from who would have agreed to welcome me to use their home during the day as I looked for a place with internet connectivity to work from. They would have been there for me, just as I

Contents Safeguarding People’s Health 4

Bureau County Health Department continues fighting its way through a pandemic.

Places to Explore History in Bureau County 9 Bureau County has a rich and well-documented history.

A Helping Hand 12

Norberg Memorial Home: Helping people through their worst times.

A-peeling Sweet Potato Recipes 18 Work this superfood into your diet with these tasty options.

On the cover: Princeton’s Red Covered Bridge is one of the most beautiful spots for history buffs to photograph in Bureau County.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Do you have a story idea you’d love to read about in Illinois Valley Living magazine?

Share your idea with the editor by emailing sserpette@shawmedia.com.

would have opened my home to them if the roles were reversed.

It can be easy to get so bogged down in your daily routine and obligations that you put your friends and family on the backburner. But it’s essential to remember that the most important thing about life is the people you choose to share it with. It’s the memories, love, and connections that make life wonderful.

So, if you’re like me and sometimes you’re a bit lazy about connecting with your friends or family when you know it’s been too long since you last spoke, try to make it a priority this week.

Reach out to them, even if it’s just a simple text to say hi and that you’re thinking about them. It’ll make you both smile and bring a little warmth into this way-too-cold season.

Best wishes, Shannon Serpette Niche Editor

Living magazine

Bureau County Republican P.O. Box 340 Princeton, IL 61356-0340 815-220-6948 Publisher Dan Goetz Niche Editor Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com

Regional Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Writers Brandon LaChance Katlyn Sanden Shannon Serpette Photographers Scott Anderson Katlyn Sanden Shannon Serpette Designer Liz Klein

Published by: est. 1851

Living magazine

Spring 2022 – 3

Safeguarding People’s Health Bureau County Health Department continues fighting its way through a pandemic

By Brandon LaChance

M

arch is here. There are St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, track meets, baseball and softball games to attend, and Easter plans to mark on the calendar. Then there is an anniversary no one wants to remember, think about, or talk about – Covid-19.

The virus, now a pandemic, sent a shock wave of wonder, sickness, death, debate, and change to the entire world in March 2020. Fast forward to the present, and the pandemic is still affecting every part of the world, including Bureau County, where the Bureau County Health Department is doing what it’s done from Day 1 – protect everyone in its county lines to the best of its abilities.

“For us, the biggest thing was the uncertainty when the pandemic started. Nobody knew exactly what this virus was or how it was going to affect people,” said BCHD Administrator Hector Gomez. “The media overworked the virus story.

Then with the vaccines, there wasn’t enough of them produced at first.

There weren’t enough supplies for the medical field of things that were needed to take care of people. There

4 – Spring 2022

was a lot of panic.

“I think we adjusted well. We took a lot of comments about things that we don’t have control over. If the governor said, ‘We are getting this and that, and you’re going to be able to do this,’ most of that is for Chicago and the bigger cities. A small or rural health department like ours, we didn’t get everything he was talking about when he was talking about it. We had to wait.”

Gomez, who has been with the department for 16 years and has served as administrator since 2019, gave credit to his staff and all medical field professionals for how they’ve dealt with Covid.

With Gomez’s help, the BCHD was proactive and acted fast to serve the Bureau, Putnam, and Marshall county communities.

“We put measures in place really fast to help our staff. We let some work from home. We closed off some services because we do a lot with babies and the WIC program and the elderly,” Gomez said. “The health See HEALTH page 6

Living magazine

Laurie Cumpton, Assistant Administrator at the Bureau County Health Department, prepares a Covid-19 vaccine.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The Moderna vaccine is available at the Bureau County Health Department in Princeton.

Living magazine

Spring 2022 – 5

Health FROM PAGE 4

department stopped doing some of the face-to-face appointments with the WIC program and went virtual. We tried to close a few programs to keep anything from spreading on our end. Our staff did its best to stay the course.

We knew we had to work together to get things done, and everyone has done a great job of continuing their high quality of work during a tough time.

“This is most definitely the craziest thing I’ve been through during my career. I’ve been in the health and medical industry for 27 years. I joke around people and tell them it’s easier to be in war than to battle this virus. We’ve been mentally shot from all angles, including individual community members, politicians, and county representatives, especially in the beginning when we didn’t have any vaccines.”

Gomez discussed the early days of the vaccine rollout and how difficult it was to be given such a short supply of vaccine.

“The Bureau County Health Department was given 200 vaccines a week when they were first available. We have a population of 35,000. Even if only half of the people wanted the vaccine, the vaccines we were given were not enough. If they wouldn’t have given us more

6 – Spring 2022

and we stayed at 200 a week, it would have taken us forever to help the public,” he said.

BCHD Assistant Administrator Laurie Cumpton has dealt with all the challenges Covid-19 has brought about, whether they were staffing, state or federal mandates and policies changing, and public resentment or thankfulness. Cumpton has helped ensure the BCHD staff was prepared for anything.

“There was no choice, absolutely no choice,” said Cumpton, who is a registered nurse and has been at the BCHD for 10 years. “You just hit the ground running, and you go with the changes as they come. I think a key component for Bureau County was communication among the staff and keeping people updated. I listened to countless webinars and then would try to disseminate the information. Communication was the biggest tool we used to handle all of the changes, so everyone answering phones or dealing with the public would all be on the same page.

“We’re entering our third year of this. I would say that we have some fatigue, more so with the volume of information and how quickly it has been changing – the rules and the legalities. There is a notification system in the state of Illinois called SIREN. We’re notified through the message system of changes. Sometimes, there is a

disconnect, and the CDC will announce to the news media before public health knows.”

The health department, located in Princeton, hasn’t had a single shutdown during Covid-19.

There have been staffing issues as employees and their families have gone through Covid, and there was one retirement.

“I think the whole Covid-19 pandemic showed us the weakness in public health and a pandemic response. The good thing is we can learn from it and improve,” Cumpton said. “On the other side, we all had to learn as we go because Covid is a new novel virus. It’s not like influenza, which we’re very fluent with.

Even though it has been very hard, I think it can only help us strengthen the infrastructure to battle a future potential pandemic.

“We’ve been able to crosstrain and have everyone doing a little bit of everything. It has really helped out,” she said. “At the time, you just pull staff and multi-purpose them. In a small health department, you have to wear many hats.”

If you flip the TV channel to any news program, there is Covid talk or debate. The same can be said about radio stations, podcast airwaves, and anywhere

Living magazine

else a person is speaking.

The BCHD has heard it all as well.

“To be honest, early on the community was very grateful, and there was a lot of trust,” Cumpton said. “As the pandemic has wore on – not that we’ve become the enemy – we had to enforce quarantines, isolations, and promote vaccines.

There are anti-vaxxers, the vaccine-hesitant, and the people who didn’t believe in Covid.

There was some divisiveness.

But it’s nationwide and, I think, worldwide.

“We base things off of what CDC and what Illinois Department of Public Health do. I think there is a disconnect between science and research and the public when it comes to understanding.

Our role is just to protect the health of the public in general,” she said. “Those things weren’t meant to be punitive; they were meant to be protective.”

The calls coming to the BCHD are received by the office manager, Joyce Barajas. A department employee for 21 years, Barajas has dealt with all kinds of patients and situations, but Covid-19 has raised the call volume to an extremely high level at times.

Living magazine

“The last few weeks, we’ve had a high call volume, but now it has slowed down considerably. The spike was because of the newest strand of Covid, the Omicron. There was a spike in cases, so a lot of people wanted to get tested. It’s like any other situation, our first priority is to serve our community and meet their needs. We treated Covid19 like we would treat anything else. We scheduled them and got them tested,” Barajas said.

“In the beginning, we had more hostile calls, but now people are understanding and more patient. There are so many more resources now than there were before. There was limited testing and vaccines available in the beginning. Now, there are more options for everyone, so people are not as frustrated. I think the mindset for the staff here is we want to do whatever we can to provide services. I think we’ve just taken the good with the bad and kept moving forward with a positive attitude.”

Gomez, Cumpton, and Barajas have helped define the BCHD work environment with trust, friendliness, and professionalism. This is one of the main reasons Lauren Eckberg is happy with her decision to come to the health department a little over a year ago.

“I’m so happy that I came here. I worked at Illinois Valley Community Hospital for a short time before I went into public

health,” said Eckberg, who is a 2005 Princeton graduate and is now a registered nurse after 15 years as a CNA. “I was unsure if I was going to like the transition because it was a new territory for me. But I knew some aspects of it. I really like communicable disease investigation, and I’m really interested in things like that.

“The transition has been awesome. Everybody here is fabulous, and they work so hard. The teamwork here is just amazing.

I’ve worked so many places where it doesn’t feel like you’re a team. It’s all for themselves, where here everyone works together,” she said. “There hasn’t been any wavering in our mission to keep the public safe or our want to do our job. Of course, we have went through times when we’re tired or we’re stressed, but we keep pushing through for the public and everyone’s safety.”

Eckberg said she comes to work every day with a smile on her face knowing she works with people who have the same determination and desire to help as many people in the community as they can. When things get tough and they have a rough day, they’re able to talk to each other to make the next workday better.

And if they need it, there is always a candy bowl with every employee’s name on it.

“We eat a lot of candy,” Eckberg said. “Candy is a lifesaver for us around here.”

Spring 2022 – 7

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Living magazine

The Owen Lovejoy Homestead in Princeton was a stop on the Underground Railroad, making it a fascinating place for history lovers to check out in the Illinois Valley.

FILE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON

Places to Explore History in Bureau County

By Shannon Serpette

B

ureau County has a rich and well-documented history, and while the good old days may be gone, they can still be felt and revisited at a number of locations throughout the county. Whether you live in the county or are merely passing through, there’s a fascinating spot and some historical tales that are sure to leave you thinking about

Living magazine

days gone by.

The historical feel was one of the reasons David Cook chose to move to Princeton when he was home shopping years ago.

“One thing attracting me to Princeton was the sense of history throughout the city. It’s not just the historical sites, either – you can experience it by walking along the brick streets

under the big oak trees while admiring grand, old homes, or see it in the faded advertisements painted on the buildings along Main Street, and even in the parks,” Cook said.

Here’s a round-up of some historical spots to check out in Bureau County, but beware, this See HISTORY page 10

Spring 2022 – 9

History FROM PAGE 9

isn’t a comprehensive list. One stop will likely lead to another as you uncover more interesting facts you never knew.

THE VARIOUS HISTORICAL SOCIETIES IN BUREAU COUNTY Historical societies are a great spot to start for any history buff, and you’ll find several in Bureau County.

One obvious starting point is the Bureau County Historical Society, located in Princeton, where the historical society’s Interim Director Lex Poppens will be glad to help people find what they’re looking for. The Bureau County Historical Society’s headquarters is at the historical Clark-Norris home, and its research library is located next door in the Newell-Bryant House.

“If I have to choose an official site (as a favorite historical spot in the county), it’s difficult to decide between the Bureau County Historical Society Museum, which encompasses so much, and the Owen Lovejoy Homestead because of what it represents,” Cook said.

Many of the smaller communities in the county have their own historical societies, which celebrate their highlights and offer exhibits showcasing relics of the past.

“Tiskilwa has a really interesting facility,” Poppens said.

OWEN LOVEJOY HOMESTEAD The Owen Lovejoy Homestead, located in Princeton, was a former stop on the

10 – Spring 2022

Underground Railroad. Reverend Owen Lovejoy lived in the house from 1838 until he died in 1864. Shortly before Lovejoy moved to Princeton, Owen’s abolitionist brother, Elijah, had been killed by a pro-slavery mob.

The Colton School is also located on the homestead property, giving kids and adults a fascinating peek into what the world of education used to look like.

OAKLAND CEMETERY Cemeteries provide an interesting glimpse into the past, and Oakland Cemetery’s history is well-noted.

“The cemetery was recently put on the National Registry,” Poppens said.

The National Register of Historic Places designation isn’t a surprise for people who know about the history of Oakland Cemetery.

Dating to the 1800s, it was named because of the plentiful oak trees on the property.

Visitors can see the trees, winding paths, and impressive monuments.

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT Poppens also recommends checking out the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Princeton.

“It’s the town square,” he said.

The monument serves as the focal point of a beautifully maintained park. While it’s a tribute to those who fought for the country’s freedom, the monument is gorgeous and a work of art all on its own.

THE CHERRY MINE MUSEUM The Cherry Mine Museum,

located in Cherry, has original artifacts from the infamous mine disaster in 1909 that claimed the lives of 259 men and boys.

“I went there last week because I had never been,” Poppens said. “There’s a wonderful relief of the whole event. It’s huge. It’s the size of a whole office.”

FILE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON

RED COVERED BRIDGE A highly photographed site, the historic Red Covered Bridge, built in 1863, makes the onlooker feel as if they’ve stepped into a time machine.

“To me, it’s really cool that it’s not only a functioning bridge, but well-maintained as well,” Poppens said. “It’s a signature spot for Princeton.”

THE BUREAU COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY The Bureau County Genealogical Society, located in Princeton, is an excellent place to take a deep dive into the county’s rich history. The records on hand can help anyone looking for information or who wants to study local history, Poppens said.

They offer assistance to those searching through records, and they have a wide assortment of information, including death and marriage records and much more.

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Janice Smallwood aims to make everyone feel comfortable. That is why upgraded family chairs are used during visitations.

PHOTO/KATLYN SANDEN

12 – Spring 2022

Living magazine

A Helping Hand Norberg Memorial Home: Helping people through their worst times

By Katlyn Sanden

N

Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. and Monuments has been serving the Illinois Valley for well over 100 years, with no signs of slowing down.

Currently owned by J.D. and Janice Smallwood, Norberg specializes in funerals, cremations, pre-arrangements,

Living magazine

monuments, caskets, urns, and memorial jewelry.

“Both J.D. and I feel a calling. We try to make the funeral home not so scary for people,” Janice said. “We See NORBERG page 14

Spring 2022 – 13

PHOTO/KATLYN SANDEN

Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. and Monuments is located at 701 East Thompson St., Princeton.

Norberg FROM PAGE 13

want you to feel comfortable. Burying somebody is one of the worst things you’ll ever have to do, and we keep that in mind when families come in. A lot of times, they need to take their anger out on somebody, and we’re very mindful of that.

We’re not going to become millionaires by owning this funeral home, but we can help families. We’re thankful.”

J.D. grew up CONTRIBUTED PHOTO in the business, J.D. and Janice Smallwood have graduated from dedicated their lives to helping their Worsham Morclients through some of the hardest tuary School in things they’ll ever have to do.

Wheeling, Illinois, and worked with his dad, Bodie Smallwood, at Norberg until 2008, when he purchased the business from

14 – Spring 2022

his dad prior to his passing.

“The funeral director is a human,” J.D. said. “There comes a time where your soul sinks so much. It wears and tears. You see death every day. Anyone that has any feelings will feel for that family. What got me to switch (my thinking) is when a chaplain told me I have my own ministry because after the chaplain, the hospital, or nursing home, I’m the next one in contact to facilitate them through this journey. That’s when it clicked. I know I have to do this. You have to do something that means something. I didn’t exactly know when I graduated high school I’d be here, though.”

As for Janice, she spent five years of her childhood in Princeton, where she met J.D., her first love, before moving to South Carolina with her family when she was 16. Janice recalls losing her mom when she was 20, her dad when she was 23, and her late husband when she was 50. That’s when she moved back to Princeton, re-connected with J.D., and the rest was history.

“In the beginning, it was hard,” Janice said, about joining the business in 2018. “I’d go on removals with J.D. and I’d cry the entire time because I know what it is to love and

Living magazine

PHOTO/KATLYN SANDEN

Special touches like recording funeral services, playing picture slideshows, and this memorial table are all things you can expect at Norberg Memorial Home. Guests are encouraged to drop their favorite memory in the box as a nice gift the family can cherish forever. lose. Then I realized I was looking at it incorrectly. J.D. has taught me so much about the business. Yes, it’s a sad situation, but we’re here to help you memorialize them. It’s really an honor for us.”

The duo is quick to admit this industry takes more out of them than they ever imagined. J.D. developed problems with alcohol due to the pressure of his job.

“There’s alcoholic problems with funeral directors,” said J.D. “We never release. We never talk. We never say a dang thing, but you have to take care of yourself. It took a long road to get here, but every one of us reach a point where our rock bottom is, and thank God, I didn’t hit mine. I was able to get back on my feet again and realize

Living magazine

life is precious. I should’ve known it with my job, I just didn’t see it.”

Through hard work and determination, J.D. is now eight months sober and vividly remembers his turning point.

“It was 2 a.m. at the apartments at recovery. Usually by then, I’d go outside and smoke a cigarette, think about what’s coming up in the day,” he said. “Then it came over me almost immediately – I put my head down and went okay, I give it all to You. Every single bit of my life to You. I’ll do my part, but You have to help me.

From that day forward, I don’t even think about alcohol.”

“I get a good feeling in my heart when we help a family,” J.D. continSee NORBERG page 16

Spring 2022 – 15

Norberg FROM PAGE 15

ued. “They’re crying on our shoulders.

We take the pain. You just need to find the right way to release it. That’s what I had to find.”

Janice said it’s important to protect their minds so they can be a source of strength for their clients. She says when she’s helping families write obituaries, it’s okay to get personal. People are interested in stories, and that’s no different in a small town.

“Every one of our families either smile or laugh at our meeting,” Janice said. “That person’s life wasn’t entirely sad. When we write our obituaries, we

want to know if Grandpa ate chocolate ice cream every Saturday night at eight while watching a show. I let people get as personal as they’d like.”

Aside from helping write obituaries, the duo is looking into a monthly griefshare program, a pre-arrangement class, and can serve as a notary. They also have several resources to help grieving families with the next steps.

“I know I’m doing exactly what God wants me to be doing, just like J.D. knows he’s doing exactly what God wants him to do,” Janice said.

“He’s going on eight months sobriety right now. He’s an encouragement.

I’m grateful I get to work with my husband. I’m grateful people want to come to Norberg.”

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Spring 2022 – 17

sweet potato A-peeling Sweet Potato Recipes

By Shannon Serpette When you’re looking for a tasty and widely available nutritional superfood to eat during the winter months, it’s hard to beat the sweet potato. It’s one of the go-to foods Karla Detweiler, Executive Director at Hungry World Farms in rural Tiskilwa, serves her family.

“We had a bountiful harvest of them this past fall and eat

them every week,” Detweiler said. “Besides just roasting them, which I usually do in the Instapot, and eating them with toppings like creamy sausage gravy, sweet potatoes find their way into many things in our house. We often puree them and add them to pancakes or waffles.”

Detweiler offered to share two of her favorite sweet po-

tato recipes with Illinois Valley Living readers – black bean sweet potato burritos and sourdough sweet potato pancakes.

While you may think of sweet potatoes as a lunchtime or dinnertime food, don’t be afraid to serve them up for breakfast. Sweet potatoes can offer outstanding nutrition and taste no matter what time of day your meal is.

MORE RECIPES on pages 20-23

Black Bean Sweet Potato Burritos INGREDIENTS 3 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 1/2 of an onion 1 tablespoon of oil 2 cups cooked black beans 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 8 flour tortillas 1 and 1/2 cups cheddar cheese DIRECTIONS Sauté sweet potatoes and onion along with one tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan just until tender. Add small amounts of water as needed to prevent sticking.

Add the beans, cumin, cinnamon, and salt to the sweet potatoes and onions.

Cook until heated through. Divide the sweet potato and bean mixture and cheese among the tortillas and roll up the tortillas. Place in a 9x13-inch baking pan.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Garnish with sour cream, fresh cilantro, and salsa, if desired.

18 – Spring 2022

Living magazine

o

Sweet Potato Bread INGREDIENTS 3 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 and 2/3 cups sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 4 large eggs 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes 2/3 cup canola oil 2/3 cup milk 1 and 1/2 cups raisins (optional) 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk the first eight ingredients. In another bowl, whisk eggs, sweet potatoes, oil, and milk until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Fold in raisins and walnuts if desired.

Transfer to greased loaf pans. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.

Living magazine

Spring 2022 – 19

Roasted Sweet Potatoes INGREDIENTS Sweet potatoes Olive oil Salt DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Slice and cut sweet potatoes into small chunks. Toss and coat the potatoes, using approximately one tablespoon of olive oil for every four or five whole sweet potatoes you’ve cut up. Sprinkle on the amount of salt you desire, if any. Roast for 40 minutes or until the potatoes are done to your liking.

Sourdough Sweet Potato Pancakes INGREDIENTS 2 1/4 cups flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup buttermilk or yogurt thinned with whole milk

1 cup pureed sweet potato 1 cup sourdough starter (can be active or discard) 3 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS Whisk dry ingredients together in a bowl and wet ingredients together in another bowl, then stir into dry ingredients.

When fully mixed, cook on a buttered, hot griddle. Add blueberries or chocolate chips, if you like. You know it’s time to flip the pancakes when the edges look dry and bubbles appear on the top.

If you don’t have any sourdough

starter, you can make it by combining one package of active dry yeast, two cups warm water, and two cups flour.

Cover it loosely and leave it in a warm place to ferment for 4 to 8 days. If it is bubbly and smells sour, it’s ready, but if it is pink or orange or seems to be oddly colored, discard it and start over. After it is bubbly, place it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

M.R. Holmbeck, D.V.M. B.R. Sondgeroth, D.V.M. C.M. Schelkopf, D.V.M.

A.M. Adams, D.V.M. K.A. Reed, D.V.M.

BUREAU VALLEY SM-PR1958244

VETERINARY SERVICE LTD.

20 – Spring 2022

somekitchen.com 815.879.0604 Princeton

820 Backbone Rd East • Princeton, IL 61356 (815) 875-1621 (815) 875-5041 fx Living magazine

Healthy Sweet Potato Scones INGREDIENTS 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour 1/4 cup oat or wheat bran 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed 2 tablespoons wheat germ 2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 1/3 cup dried blueberries, raisins, or cranberries

1 cup shredded sweet potato 1/3 cup nonfat yogurt 1 large egg 1 and 1/2 tablespoons oil 2 teaspoons grated orange zest

and sweet potato. Stir in the yogurt, egg, oil, and orange zest. Mix just until combined.

Using lightly floured hands, knead the dough for a couple of minutes until smooth. Place on pan and pat to a thickness of 1/4 an inch. Using a

pizza cutter, slice the dough like a pizza. Slide the scones about an inch apart on the sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 until golden brown.

DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix the flour, bran, flaxseed, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, dried fruit,

Surprisingly great rates that fit any budget Lorita Hellman, Agent 324 N Main St Princeton, IL 61356 Bus: 815-875-2393 www.lhellman.com

I can help you bundle your home and auto insurance, at a rate that may surprise you. Call me for a quote today.

Individual premiums and budgets will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements. Availability and amount of discounts and savings vary by state.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company • State Farm Indemnity Company • State Farm Fire and Casualty Company State Farm General Insurance Company Bloomington, IL • State Farm Florida Insurance Company Winter Haven, FL State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas • State Farm Lloyds Richardson, TX 2101550 SM-PR1961848

Living magazine

• NEW HOMES • GARAGES • ROOFING • SIDING • ROOM ADDITIONS • POLE BUILDINGS • REMODELING

Post Office Box 114 Walnut, IL. 61376 Email: haroldrollo@yahoo.com Website: www.rolloconstruction.com

•FREE ESTIMATES• Home: 815-379-9317 Ans. Machine: 815-379-2350 Cell Phone: 815-303-9321 Spring 2022 – 21

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes INGREDIENTS 3 pounds sweet potatoes, sliced 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon flour 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese 1 cup whole milk 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 cups Colby jack cheese, shredded DIRECTIONS Peel and finely slice the sweet potatoes into very thin rounds. In a pan, sauté butter and garlic until fragrant. Whisk in the flour until combined.

Add the Parmesan cheese, milk, cream, and seasonings, and bring to a soft boil. Remove from heat and allow the cream to cool. Once cooled, stir in the shredded cheese.

In a casserole dish, arrange the potato slices in rows and pour the cheese mixture over the sweet potato slices.

Cover with foil and bake at 400°F for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 8-10 minutes. Serve warm.

Serving the Area for 42 Years!

Start your Healthcare Career as a Medical Assistant

• Unique Full Service Floral Shop

Family owned business • Two floors of merchandise for your gift buying needs • 815-875-3819 811 E Peru St • Princeton • flowersbyjuliaprinceton.com

FARRELL CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

SM-PR1960762

• Fresh And Silk Flowers and Plants • Home Decor • Gifts • Delivery Service

Work in Doctor’s Offices or Clinics in this High-Demand Career FALL REGISTRATION BEGINS APRIL 6 (815) 224-0447

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE Pictured from left: Dr. Lori Schultz, Dr. Dennis Farrell, Dr. Jarred Farrell 22 – Spring 2022

682 E. Peru St., Princeton 815-875-4408

www.ivcc.edu/gowebadvisor Living magazine

Sweet Potatoes with Feta Dressing INGREDIENTS 4 sweet potatoes 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons milk 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons rice vinegar A pinch of nutmeg Green onions (optional) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut up the sweet potatoes into cubes, toss them with olive oil, and salt and pepper them to your taste. Roast in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until tender.

While roasting the potatoes, begin working on the dressing. Use an immersion blender or regular blender to mix the milk, feta, olive oil, rice vinegar, and nutmeg together.

When the potatoes are done cooking, drizzle the sauce over the potatoes and top with chopped green onions if desired.

Serving Northern Illinois for 50 Years Our Community Grocery Store an outpatient department of CGH Medical center

BAKERY & SPECIAL OCCASION CAKES

GARDEN CENTER PRODUCE DEPARTMENT

DELI LIQUOR DEPARTMENT SERVICES

GAS STATION CATERING SERVICES

FULL SERVICE MEAT DEPARTMENT

125 Backbone Road East, Princeton, IL 815-879-7351 • www.sullivanfoods.net Living magazine

MEDICAL CENTER CGH Medical located in CGH Medical CenterCenter is pleased to announce Walnut, Illinois of is CGH hereWalnut to serve your needs! the reopening Medical Center!

To better serve our patients in Walnut and the surrounding communities, the newly remodeled clinic offers: New flooring, cabinets, paint, restrooms, energy efficient LED lighting, and a new heating and cooling system throughout the 1,500 square foot building.

Make an appointment today! Telehealth visits available!

131 Jackson St., Walnut, IL • (815) 379-2161 • www.cghmc.com Spring 2022 – 23

Liberty Village RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

VILLAS

HAWTHORNE INN

• Spacious 2 Bedroom Floor Plans • Full-sized Kitchen • Attached Garage • Maintenance Free Exterior • Grounds Maintenance

• 24 Hour Assistance • Elegant Dining • Health Monitoring • Laundry & Housekeeping Services • Medication Reminders • Spacious Living Area

MANOR COURT

GARDEN COURT

• Premier PostAcute Provider • Medicare Certified • Caring & Dedicated Staff • State of the Art Therapy • Experienced Therapist • Personalized Recovery Plan

• Certified Memory Program • Extensively Trained Staff • Providing Deserving & Loving Care

Please call for more information or to arrange a tour!

2021

FAVORITE SENIOR FACILITY!

815-875-6600 140 N. 6th St., Princeton, IL 815-224-2200 3230 Becker Dr., Peru, IL 815-672-1900 2322 N. Eastwood Dr., Streator, IL

NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDER

www.libertyvillageofprinceton.com

SM-PR1958725

24 – Spring 2022

Living magazine