Illinois Valley Living - Winter 2020

iving L Winter 2020

magazine

FINDING HOLIDAY CHEER AT ANNIE’S LITTLE POTS Painting Ornaments Brings Joy

PLUS:

Real Christmas Trees n The Benefits of Tea n Great Dogs for Families n

publication

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12/5/20 12:03 PM

Pandemic Worries Turning into Anxiety?

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Remember to be kind this winter inter is now upon us, whether we’re ready or not.

And, quite frankly, I’m never ready. I’d only like cold and snowy weather from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1.

After that, I’m longing for the return of 70-degree days. But even though I have an aversion to temperatures below 50 degrees, I have to admit there’s something magical about having snow for the holidays.

I didn’t always hate the snow and cold as much as I do now. While growing up in Lake Thunderbird in Putnam County, my siblings and I couldn’t wait until that first snowfall of the season.

We had our fingers crossed every time it snowed. It meant something good was about to happen, whether it was a snowball fight or my dad leading us on a winter wonderland

hike through the woods. If we were extremely lucky, a heavy snowfall resulted in the ultimate present any kid could get – a snow day from school.

Now, with some degree of remote learning going on throughout schools in the Illinois Valley, I’m not sure how snow days will play out. But even so, my teenagers are excited for the snow to arrive. It means they can go sledding and warm up afterward with a cup of hot chocolate. They can have fun building a snowman and trying to nail each other with snowballs.

This winter will look different from any other in recent history as we still try to practice social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand sanitizing in an effort to stay healthy.

We’ll try to find a way to enjoy the holidays with our extended families in a manner that is safe for everyone. It will undoubtedly be a challenge, and it will look different than our past Christmas and New Year gatherings.

If you’re having difficulty imagining how different your holidays will be this year, I hope you take some com-

fort in the knowledge that you’re not alone in your struggles. We’re all going through this in our own way and doing the best we can with what we have to work with. Even in these difficult times, please remember to continue to observe the holiday spirit in any way that you can.

If you’re able, do something kind for others. Send a care package to the elderly lady living by herself on your street. Drop off a box of items at your local food pantry to help those facing food insecurity or hunger. Say thank you to all the healthcare employees who are risking their health and working long hours to take care of the patients flooding their offices and hospitals.

You never know what a difference a simple act of kindness can make in someone’s life, especially during a pandemic. Your kindness could be the reason someone smiles today.

Best wishes to you and your family,

Contents Service Above Self 4

Princeton Rotary celebrates 100 years.

Not Too Late To Vaccinate 6

Don’t miss your shot at protecting yourself from the flu.

Annie’s Little Pots 8

Painting can help ward off pandemic boredom.

The Real Deal 14

Illinois Valley residents share why they choose real Christmas trees over artificial.

Tea Time 16

Illinois Valley residents enjoy drinking tea for a multitude of reasons.

A Family’s Best Friend 20

Illinois Valley families share which dog breeds fit right in with children.

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.

Shannon Serpette, niche editor

Living magazine Bureau County Republican 526 S. Bureau Valley Pkwy., Ste. F Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461 Publisher Dan Goetz Niche Editor Shannon Serpette

sserpette@shawmedia.com

Advertising Director Jeanette Smith

jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Writers Ali Braboy Becky Kramer Shannon Serpette Photographers Scott Anderson Shannon Serpette Designer Liz Klein

Published by: est. 1851

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Service Above Self Princeton Rotary celebrates 100 years

By Becky Kramer

R

otary, a club that has lasted more than 100 years and has spanned continents, began as a vision conceptualized by one man – Chicago attorney Paul Harris. On Feb. 23, 1905, he formed the Rotary Club of Chicago. His goal was simple: He wanted a club where professionals with diverse backgrounds could meet to form meaningful, long-lasting friendships, exchange ideas, and give back to their communities.

It wasn’t long before the city of Princeton set out to form its own chapter. The Princeton Rotary Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kewanee, first met on April 13, 1920, at Hotel Clark, with 25 charter members in attendance. On April 30, 1920, the Princeton Rotary Club received its official charter from the Rotary and became the 710th Rotary Club to be chartered worldwide.

That initial step to form a Princeton Rotary has led to an impressive achievement – 100 years of service, a milestone the organization reached this year.

“The Rotary motto is service above self,” Bob Mullane, the current Princeton Rotary Club President, said.

The Princeton Rotary has adhered to that motto by supporting many organizations during that time and serving as a bridge to other cultures by embracing the Rotary Youth Exchange program concept. During its century of operation, friendships have been formed, and Princeton’s community has been strengthened.

The Princeton club has held to the Rotary’s mission statement, which is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

It’s been challenging celebrating a century of service during the midst of a pandemic, but it’s a goal the Princeton Rotary has been working to accomplish.

“I have learned a lot about all of the people that have been there for years. We are in the middle of a pandemic. We are not able to meet in person. We could have easily disbanded and not gotten together, but we Stu Smith, 1995 District Governor, presents Roger Eickmeier with a certificate for 19 years of service to the Princeton Rotary Club as the secretary.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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The Princeton Rotary had a 75th anniversary celebration on May 13, 1995.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

immediately adjusted to Zoom technology,” Mullane, who has been a member since 2015, said. “It has been really good. As a club, the engagement is huge.”

In honor of the 100th anniversary, the Princeton Rotary decided to donate 100 service hours by Rotary members toward a project that will impact the Princeton community, Mullane said.

On Oct. 3, Princeton Rotary partnered with the Princeton Bike and Pedestrian Commission to clean up sidewalks in Princeton. Several Rotarians, along with family members, friends, and some youth from the Second Story Teen Center, worked on the project. Over 76 hours of service were clocked, and another day will be scheduled to meet the 100-hour goal.

In February, the Rotarians asked the Princeton City Council if they could adopt Darius Miller Park and erect a new sign to help commemorate the 100th anniversary. The city council agreed, and Princeton Rotary Club will now be responsible for the park’s upkeep.

They also intend to clean up the old caboose in the future. During the summer, the new sign was erected, and the park was designated as Rotary Park on July 2.

Another venture happening in 2020 is that Princeton Rotary is sponsoring an Interact Club at Princeton High School. Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12 to 18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Interact aims to provide opportunities to participate in the community, school, and international service. It can help youth develop teamwork, leadership, and organizational skills, as well as providing them with experience that is helpful for resumes, job applications, and scholarships.

The club is newly formed with an estimated 10 to 15 initial members. They are currently electing officers, finalizing their constitution, and will soon be working with the Princeton Rotary Club. Due to COVID-19, all meetings have been and will continue to be online. All students are invited to join. Meetings and activities are supervised by PHS faculty advisor Candice Fetzer and by one or more Rotary liaison volunteers.

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Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year – one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Rotary sponsors mentor and guide Interact Club members as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills. Other student benefits include completion of required community service-learning credits and possible scholarships.

Fetzer is pleased to be playing a part in bringing the Interact Club to life at Princeton High School.

“I’ve learned a lot about Interact and Rotary Club since I was asked to be the PHS sponsor. I think it is a great opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and get more involved in our community,” she said. “I also think it is neat that it is an organization they can continue to be a part of the rest of their lives – Rotaract in college and then later Rotary.”

Mullane said the fact that Princeton Rotary helps the community in a number of ways is why being a member is important to him.

The Princeton Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellows on May 13, 1975, included (front row) H. Ted Wilde, Becky Guither, Roger Eickmeier; (second row) Dick Delano, Buck Sutliff, John Austin, Lowell “Bodie” Smallwood; and (third row) Dick Hade, Malcolm Lewis, Steve Barlow, and Bill Spitler.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“We help kids in the community. We give money to four students each year in scholarships. We help the food pantry. We get together and talk about the community,” he said. “All of those

things add up to a quiet organization in Princeton that does a lot for the community.

I am a proud member of Princeton Rotary.”

Mullane believes Princeton Rotary will continue to be an

integral part of the community for years to come.

“The people involved in Princeton Rotary is why the organization has lasted 100 years and will last another 100 years,” he said.

The Cider Mill is our beautiful country setting for an outdoor wedding venue and banquet facility.

Our outdoor wedding venue offers picturesque views for a calm and relaxing wedding you have always dreamt about. Our designated wedding area features a brick patio with a brick isle up to “the altar,” with pink and red roses, dappled willow and a wooded area as a back drop.

Picture compliments of Kevin Barnett photography

We have expanded our banquet facility to accommodate up to 400 guests and added an indoor wedding venue with a rustic barn door and barn wood as a back drop for your wedding. Our engaged couples will now be able to have their wedding and reception at the same venue during the winter months.

The Cider Mill is a beautiful setting for your wedding, reception, gathering, meeting or luncheon.

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Engaged couples have the opportunity to celebrate their wedding and reception at the same venue making their day a pleasure for both their guests and themselves.

Outdoor Wedding Venue & Banquet Facility at

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14180 1800 East St. • Princeton, IL • 815-303-1045 Winter 2020 – 5

12/5/20 12:03 PM

Laurie Geuther, the Bureau, Putnam, and Marshall County Health Department’s director of nursing, holds up a flu vaccination dose. She said people should strongly consider getting the flu vaccination this season if they haven’t already done so.

Laurie Geuther administers the flu vaccine at the Bureau, Putnam, and Marshall County Health Department in Princeton. Getting the flu vaccination only takes a minute and generally only results in minor side effects like soreness at the injection site, she said.

It’s not too late for a flu vaccination Don’t miss your shot at protecting yourself from the flu Story and photos by Shannon Serpette Looking to help others this holiday season? It’s not too late to get a flu shot. That simple act may protect your health and the well-being of others. It could also conserve the resources, energy, and time of all the health care workers who are swamped while caring for coronavirus patients right now, according to Laurie Geuther, the Bureau, Putnam, and Marshall County Health Department’s director of nursing.

While always important to put on your seasonal to-do list, encouraging people to get a flu vaccination has taken on extra urgency this year for health care professionals.

“It’s especially important because we don’t want a twindemic,” Geuther said. “It could be potentially fatal to get COVID-19 and the flu.”

That old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, applies in this case. A flu vaccination may protect the person who is getting it, as well as the vulnerable members of the population, Geuther said.

Both COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory illnesses, Geuther said. That further compli-

cates matters for healthcare professionals trying to stretch their already thin resources.

“There has been a shortage of critical care beds,” she said.

In the U.S., tens of thousands of people die each year from the flu and hundreds of thousands are hospitalized. Adding that influx of patients to an already taxed healthcare system could be disastrous, she said.

For those who think it may be too late to get the flu vaccination in late December or January, Geuther says it’s not. The flu season typically lasts until April. It takes two weeks for immunity to develop after receiving the vaccination, she said. Those who receive the immunization in January still may see some benefit from it.

Geuther has noticed some people getting their first-ever flu vaccination this year, which is encouraging news.

“I just can’t emphasize enough how important it is to be proactive,” she said. “I’m hoping with masking and social distancing, we’ll see an overall decrease in the flu.”

“It’s especially important because we don’t want a twindemic. It could be potentially fatal to get COVID-19 and the flu.”

Laurie Geuther Bureau, Putnam, and Marshall County Health Department Director of Nursing 6 – Winter 2020

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Ann Crosby (right), the owner of Annie’s Little Pots in Princeton, supervises Allison Anderson’s birthday party, ready to lend an expert eye to any painting mishaps or questions the children have.

Annie’s Offers Family Fun Painting can help ward off pandemic boredom

A

Story and photos by Shannon Serpette

A small number of excited children filed into the cellar at Annie’s Little Pots in Princeton on a warm, fall day as their friend, 8-year-old Allison Anderson, was there to greet them. Beaming as each one entered wearing their unicorn, polka dot or other childfriendly masks, Allison was excited for two reasons – it was her birthday party, and she had been worried it wasn’t going to happen.

As the pandemic rages on, adults have had to adjust to

working remotely, mastering Zoom calls, wearing masks, and hand-sanitizing every time they touch something outside their homes. But children have had to make adjustments, too, by remote learning, missing out on their normal social routines, and not having the same celebrations they’ve always had for the momentous occasions in their lives.

Allison’s enthusiasm at Annie’s Little Pots served as a reminder of just how im-

portant kids’ birthday parties are to them. Initially, the Andersons had tried to plan a swimming party for their daughter’s big day, but they found out they were unable to book a pool party because of the ongoing pandemic.

Allison’s hopes of having any kind of birthday party were looking rather doubtful.

“I was really scared,” she said. “Then we found out this was open. I was very excited.”

Allison, who lives in Princeton, had painted pottery

On the cover: Allison Anderson held up the snowman ornament she painted to show it off before it was set aside for the firing process.

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before at Ann Crosby’s store, located in a restored 1880s historic building at 906 N. Main St. “This is my first time being here as a birthday party,” Allison said.

Even though it wasn’t the pool party they had originally envisioned, Allison was happy to hear she would be allowed to have her birthday party at Annie’s Little Pots. She didn’t mind that it meant wearing a face mask while she and her friends hand-painted Christmas ornaments.

“I’m really into art,” Allison said.

For Julie Anderson, Allison’s mom, learning she could throw her daughter a small birthday party was a relief, allowing her to safely give her a bit of normalcy in such an uncertain and challenging time.

“We didn’t think we were going to do anything,” Julie said. “I didn’t know about the birthday parties (at Annie’s).

It’s wonderful.”

The social aspect of the pandemic has been hard, not just for Allison, but for many kids, Julie said.

“She (Allison) can keep herself pretty busy,” Julie said. “But they need to play.”

Crosby has been doing private parties and individual

Ann Crosby writes a boy’s name on the ornament he just painted. The name will remain on the ornament after the firing process so it can be given back to the boy when it’s finished.

appointments long before anyone suspected there would be a worldwide pandemic in 2020.

“After 3 p.m., we do our private parties,” Crosby said.

Crosby sets up everything that will be needed before the first guest walks through the door. At Allison’s party, she welcomed the kids as they walked into her shop, quickly trying to calm the nerves of any anxious child who was trying something

new by attending an ornament painting party.

“Who has not painted pottery before? It’s not hard,” she said, reassuring them.

One partygoer who didn’t need any instruction was Allison’s friend, Kimmie Imsland, 13, of Princeton.

She’s painted multiple times at Annie’s in the past.

“I just like crafts and stuff,” Imsland said. “It’s really fun.”

Before getting started with the party, Crosby gave all the

kids a dose of hand sanitizer, so everyone began with germfree hands. Keeping her customers safe from COVID-19 is a high priority for Crosby.

She cleans everything thoroughly between parties or the one-on-one sessions she offers for individuals, knowing that the stakes are high. Her customers’ health depends on her taking the appropriate safety precautions.

See Annie’s page 11

Numerous paintbrushes are available for each painter’s use. Whether they need a bigger one or a thin brush for precision painting, they can find what they need.

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Allison Anderson of Princeton, who threw a birthday party at Annie’s Little Pots recently, looks to see what her friends are doing with their ornaments before beginning to paint her snowman.

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Annie’s FROM PAGE 9

“Everything gets bleached,� she said.

For those who are immunocompromised or are worried about getting ill, the private sessions have been working out well. Crosby offers an alternative service for people who are concerned about coming in at all.

For those who want to have fun crafts to do at home, whether alone or with their family, while isolating themselves from others, Crosby offers take-home boxes. “They tell me what they want, and I package it up,� she said. “Today, I sent home some boxes for families who were going to paint together on Thanksgiving.�

Customers can look on Annie’s Little Pots’ Facebook page, see what they want, pick it up, and return it for firing after they are done painting it. After the piece has been fired, Crosby calls them, and they pick it up.

As can be expected, business has been down a bit during the

pandemic, according to Crosby, who has owned her store for 16 years. “It’s less than we used to have,� she said. “Business is okay, but it’s definitely been affected.�

Even though she’s been an artist for years, she still understands the excitement kids like Allison feel when they come in to paint pottery or ornaments. “I got introduced to the pottery wheel when I was about 12 years old. It was a passion,� she said.

Crosby still enjoys creating art on the pottery wheel. She sells her pottery in the store and sells items from 50 local artists, including metal sculptures, paintings, jewelry, purses, photography, and greeting cards. “I offer pottery wheel classes as well,� she said.

Crosby knows how creating art can uplift a person’s mood and transform a bad day into a good day. She’s glad she can offer these types of classes at such a bleak time. “I know it brings joy to people, and that makes me happy,� she said.

Princeton resident Kimmie Imsland paints an ornament during Allison Anderson’s birthday party. Imsland loves crafts and painting and has been to Annie’s Little Pots before.

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Winter 2020 – 13

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The hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree

Illinois Valley residents share why they choose real Christmas trees over artificial

By Ali Braboy

R

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unning a tree farm is a tough business — there’s a lot of work that goes into caring for a Christmas tree that will end up in someone’s home.

The market for real Christmas trees is popular, said Josh Chrestman. He and Craig Johnson own Indian Creek Tree Farm in Leland, a tree farm established in 1989.

“The family experience, the bonding, the yearly tradition,” is part of what makes people love real Christmas trees, Chrestman said.

While the demand for real Christmas trees has gone up, the supply is lower than it used to be because the number of tree farms has decreased, he said.

“We’re fortunate to have a great farm with a lot of good trees on it, and we plan on being open for as long as we can,” Chrestman said.

What does he consider the perfect Christmas tree?

The Canaan Fir would be the perfect one — it smells great, is strong enough to hold ornaments, and has a good shape to it for Christmas, he said.

This year, the farm is taking all the proper safety precautions with sanitizing equipment and using masks. There are 40 acres for people to appropriately space throughout their search for the perfect tree.

The farm is open the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Normally, there are 3,000 people in and out of the farm in those three days.

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“I’m assuming it will be larger,” he said, as many people have been cooped up.

Why do people love investing the time and effort to find a real tree for their holiday decorating? Residents of the Illinois Valley discussed why they feel it’s worth it.

Patrick Cullinan of Tonica loves the imperfections of a real Christmas tree. A fake tree looks similar to a perfect triangle.

“There’s something about a real tree that has some bare spots, or maybe it’s tilted weird or has some irregularities in it,” he said.

“Something about the lights hit it differently than a pre-lit fake one.”

Bringing a real tree into the home is a process and involves arranging the ornaments to hide the bare spots.

You also have to keep the tree watered, making sure it’s all green by the time Christmas rolls around.

A real Christmas tree also smells like Christmas with the evergreen smell, adding “another layer of the holiday spirit,” Cullinan said.

Maryann Pedelty of Streator has had a real Christmas tree in her home each year for around half a century.

“If I have to go to a fake tree, I won’t have one anymore,” she said.

For years, her family’s goal was to find a 20-foot tree, to be placed in her home’s front entrance. Many times, they had to travel to different places to find a nice tree of

that size, she said.

She remembers a time when she acquired a 25-foot tree, and four or five grown men tried to get it in the house.

“I bet we spent three hours trying to get it in,” she said.

Pedelty recalls a nun driving by and getting out of her car to do the sign of the cross as the family attempted to get the tree inside.

For the past four years or so, Pedelty has downgraded in tree size and now searches for 12- to 14-foot trees. She said it’s become more difficult over the years to find trees of that size.

She planned to go the weekend before Thanksgiving this year to find her tree.

“If I don’t get over there right away, I don’t get a big one,” Pedelty explained. “It will be difficult.”

Joe Goskusky of Peru suggests always measuring your available space before cutting down your Christmas tree of choice.

Goskusky remembers going to Smith Tree Farm in Deer Park with his family while growing up. Now he, his wife, and their children go to Holocker Tree Farm in McNabb.

They’ll spend a couple of hours searching for the perfect tree.

Goskusky remembers a time when he and his wife got a tree too tall, and it left a green streak down the center of their ceiling until they repainted it.

“There’s something about a real tree that has some bare spots, or maybe it’s tilted weird or has some irregularities in it. Something about the lights hit it differently than a pre-lit fake one.”

Patrick Cullinan

Patrick Cullinan of Tonica decorates a Christmas tree. Cullinan said a real Christmas tree adds “another layer of the holiday spirit,” with the evergreen scent it gives off.

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EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE Pictured from left: Dr. Lori Schultz, Dr. Dennis Farrell, Dr. Jarred Farrell

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It’s their cup of tea

Illinois Valley residents enjoy drinking tea for a multitude of reasons

Story and photos by Shannon Serpette

A

fter a long day, especially in the chilly weather of fall and winter, a cup of hot tea can hit the spot.

Tea enthusiasts enjoy consuming their favorite beverage for several reasons – health benefits, relaxation, warmth, and taste.

“It is a full sensory experience,” Jen Miller of Lake Thunderbird, which is located in Putnam County, said.

Miller loves to start each day off with green tea or London fog.

“It wakes me up,” she said.

Miller, a microbiologist, buys commercially prepared tea bags and purchases organic herbs to blend her own loose-leaf varieties. She looks at the properties of each herb and flower to come up with her concoctions.

Miller has been a dedicated tea drinker since she was little.

“My dad turned me onto it when I was a kid,” she said.

“We would make sun tea.”

Miller’s tea habit may be good for more than just her

soul – her health could be getting a big boost.

As a dietitian with HyVee in Peru, Haleigh Kneebone Augspols helps customers with their dietary and nutritional needs – and she recommends daily tea consumption as part of a healthy diet.

She’s one to practice what she preaches, making sure to drink a variety of tea regularly.

“I love tea. It’s so relaxing to get a comfy blanket and a hot cup of tea. It just makes you feel good,” she said.

Like most tea drinkers, Augspols has her favorite flavors.

“For the fall season, my coworkers turned me onto the TAZO pumpkin spice tea. I also enjoy chamomile after a stressful day and TAZO passion. Iced black or green tea are my favorites during the summer months. For someone just starting to drink tea, it may be easier to adjust if you try more herbal teas with milder flavors,” she said.

What makes tea so healthy?

It’s all about the polyphe-

nols, particularly one group of them called flavonoids.

They’re a natural substance found in herbal and caffeinated teas. Loaded with antioxidants, they are believed to cut back on your risk of certain chronic diseases.

For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have considered tea to be healthy and beneficial for overall health. Even according to modern research, there is a link between tea and anti-inflammatory effects. Studies suggest that drinking tea could help prevent chronic diseases and conditions such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, Augspols said.

The idea that tea may help boost the immune system or prevent many chronic diseases doesn’t surprise Peggy Gomez of Princeton. She was raised to drink tea.

“My mother is Japanese,” she said.

See Tea page 18

How to sneak tea into your day

Hate the taste of tea, but want the health benefits? Peru HyVee dietitian Haleigh Kneebone Augspols suggests adding green tea to fruit juices, smoothies, and even soups to reap the benefits of tea.

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Peru HyVee dietitian Haleigh Kneebone Augspols said green tea is an antioxidant superstar.

10 Tea Recommendations New to the world of tea? Here are some picks recommended by local tea fans to get you started no matter what your taste buds crave.

For cinnamon lovers: Bengal Spice by Celestial Seasonings For fruit fanatics: Passion by Tazo For an autumn or winter favorite: Pumpkin Spice by Tazo For chocolate fans: Numi Chocolate Pu-erh For help nodding off at night: Sleepytime by Celestial Seasonings For green tea benefits: The Republic of Tea’s Double Green Matcha For a good breakfast tea: Victorian London Fog by Harney and Sons For chai fans: Numi Golden Chai For lemon lovers: Lemon Zinger by Celestial Seasonings For mint maniacs: Mint Medley by Bigelow

Tea is a healthy beverage that tastes great whether it’s hot, cold, or mixed with fruit juices.

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Tea

you add freshly sliced ginger root, garlic, and lemon and allow it to steep. It’s marvelFROM PAGE 16 ous for viral infections, sore throats, and migraines, according to Gomez.

Although her mother came No matter what’s wrong to the U.S. in the 1950s, she with a person, Gomez’s mom continued her love affair with loose leaf tea and passed down is a firm believer that there is a tea for it, instead of pills. that love to Gomez.

“My mom always gave us tea Whether it was the lifelong habit of drinking tea or not, for every little thing,” Gomez Gomez’s mom is still going said. “If you’re stressed, you strong at the age of 90. drink tea. If you have a miThose who decide to begraine, you drink tea.” come tea drinkers for the Her mother would always health benefits should stay serve green tea, and, dependaway from heavily processed ing upon the ailment she was ones, which aren’t as healthy trying to help, she would then as others. doctor it up with additional “During processing, some ingredients.

An old standby of her mom’s of the polyphenols in tea that Gomez still turns to when are destroyed. Thus, tea powders, decaffeinated teas, a member of her household is and bottled tea drinks may fighting illness is ginger root not offer the same health tea. Starting with green tea,

Make tea ice cubes

Peggy Gomez of Princeton, a lifelong tea drinker, shares a tip on what you can do if you make too much tea and don’t have room in the refrigerator for it. She suggests pouring it into ice cube trays and freezing it. Those cubes can later be used in iced tea to avoid watering down the flavor with regular ice cubes. They can also be used to chill lemonade and make a great lemonade tea blend.

benefits,” Augspols said.

While the most popular tea in Western countries is black tea, Asian countries favor green tea. Oolong tea, by comparison, is prominent in southern China, she said. No matter your preference, Augspols said that drinking any variety of tea should be beneficial because they all contain antioxidants and plenty of minerals, such as

calcium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, sodium, copper, and zinc.

If you’re looking for a caffeine jolt along with your antioxidants, you may want to make some black tea rather than green tea since black has more caffeine. When steeping your tea, the longer it steeps, the more caffeine it will contain, Augspols said.

Tea isn’t just for drinking These recipes can help sneak in the health benefits of tea for non-tea drinkers

By Shannon Serpette

N

ot everyone likes to sip a warm cup of tea. For those who want to get the health benefits of tea in a more subtle way, it’s easy to sneak this drink into recipes. Add it in

place of water in some of your favorite dishes. All it takes is a little creativity.

Those who are feeling the effects of a cold or the flu may want to give the lemon ginger

Tea Rice

3 cups hot water 4 to 5 tea bags of any variety, depending upon how much flavor is wanted 2 cups jasmine rice 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, either sliced finely or grated 1 tablespoon lemon juice Fresh herbs, such as rosemary or cilantro Steep the tea in the hot water for a few minutes. While it’s steeping, slice or grate the ginger. After the tea is done steeping, throw away the tea bags.

In a pan, add the tea, ginger, and rice. Bring the mixture to a boil. Then reduce the heat and let it simmer until the tea is absorbed, which will be about 15 minutes. Add the fresh herbs and lemon juice. Stir and enjoy.

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tea recipe a try. The warmth feels soothing on a sore throat. Plus, it’s loaded with healthy ingredients and will help you stay hydrated as you fight your way back to health.

Homemade Lemon Ginger Tea 2 tablespoons fresh ginger root, sliced 4 cups water 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon honey Peel and thinly slice the ginger. Put the ginger and water in a small pot or pan. Boil it for a minimum of 10 minutes. For a more flavorful tea, boil it for 20 minutes or longer or add more ginger. Remove the ginger slices and stir in the lemon and honey.

Left: This rice was made by using boiling ginger lemon tea instead of plain boiling water. Any variety of tea can be used to make lightly flavored rice. The ginger lemon rice pairs wonderfully with Chinese food dishes, such as ginger beef.

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Chai Cookies 1 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons chai tea leaves (either loose leaf tea or from bags that have been torn open) 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1/2 butter 1 tablespoon of water Put all the dry ingredients in a food processor, running it until the tea leaves have become a powder.

Add in the water, softened butter, and vanilla. Mix together in the food processor until it becomes a dough. If you’re having issues with the dough being too crumbly, add in a little more water until it’s the desired consistency.

Shape the dough into a log that you wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate or chill the dough for a minimum of one hour.

When you’re ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the dough into segments that are one-third of an inch thick. If you prefer softer cookies, you can slice them slightly bigger.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, depending upon how crisp you want the cookies to be.

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Green Tea Lemon-Ginger Shrimp 1 cup water 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea (any variety, but ginger-lemon green tea pairs well with shrimp) 1 teaspoon lemon zest ¼ cup lemon juice 1 to 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sliced fresh ginger ½ teaspoon garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 and 1/4 pounds of shelled and deveined raw shrimp 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (optional) 2 cups cooked brown or white rice (made with tea instead of plain water, if preferred) Boil the water before taking it off of the heat and adding in the green tea. Let it steep for several minutes. Once finished, strain the tea and allow it to cool.

In a bowl, add the tea, lemon juice and zest, ginger, soy sauce, honey, and garlic.

Next, put the oil in a pan, heat it, and then add the shrimp, salt, and if preferred, a bit of pepper. Sear the shrimp on one side, then flip them over. Add the tea sauce to the shrimp and continue cooking for two minutes. Add in the cilantro, cooking for another minute or two until the shrimp appears fully cooked.

Remove the shrimp and continue boiling the sauce for one minute. Add the shrimp back into the sauce. Serve it over the rice you cooked earlier.

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Dr. Allison Spayer, her husband, Matt, and children, Charlotte and Maddie, play with their dogs. Millie is playing fetch, while Tess stays near the family. Dr. Spayer, a veterinarian at Bridgeview Veterinary Hospital in Peru, Illinois, thinks families need to research a breed from multiple sources before considering which dog to bring home. She said golden retrievers and labrador retrievers make good family dogs.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

A family’s best friend Illinois Valley families share which dog breeds fit right in with children

By Ali Braboy

O

ne type of dog isn’t great for every family.

That’s why Dr. Allison Spayer thinks families need to research a breed from multiple sources before considering a dog to bring home.

Dr. Spayer, a veterinarian at Bridgeview Veterinary Hospital in Peru, Illinois, said, from what she has seen and read, golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers make good family dogs since they are friendly and enjoy kids. The dogs enjoy spending time outside, whether it be playing, hiking, or accompanying those who are going hunting and fishing.

The dogs are sturdy enough to play with kids.

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Dr. Spayer’s family has two German short-haired dogs, two Labradors, and a Great Dane.

Her family consists of her, her husband, an 18-year-old, and a 5-year-old.

She reiterated that not all dogs are for everyone, as the German short-haired dogs are high energy and need a lot of room to run.

To help parents wrestling with the decision of what dog breed to add to their household, some other Illinois Valley families weighed in on what dogs have fit in well with their families and children.

French bulldogs are a great choice for families with children, said Chase Ludford, 22, of Utica Township. She said the dogs have a lot of personal-

ity and are loving and caring.

“We always say they would rather be warm and comfortable inside sitting with you than outside running around,” she said.

Her family has a 6-year-old French bulldog named Pig and another French bulldog named Tilly, who is a puppy. Pig joined the family when she and her siblings were 14-, 12-, 10-, and 8-years old. Pig follows them everywhere they go, she said. He sits next to them on the couch and always wants to sleep next to someone.

Tilly has a lot of energy, loves to play, and has started to follow the family around the house.

For families with children who are easily startled by

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noises, it’s important to note that their dogs don’t normally bark.

“My dad always says they’re like the size of a small dog, but the personality of a big dog,” she said.

Sara Zborowski of Granville said Australian shepherds make for great family dogs.

Her family, which includes her husband, Neil, and their daughter, Aubrey, have two Australian shepherds – Phoebe is 10, and Zoey is 9.

“Ever since we got them, they’re loving,” Sara said.

“They love to cuddle and lay on our laps.”

The dogs love to go outside with the family when it comes to walks, hikes, and playing fetch. She describes them as highly active dogs.

Aubrey adores the dogs, and she loves to help out with taking care of them and taking them on walks.

Sara would recommend these dogs to a family as long as they’re active and like to play outside. She does not think it would be good to keep these dogs inside an apartment or inside for long

How has the pandemic affected people and their pets?

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Sara Zborowski of Granville stands with her husband, Neil, her daughter, Aubrey, and their two Australian shepherds — Phoebe (black and white) and Zoey (brown and white). The family thinks these dogs make great companions for children. periods of time. And, for those with allergies or sensitivities, it’s important to note these dogs do shed.

Sara’s family has a fenced-in backyard with a doggy door, so the dogs can go outside and run during the

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day. They get along with everyone, including parents and friends, and they act as good watchdogs.

Paula and Matt Baker of Peru have two rescue adoption See Dogs page 22

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the number of veterinarian visits is at an all-time high, said Dr. Allison Spayer, a veterinarian at Bridgeview Veterinary Hospital in Peru, Illinois.

She said it’s not just her office experiencing this increase.

It is happening across the board. She follows many veterinarian groups online who are also reporting a high number of vet visits.

Bridgeview Veterinary Hospital has seen tons of puppy and kitty visits, more so than the number of people adopting older pets, she said. And since people are home more than usual, it appears they are observing things about their pets they might not have noticed before.

Dr. Spayer said a common group of dogs the hospital is seeing is doodles.

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2

1

1. Miles Baker of Peru and family dog, Simon, a whippet beagle mix, take in the fall scenery.

2. Miles Baker of Peru rests with Willa, a greyhound mutt.

3. Chase Ludford of Utica Township says French bulldogs like hers, named Tilly, make wonderful family dogs.

4. Pig is another one of Chase Ludford’s dogs.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

3

Dogs

whippet beagle mix.

“Simon is super sweet,” Matt said, as Simon was sniffFROM PAGE 21 ing the baby’s toes.

At her age, Willa keeps dogs who are around several her distance and sleeps children at times. The Bakers throughout the day. As she’s have a son named Miles, who gotten older, the kids are was born in July. The two a little too active for her. also have nieces and nephWhen the other kids are ews as well as friends with over, Matt and Paula can children who come in contact send them out with Simon, with the dogs. and they wear each other Their older dog is a greyout. But also, Simon will hound mutt named Willa and walk along nicely with them their younger dog, Simon, is a and follow them around.

4 “Probably because he thinks they’re going to drop some food,” Paula said.

Simon’s good at being a shadow for them – where the kids are, the dog will be, Paula said.

“I always encourage rescuing dogs because I find that mutts have a better temper in general than purebreds. They’re usually more easy-tempered with everyone,” Paula said.

She said it’s important to know where the dogs come

from, as sometimes a rescue comes from a hoarding situation, and they will need a lot of time to learn how to be with people.

“If you’re patient with the dog, the dog will meld into your family,” Paula said.

“When it comes to training rescues, consistency and language among family members is key.”

She said an old dog can definitely learn new tricks, and that includes learning how to fit into a family.

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.

22 – Winter 2020

BCR_IV Living_121920.indd 22

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