SVM-MAG

SUMMER 2016

PRSRT STD Bulk Rate U.S. Postage

PA I D Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081 *****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

Restaurant offers menu full of favorites

New shop full of handmade items

P.O. Box 498 Sterling, IL 61081

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Gift shop helps raise spirits at KSB

Building lasting relationships based on integrity and trust.

Rely on Sterling Federal Bank for all your lending needs.

Contact Natalie Cole...

402 North Galena Avenue, Dixon 815-288-3327. Ext 3554 email: ncole@sterlingfederal.com

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS We welcome to the Community Health Clinic our new physician Denice Smith, M.D. SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS NT TMENTS F FOR OR M MEDICAL & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Where Needs and Resources Come Together!

SM-ST3842-0718

WHITESIDE COUNTY H E A LT H D E PA RT M E N T Community Health Clinic

2

1300 W. 2nd St. Rock Falls, IL 815-626-2230 www.whitesidehealth.org

DENTAL CLINIC Provides preventative and restorative treatment for children. Emergency care for adults.

FAMILY PLANNING Provides reproductive health, birth control and STD testing and treatment.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Provides support services to persons experiencing problems related to emotional and mental illness.

MEDICAL CLINIC Provides primary and preventative health care staffed by physicians and nurse practitioners, who are skilled with all ages.

MEDICARE/MEDICAID/SELF-PAY/INSURANCE WELCOMED s u m m e r

1 6

SUMMER 2016

K-9 ENRICHMENT CENTER

20

Publisher Sam R Fisher Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Editor Jeff Rogers Magazine Editor Kathleen Schultz Page Design Lucas Pauley Published by

Sauk Valley Media 3200 E. Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 815-625-3600 Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Dixon Living Magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

COVER • STORY

So your dog can become more than just a family pet

Serving Dixon & The Sauk Valley Area Since 1904

(815) 288-4469

Beth Baker

Licensed Funeral Director

Jesse P. Partington Licensed Funeral Director

213 Crawford Ave., Dixon, IL www.prestonschilling.com

Richard Schilling, Owner d i x o n

l i v i n g

3

Contents 9 5 – Lori’s Gifts Gift shop has been serving KSB patients, staff and visitors since 2003

9 – P&C Lawn Service

5

Family keeps working hard, even when times get tough

13 – Galena Steak House Quality, customer service and portion sizes keep customers coming back

16 – K-9 Enrichment Center

13

16

Facility brings pet owners closer to their animals through training

21 – Dilbeck’s Canvas Shop

21

Canvas shop has been serving customers since the early 1900s

25 – Tim Keller

25

Sterling resident a longtime protector of the prairies in Dixon, beyond

29 – Rustic Roots Home and Decor New shop full of handmade items, refurbished furniture and more

29 4

s u m m e r

1 6

KSB’s hidden treasure Lori’s Gifts has been serving staff and patients – and anyone looking for gifts for all occasions – since January 2003 Lori’s Gifts’ manager Angela James (left), 55, and volunteer Jennifer Yeager, 70, fill a shopping bag for a customer at Lori’s Gifts in KSB Hospital.

STORY & PHOTOS BY AVALYNDA CASEY FOR DIXON LIVING

Continued on page 7

Mark Chesnutt | Tickets $20 | 7.23.2016 STARTING AT

2016

ENTERTAINMENT Schedule For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-457-9975 or online at: wildroseresorts.com.

Thompson square | Tickets $35 | 9.2.2016 STARTING AT

Arch Allies | Tickets $15 | 10.29.2016 Country Gold Tour | Tickets $20 | 11.13.2016 Crystal Gayle | Tickets $25 | 12.10.2016

All acts are subject to change. Must be 21 years or older and have a Wild Rose Players Club card to attend. Prices do not include tax or convenience fees.

Must be 21 years old or older to gamble. If you or someone you know needs gambling treatment, call 1.800.BETS OFF.

d i x o n

l i v i n g

5

Community is More than Part of Our Name • Community Involvement • Community Support • Community Growth Experienced & Friendly Service

1021 N. Galena Ave., Dixon

815-284-8500

Locally Owned & Managed

Other locations to serve you in Sterling, Rock Falls, Morrison & Fulton

www.commstbk.com

Northern Illinois’ Most Trusted Propane Company 12420 W. Penn Road ~ Polo, IL ~ 815-946-3081 www.burkardtslpgas.com SM-ST3840-0718

6

s u m m e r

1 6

T

ABOVE: Kids love to get their picture taken with “Giraffe,” a Melissa and Doug giant stuffed animal at Lori’s Gifts. Flowers are available for purchase with free delivery anywhere in the hospital.

ucked away as it is, in a corner inside the entrance to KSB Hospital, you might not even realize it’s there.

But Lori’s Gifts, a festival of toys, clothes, accessories, snacks, and patient essentials, is worth finding.

The gift shop has been serving KSB staff and patients – and anyone looking for gifts for all occasions – since January 2003.

Angela James, 55, manages the store, which is part of a nationwide chain founded in 1981 as Lori’s Hallmark. It now has 331 stores in 39 states.

“We see all ages, and we have our regulars who come in every week for our discount items,” James said. “We are bigger than common hospital gift shops, and have room to stay organized. We carry a variety of comfort items, and take pride in how we greet people.”

Two volunteers and four employees create that welcoming atmosphere.

Hospital patients and their visitors looking for snacks, drinks and comfort items are the shop’s primary focus.

In addition to robes, slippers, socks and personal care items such as lip balm, hairbrushes, reading glasses and toothpaste, shoppers can get cards, magazines, games, and plush animals.

Customized gift baskets are available, as are fresh flowers from Petals to Parties of Dixon, silk or potted plants, and musical balloon bouquets.

Specialty items include Noelle clothing, a variety of purses, bags and scarves, collectible figurines, jewelry, inspirational gifts and seasonal items.

Another service offered through its partnership with KSB: All of the above can be ordered online or over the phone, and delivered in-hospital the same day, free of charge.

Lori’s also provides discounts for volunteers and military members, senior discounts on Wednesdays, and a rewards program.

Dudley Winn, KSB’s director of material management, works with Lori’s on the hospital’s behalf.

“We want our patients to feel like they are family,” Winn said. “Lori’s is a place for comfort items that improve the moments patients have to be in the hospital.”

Jennifer Yeager, 70, has been a volunteer for almost 4 years.

“I’m a people person, and I love to work here,” Yeager said.

“People also come in who aren’t shopping for family members in the hospital. They are shopping for themselves.” s

RIGHT: Popular coloring books make great gifts for teens and adults staying at the hospital.

BELOW: The shop offers many choices of and plush and precious stuffed animals.

Michele Anderson, 54, a representative for Life Vest, a wearable defibrillator, stops in for a snack and a friendly chat with Yeager, who has been a volunteer at Lori’s Gifts for 4 years.

d i x o n

l i v i n g

7

Puzzled

by Your Insurance Options?

Let us help you put all the pieces in place.

With comprehensive insurance protection from a trusted team of professionals, it feels good to know you’re never alone. Trust our experience, financial strength and proven commitment to our policy holders for the quality coverage and the peace of mind you deserve.

3200 E. Lynn Blvd.

Sterling 815-625-3661 SM-ST7495-0718

AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • HEALTH • LIFE

NOW OPEN

in Dixon

Open since 2003, Hughes Resources has provided staffing solutions to companies and job opportunities for individuals in Northwest Illinois. We offer JOB PLACEMENT within the administrative, industrial and professional sectors, to include temp-to-hire, temporary and direct hire placements.

Apply online at www.hughesresources.com

Like Us on Facebook to see new job openings!

102 S. Galena Avenue, Dixon - 2nd Floor

Phone: 815.835.3000 8

s u m m e r

1 6

Mowers run in the family

Connor Clark tames the wild grass at Credit Auto Sales in Dixon. He is one of the members of the Clark family who runs P&C Lawn Service.

Clark family tree has put down roots in well-manicured yards

M

STORY BY AVALYNDA CASEY & PHOTOS BY ALEX T. PASCHAL FOR DIXON LIVING

ost kids take up lawn mowing so they can have a little walking around money.

The Clark brothers turned their childhood business into the main source of income for their family of six, and now have clients all over Lee County and elsewhere in the region.

Patrick, 26, started P&C Lawn Service in 2006, when he was a Dixon High School sophomore. The C stands for Conner, the brother who joined him in the venture. He was a fifth-grader at the time.

“It was cash in my pocket, and kept me out of trouble,” said Connor, a 2013 Dixon High grad.

Their dad helped keep them mowing on the straight and narrow.

“I saw how much time school sports took from homework, so the boys didn’t do that,”

To get in touch P&C Lawn Service serves Dixon and other Sauk Valley towns, with customers in Sterling, Rock Falls, Amboy, Mendota and Polo.

Estimates are free.

Email pandclawnservice@outlook.com or call Patrick Clark at 815-441-8267 or Connor Clark at 779-861-0886, or go to pandclawnservice.com to learn more. said their dad, Stephen Clark. “And I didn’t want them sitting around doing nothing, so I gave them on-the-job training.”

The boys learned the difference between flowers and weeds from the Internet. They learned about trimming, seeding and fertilizing. And

they learned dependability, responsibility, and the value of an honest day’s work. In 2009, they added snow removal to P&C’s roster of services.

Mom Margaret Clark chauffeured the boys to their customers’ homes, taught them the basics of mowing and lawn care, and took care of customer relations.

“I was the designated driver at first, and I took care of client authorizations,” she said.

When she lost her job in 2010, she joined the business full-time, and “the mowing business became a way to keep a roof over our heads,” she said.

Now, Margaret takes care of the billing and keeps the books. In her spare time, she volunteers at Serenity Hospice as a coordinator and bookkeeper.

Continued on page 11

d i x o n

l i v i n g

9

BONNELL IS NOW A CERTIFIED TRAILER DEALER! CONTACT US TO FIND THE RIGHT TRAILER FOR YOU!

Phone: (800) 851-9664 Fax: (815) 284-8815 Website: www.bonnell.com Address: 1385 Franklin Grove Rd. Dixon, IL 61021

CONTACT

815-284-3819 info@bonnell.com

ROAD DRAGS

LEAF VACUUMS

SM-ST3832-0718

10

s u m m e r

1 6

SPREADERS

PLOWS & WINGS

Continued from page 9

Stephen’s overall experience as a handyman and his mechanical skills helped keep the equipment, and the boys, in business.

“I spent a lot of time at Ace Hardware, and Rich and his team gave us yard and garden advice,” Stephen said.

Once Patrick was old enough to drive, the brothers upped their efforts, contracting with more yards.

“We make sure our services are mutually beneficial to our customers,” he said. “When it’s dry and the grass doesn’t grow much, we don’t take advantage of our customers. We can skip a week.”

The business has grown through wordof-mouth, grocery store billboards, homemade fliers, and door-to-door sales. They’ve done so well that, in addition to covering basic family expenses, they’ve paid off the mortgage.

P&C will mow and trim, spray weeds, clean gutters, mulch, and do basic landscaping. Over the summer, they hire extra help in the form of two high-schoolers. The brothers have four grandstand mowers, and can do a 40-inch to a 60-inch cut. They use ethanol-free blowers, weed-whackers, hedge trimmers, sprayers, and a rototiller.

Their signature uniforms – orange shirts and sweatshirts with a tree frog for the logo – stand out in yards and fields of green.

Ladies in Orange, a new branch to their business, is a group of women employees who do basic landscaping – building walls, planting bushes and plants, weeding gardens, laying mulch, and helping people maintain their gardens. Recycling, donating and replanting plants among their customer base is part of their focus on being green.

Most of their customers are residential, and are serviced on 7-, 10-, and 14-day rotations.

Older brother, Christian, and younger brother, Aaron, 16, also work for the family business.

Aaron started picking up trash and sticks for his brothers when he was 5, and now his specialty is mowing.

The secret to their success is not just their 16-hour days, Margaret said.

“What has made this work: We have always been a family who has talked and worked things out.” s

Pat Patric rick runs a the la k (also pic mower a t t wn h ere w ured at b Credit Au o ith br t other ttom) is ta o Sales. s Con king c nor a nd C are of hristia n.

The Clark brothers, Connor (left) and Patrick, sort customers by date on their magnetic calendar.

(Photo by Avalynda Casey)

d i x o n

l i v i n g

11

Your Home for DIY Projects

BIG & SMALL Floor to rafter, we’re stocked with hardware, tools, paint and building supplies for all the jobs on your to-do list.

SM-ST7490-0718

900 N. Galena Ave., Dixon, IL • 815-288-7841

Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am-5pm www.acehardwaredixon.com www.acerentalplacedixon.com

Lost Nation Golf Club will test your skills, and treat your senses, unlike any other golf course in Illinois.

GOLF DIGEST “Best Places to Play”

SM-ST7481-0718

• 18 Holes • Weekday Senior Special • Group Outings and Steak Fry • Open to the Public

12

• All day Green Fees • Twilight 3:00 Every Day • Bar and Grill • Video Gaming

LOST NATION COUPON 4 Golfers, 18 Holes & Cart

100

$

Tee time required. 2016 Season Only.

Valid weekdays (all day) & weekends (after 2pm). Not valid on holidays, outings, groups, or with any other offer.

6931 S. Lost Nation Road | Dixon, IL 61021

Visit our website at www.lostnationgolf.com for rates and weekly specials.

Call 815.652.4212 for tee-time reservations, group outing information, or our 2016 Information Kit. s u m m e r

1 6

More than just steak

Galena Steak House manager Maureen Kelley and owner Danni Qulafi at the restaurant.

Galena Steak House serves everything from mouth-watering pasta dishes to bold burgers

G

STORY BY JERMAINE PIGEE & PHOTOS BY BRANDON BONNETTE FOR DIXON LIVING reg Witzleb and his wife, Virginia, have been coming to Galena Steak House since it opened 15 years ago.

Why? “Good food, good service and good atmosphere,” Greg said.

Steaks aren’t the only fare: The restaurant also specializes in soups, salads, seafood and different pasta dishes.

“We offer between 15 and 20 pastas,” manager Maureen Kelley said. “We actually have more pasta than steak options.”

The pasta selections include the

mouth-watering seafood imperial: shrimp, scallops and crab meat tossed in a lobster cream sauce with angel hair pasta. There are also spaghetti marinara and fettuccine Alfredo dishes.

The loaded menu also has plenty of burger and sandwich choices, such as the popular liberty burger, with melted Swiss cheese, sauteed onions and mushrooms, or the charbroiled top sirloin sandwich, a lean, center cut, 10-ounce steak served on toast.

Continued on page 15

The restaurant has 10 to 15 desserts available at any given time.

d i x o n

l i v i n g

13

Serving The Sauk Valley Area For 35 Years!

NO Appointment Needed Services!

- Alignments - Brakes -Shocks/Struts - Oil Changes

- Fluid Exchanges - Rental Vehicles - Hitches - Tires of ALL Sizes!

- Nitrogen - Wheels - Bed Covers - & MORE!

We do “Moore” than just tires!

Garage Doors Installations • Sales • Service

We sell and install all types of garage doors, as well as garage door openers. aluminum • steel • wood • fiberglass • vinyl • carriage styles Residential - Commercial - Industrial Parts, Repair & Springs Repaired

gdsonline.biz

GARAGE DOOR

Specialists

Serving the Sauk Valley Area For 35 Years!

1311 W. 4th Street, Sterling • 815-626-8911 since r ms

1869

a s&f

e hom l a c r lo ge fo a r e cov ance r u s n

ing i

id Prov

Adami Ada mi Ins Insura Insurance urance ura Age Agency 712 First Avenue, Rock Falls 815-625-6220 rtate@adamiinsurance.com

Hugh F. Miller Insurance Agency, Inc. 801 First Avenue, Rock Falls 815-626-1300 hughmillerinsurance.com

Sauk Valley Insurance Services

Leffelman Leffel Lef felman fel man & Ass Associ Associates ociate oci ates ate s

First Fir st Sta State te Ins Insura Insurance urance ura nce 385 Ch Chica Chicago icago go Rd, Pa Paw w Paw Paw 815-627-8552 gsaf74@yahoo.com

Amboy Amb 815-857-2125 lisa.leffelmanassoc@comcast.net

Kirchhofer Insurance Store

LaMoille 815-638-2171 linda@leffelmanassoc.com

102 N. Elm, Franklin Grove 815-456-2319 kirchhofferinsurance.com

Miller Insurance Group 427 N. Main Street, Rochelle 815-561-9911 insure10@frontier.com

Query Insurance Agency, Inc. 109 6th Street, Dixon 330 May Mart Drive, Rochelle 815-288-2541 815-562-4152 www.saukvalleyinsurance.com mail@queryinsurance.com

B V-A

BRADFORD VICTOR-ADAMS

MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY Member Owned and Operated

14

s u m m e r

1 6

Cornerstone Corner Cor nersto ner stone sto ne Insura urance ura nce Ag Agenc ency y Insurance Agency 102 W. Main Morrison 815-772-7782 lsandrock@2cornerstone.com

Mel Saad Agency

Sublette 815-849-5219 chris@leffelmanassoc.com

928 8th Avenue, Erie 309-659-2470 saad@mchsi.com

Baylor Insurance Agency

VanderVinne Agency

Lee Center 815-857-2716 rbaylor1@gmail.com

127 E. Main St. Morrison 815-772-8900 angievandervinne@yahoo.com

120 W. South Street | Franklin Grove 815-456-2334 | www.bradfordmutual.com

Continued from page 13

For those eating light, the top sirloin also can be chopped up and served over romaine lettuce.

Popular appetizers include onion blossoms and fried calamari, while dessert options include chocolate cream pie, carrot cake and turtle pie.

“Their desserts are really good,” Virginia said.

“They are worth a visit on their own.”

Galena Steak House’s warm, soothing environment is enhanced by the fireplace in the center of the dining area, which makes it a perfect date night destination.

Diners can choose tables, or eat at the full-service bar, which is flanked by small, circular tables.

While varied, Galena Steak House recipes have remained the same the last decade and a half, which seems to suit the customers just fine: They’re constantly busy, nights and weekends, Chef Mentor Qulafi said.

Even during lunch hour on a Wednesday, the restaurant was full of hungry customers.

“This is the place to come for whatever you have a taste for,” said Qulafi, whose father, Danni, owns the restaurant.

“What keeps people coming back here is the high standard of quality, the portion sizes and the prices,” Kelley said. “We have high standards, and we are the best at what we do.” s

Galena Steak House

The Galena Steak House, 1101 N. Galena Ave. in Dixon, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Reservations are recommended for groups of six or more.

Call 815-285-1625, find it on Facebook or go to galenasteakhouse.com to learn more.

d i x o n

l i v i n g

15

Dogs will dig this

Granny Rose’s new K-9 Enrichment Center a pawsome new facility

Sadie sits next to her owner, Sue Devers, during the Show ’N Show Off dog rally June 4 at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center in Dixon.

STORY BY KACIE KLINGE & PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KRABBENHOEFT FOR DIXON LIVING

W

hether your pesky pooch won’t stop chewing on your shoes or your competent canine needs an agility skills refresher, Granny Rose’s new K-9 Enrichment Center has a class to fit your needs.

This is no one-size-fits-all facility; it caters to each pet, no matter breed or pedigree, and each owner’s needs, center Director Deb Proctor said.

Seven trainers are teaching 14 classes at the $1 million, 13,500-square-foot, AKC-sanctioned center, which opened in March. They include “puppy kindergarten”, basic obedience, intermediate agility, therapy dog training, dog sports, conformation and even dog psychology.

“I get excited every time I walk in here,” Proctor said. “The classes have been wonderful.”

But it’s not only a place for dogs to learn new

16

s u m m e r

1 6

K-9 Enrichment Center classes

Classes at Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center are offered in 6-week units, at $90 per unit. On-site private sessions are $30 each; off-site sessions are available.

Drop-in practices are held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sundays. Drop-in practice for those at more advanced agility and obedience levels costs $5 per session; guided conformation drop-in practice is $8 per session.

Contact office@grannyrosek-9.org or 815-677-9350, go to grannyrosek-9.org or find Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center on Facebook for a complete list of schedules, fees, and other information. Tax-deductible donations can be made on the website or sent to the center at 613 River Lane, Dixon, IL 61021. tricks, but it’s also a tricked out spot to hold dog shows.

Proctor, a Sterling native who has been running agility with her own dogs since 2012, dreamed of opening a local training facility.

When she heard that Mark Knie, Granny Rose Animal Shelter board member for more than 30 years, was interested in doing something similar, she gave him a call.

It was a match made in dog heaven.

Deb Rinard (left) of Dixon and Karel Bazilewich of Mount Carroll control their dogs during the adult showmanship competition June 4 at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center in Dixon.

“Mark and I work really well together,” Proctor said. “He needed my agility background to finish design and equipment-buying, and of course he had the vision to keep it all going.”

That equipment includes a state-of-the-art AstroTurf-like surface, for traction and comfort, and lighting designed to eliminate shadows that would interfere with any jumping or agility activities. There is free wi-fi and plenty of outlets for devices for competitors and spectators alike.

The center raised $215,000 over the last year to pay for the project; the rest of the money is coming from savings and from a loan, Knie said. Rental, class and shelter fees – and, of course, donations – will help pay off the loan.

The project is an outgrowth of the nonprofit Granny Rose Animal Shelter. Initially, the board wanted to offer training classes because many dogs being adopted were being returned because of obedience issues.

The board decided to expand on that idea by building a facility big enough to handle American Kennel Club-sanctioned shows. That certification not only will help the center sustain itself – any sanctioned club within a 125-mile radius can rent the center for sanctioned events – but it also will help boost the local economy as well, by making Dixon a regional tourism draw for dog lovers.

Sue Devers of Morrison walks her dog, Sadie, through the rally course.

Mark Knie of Polo walks his dog, Mickey, through the rally course.

Continued on page 19

d i x o n

l i v i n g

17

FOR ALL OF YOUR PLUMBING, HEATING & AC SERVICE NEEDS! Sewer Rodding · Sewer Televising & Steaming Franklin Livestock Waterers · Site Plumbing

OFFERS

Text CULVERS to 50334

Sewer Line Repairs · Water Service Repairs · Backhoe Underground Boring · Drainfields & Septics Backflow Prevention & Maintenance · Softeners Boilers · Furnaces · Air Conditioning Kohler Products · Kitchen & Bath Remodels Fixtures · Garbage Disposals · Water Heaters Goulds Jet Pumps · Submersible Water Pumps Sump Pumps · Ejector Pumps

CALL !

Y TODA

ON THE GO JOIN THE TEXT CLUB

LOWER LABOR RATES ON ALL SERVICE CALLS!

1317 N Galena Ave, Dixon (815) 288-9403

Family owned and operated since 1967!

502 IL Rt. 2, Dixon • 815-284-2044

IL Licensed 055-000988

SM-ST7498-0718

PROTECTION WHILE

www.culvers.com

Experience the Healing Power of Pets

YOU’RE ON THE ROAD. Your dreams deserve more than an insurance card tucked in your glove box. That’s why I go beyond a piece of paper to give you smart, customized coverage and real peace of mind to pursue what matters most. Contact me today for a competitive quote.

Let’s talk today.

Bob Maltry Agency 709 N Brinton Ave Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 288-4206 bmaltry@amfam.com

We recognize the benefits of integrating traditional medicine with complimentary medicine as a supportive service.

Contact Unity Hospice and let us show you how our animal-assisted therapy program,“Paws for Patients,”can help your loved one.

Unity Hospice of Western Illinois Serving 17 counties in Illinois

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, American Family Insurance Company, American Standard Insurance Company of Ohio, American Standard Insurance Company of Wisconsin, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 The General®, 2636 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37214 ©2016 011765 – 4/16

18

s u m m e r

1 6

“Helping You Help the Ones You Love.”

SM-ST7502-0718

(815) 561-8866 www.unityhospice.com

Continued from page 17

“

If you go home from work at night and you’ve got the family dog, you pet him and go for a walk you have that owner/pet relationship. When you begin to do something like advanced obedience or agility you and that dog start to work as a team – then your relationship starts to take on a whole other aspect to it.

DEB PROCTOR

“

LEFT: Kelton Schwamberger, 11, of Amboy runs with his dog, Starr, at the junior showmanship competition during the eighth annual Show ‘N Show Off rally June 4 at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center in Dixon. Schwamberger received first place in junior showmanship.

ABOVE: Lacie sniffs a treat while her owner, Karen Bazilewich, receives second place in the adult showmanship competition.

It won’t be Granny’s first show experience.

The annual Show ‘N Show Off Day held every June at the animal shelter for dogs of all stripes, now will move to the center. It features full length obedience, rally, agility and conformation elements.

Sue Devers and her German wire-haired pointer Sadie were among the first to take a class at the enrichment center, and she couldn’t think of a single negative thing to say about her experience.

“The instructor was very informative, she

could read my dog very well,” Devers said. “It really is an absolutely awesome facility. It can draw so much to the community [and] it’s giving dog owners some other avenues and places to interact with their dogs.”

That’s what makes the K-9 Enrichment Center so special, Proctor said. It allows owners and their dogs to connect on a deeper level.

“If you go home from work at night and you’ve got the family dog, you pet him and go for a walk you have that owner/pet relationship,” Proctor said. “When you begin to do

something like advanced obedience or agility you and that dog start to work as a team – then your relationship starts to take on a whole other aspect to it.

“All of a sudden, the dog isn’t just someone cute and fuzzy. ... That dog is my partner, and I’m aware of my partner’s needs, and my partner knows my body language and my needs. We communicate on a different level.

“It’s a much stronger bond than it is just having the family pet.” s

d i x o n

l i v i n g

19

ALWAYS AT YOUR DISPOSAL

We’re here to help you grow!

Serving Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Bureau and Ogle Counties

The First National Bank in Amboy Where you come first.

Rated

5 stars 2015

Bauer Financial www.bauerfinancial.com

Mobile Banking Now Available!

DIXON 1314 N. Galena Ave. • 728 S. Crawford Ave

AMBOY 220 E. Main St. • 301 E. Joe Dr.

• Weekly Residential Service • 2-8 yard Commercial Containers • 10-40 yard Roll-off Containers • Compactors • Radio Dispatched Trucks • Experienced Local Drivers • Licensed Special Waste & Asbestos Hauler 1214 S. Bataan Rd., Dixon, IL 815-625-1000 or 815-284-2432

815-857-3625

www.republicservices.com

www.fnbamboy.com

All The Comforts of Home

Private Suites Available

and Then Some!

We Offer 1110 E. River Road (Hwy 2 North) • Dixon 815-284-3324 M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-Noon

Formerly Coventry Living Center

“We Care For Loved Ones Like Family” 612 W. 2 612 23rd 3rd 3r d St Street, et St Sterling, li IL 6 61081 1081 10 81 815-626-9020 • www.regencycaresterling.com

SM-ST2396-0617

20

Skilled Care • Short Term Rehab Traditional Care • Speech Occupational and Physical Therapies

s u m m e r

1 6

Yancy Webster, 52, looks through a photo album of old cars and upholstery projects recorded through the years by owners of Dilbeck’s Canvas Shop, which was started in the early 1900s.

A business on the mend

W

hat happens when a boat cover or canvas tarp develops a tear or rip?

If not repaired, the small slit starts flapping in the wind, the edges shred, and the cover is ruined.

To the rescue is Yancy Webster, 52, owner of Dilbeck’s Canvas Shop, also known as Diversified Canvas.

The business began as a harness repair shop about 100 years ago – so long ago that the original owner’s full name is lost to time.

“Mr. Ike ran a harness repair shop in the 1900s for more than 4 decades in Paw Paw for farmers and their horses,” Webster said. “In the ’20s, when combines replaced horses, he repaired the combine canvas binders that carried the grain on conveyor belts into wagons.

Dilbeck’s Canvas Shop makes and repairs boat covers, awnings STORY & PHOTOS BY AVALYNDA CASEY FOR DIXON LIVING

About Dilbeck’s

Dilbeck’s Canvas Shop, 2123 W. Third St., Dixon, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday through Friday.

Call 815-284-6868 to learn more.

“He saw the future impact of machinery.”

Clyde Meddle bought the shop in the ’60s and changed the name to Meddler’s Canvas Shop.

He moved it to Mendota, stopped repairing harnesses and added tarp and awning repair.

Jim and Carol Dilbeck bought him out in 1979. They added motorcycle and auto seats and convertible tops to the repair lineup.

Webster was friends with the Dilbecks; they rode horses together.

Webster, who repaired his own tack and patched his own clothes, had learned to sew from his grandmother, 93-year-old Irene Peterson of Polo. She worked for Boyd Casket Factory in Dixon, sewing casket liners for 30 years, until it closed in the ’70s.

The Dilbecks always were looking for good help, and people with a good work ethic, so Webster, then in high school, started working for them.

Continued on page 23

d i x o n

l i v i n g

21

Does Your Mom Know We Are Not A Nursing Home?

We invite you to relax and enjoy a delightful combination of great food & service tonight.

Chicken Wings/Fried Chicken/ Ribs/AllYou Can Eat Walleye/ Appetizers/Homemade Desserts.

100% Healthent m Depaurtre!

S

Staying actively engaged is our business!

Ask about our Summer move in specials.

2705 Avenue E • Sterling, IL 61081

815-622-2800

Cust Caterionm Availab g le

www.MorningsideofSterling.com Pet Friendly

©2015 Five Star Quality Care, Inc.

INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE

S D M pe ail on ci y -F als ri

g ay in esd r c u at Tu sti ay Fe ns me rsd Ca Do Thu $1 $1 fts a Dr

Wide selection of spirits OVER 18 TAP HANDLES FROM Oregon • Illinois • Michigan California • Colorado

Featuring Beers from: Goose Island • Left Hand • Founders Stone Brewery & Many, Many More.

Your favorite games on our 110” projection screen 87 S. Galena Ave., Dixon thestablesbar.dixon@gmail.com SM-ST7522-0718

22

s u m m e r

1 6

8 1 5 2 8 8 9 3 2 9

SM-ST7525-0718

Delicious is served

Indulge your craving for something fresh and satisfying Salad bar available 7 days a week

CORNER MARKET

Tim & Patty Oliver

748 North Brinton Ave • Dixon, IL • 815-288-7480 You Can find Our Ad Online At www.oliverscornermarket.com

Webster moved the business to 2123 W. Third St. in 2006. The property consists of two large buildings filled with several sewing machines, fabric and vinyl sample books, large tables for laying out fabric, and boat seat upholstery and carpet installation tools.

Continued from page 21

In 1990, when Jim Dilbeck took a civil service job and wanted to sell, Webster became the business’ fourth owner.

He stayed in Mendota 16 years, converting a pop-up camper into a mobile shop to re-fit metal tubing for covers for that were too big to take out of the water.

He moved everything to 2123 W. Third St. in Dixon in 2006, where he has two large buildings filled with several sewing machines, fabric and vinyl sample books, large tables for laying out fabric, and boat seat upholstery and carpet installation tools.

In addition to the vehicle upholstery work the Dilbecks took on, the shop also makes and install residential awnings, repairs flags, and even sells some boat equipment.

Boat covers, though, is Dilbeck’s bread and butter. Webster and his employee, Corey Harrison of Dixon, make about 70 a year; their waiting list is 2 months long.

“I am always getting compliments on the fit of the boat covers,” Webster said. “They turn out real nice.”

As a further testament to his work ethic, Webster also works third shift at Woods in Oregon, and is president of the Polo School Board.

Large tables allow Webster to spread out his canvas, use old material for a pattern, and cut out the new one to sew together.

“Business ownership is hard work, and not everyone is cut out for it,” Webster said. “The hours are all day, and if you aren’t working, you aren’t making money.

Still, the canvas shop’s fifth owner might be coming down the pike. Webster and his wife, Shelia, who was a shop seamstress until last

year, when she went to work for Polo schools, have a son, Cayden. The sixth-grader sometimes helps out in the shop, and likes to create his own projects with fabric and a staple gun.

Webster likely wouldn’t mind.

“This is one industry that is a dying art. Few people are left who know how to do it well.” s

d i x o n

l i v i n g

23

When Your Loved One Needs Memory Care...

We’re Simply The Best

Come F Co For A Visit T To A Be Beautiful tiful Home Like Environment.

One Price - One Level Of Care For Excellence In Dedicated Memory Care Assistance.

• Licensed Nurses 24/7 • On Site Portable X-Ray, EKG, Lab & Podiatry Services • On Site Medical Director Service • Home Cooked Meals

• Housekeeping • Laundry • Beautician & Barber Service • Qualified Veterans Assistance

Avonlea Cottage of Dixon For A Tour Contact Alma Wood, RN Executive Director/Director Of Nursing

503 Countryside Lane, Dixon, IL Phone 815-288-6044 • Cell 815-499-1682 www.avonleacottage.com

LEE-OGLE

Providing Paramedic Care for Dixon & the Surrounding Area Since 1983

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Lee-Ogle Transportation System will take you where you need to go in the area Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm.

Provides Transportation for all residents in Lee and Ogle County Regardless of age, ability, or disability Current Schedule FareFare Structure

SM-ST7503-0718

Age 0-5 0-5 In-Town In-Town $1.00 $1.00 • Age • Age 0-5 Out-Of-Town • Age 6-59 In-Town $0.35/mile $2.00 Age Out-Of-Town 6-59 In-Town$0.35/mile $2.00 • Age• 0-59 •• Age Out-Of-Town $0.35/mile Age 6-59 60+/Disability In-Town $1.00 • AgeOut-Of-Town: 60+/Disability$0.35/mile In-Town $1.00 • Age 60+/Disability ($5.00 maximum) • Age 60+/Disability Out-Of-Town: $0.35/mile • Subject to Additional Fees ($5.00 maximum)

Call 815-288-2117 to schedule a ride or to provide a donation today!

Lee-Ogle Transportation System is located at the Reagan Transit Center at 210 E. Progress Drive in Dixon!

24

s u m m e r

1 6

Advance EMS of Dixon, Inc. began in 1983 with one ambulance and five employees.

To date, they have four ambulances, one paramedic intercept vehicle, and 25 employees. Advance EMS of Dixon, Inc. provides advanced life support not just to Dixon but also the surrounding communities.

ADVANCEEMS

815-288-6898

661 Reynoldswood Rd. Dixon 24 hours a day. 365 days a year.

Tim Keller looks over the natural prairie area at Thomas Park in Sterling. Keller, along with students from Lincoln Elementary School, planted the prairie.

Meet Father Nature Tim Keller has devoted his life to conservation, preservation, restoration

I

STORY BY TERRY THOMAS & PHOTOS BY PHILIP MARRUFFO FOR DIXON LIVING

t’s mid-morning, and the sun shines brightly in the eastern sky as Sterling resident Tim Keller stands in the flower garden in his backyard.

“I want to introduce you to one plant,” he says, proudly pointing to a particularly striking one festooned with brilliant blue blossoms.

“These blossoms will all be gone by noon, and tomorrow they’ll all be back. That’s its daily cycle this time of year.”

The plant is spiderwort, a native species that was ubiquitous in northern Illinois when prairies covered upward of 90 percent of the region’s landscape prior to the arrival of Euro-American settlers in the early 19th century.

In the ensuing decades, the pioneers plowed under the prairies, replacing spiderwort and other indigenous plants and grasses with endless fields

of wheat, corn, and soybeans. Domestic livestock overgrazed and decimated what remained.

The transformation resulted in the creation of one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions. But the destruction of the land’s ancient ecosystems was a steep price to pay, says Keller.

For Keller, reclaiming at least some of the Sauk Valley’s original natural heritage has been a lifelong enterprise, one fueled by a passion that verges on obsession.

“It’s something I have always believed in,” the 74-year old Sterling native says. “It probably goes back to when I was in grade school. My teacher gave me a series of science books and was very supportive of my interests” in the natural world.

“I remember reading about the passenger pigeons. There were so many of them in the 19th century they filled the skies,” he says. “But

the last passenger pigeon died in 1914,” an extinction directly attributable to the excesses of human beings.

“I really think that’s what got me started.”

Keller nurtured those interests as he proceeded with his education and early professional career. After serving in the Peace Corps and graduating from college in the early 1960s, Keller took a position as a soil scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Soil and Water Conservation Service. His soil mapping took him across much of northern Illinois.

At the time, the accepted wisdom was that many, if not most, types of prairie plants and grasses were simply extinct, victims of modern farming and urbanization.

Continued on page 26

d i x o n

l i v i n g

25

Continued on page 25

But Keller soon came to a different conclusion.

Although grievously wounded, the prairie persevered, relegated to tiny patches in out-of-the-way places, such as rural cemeteries and railroad rightof-ways, that Keller encountered as he traveled across the region conducting the surveys.

“I remember a meeting in Elgin where they were saying these things,” Keller says. It was the consensus there that a rural cemetery in Will County might be the only spot where a remnant population of a particular prairie plant survived in northern Illinois.

But Keller knew better. “I said, ‘I don’t mean to disagree with you, but I think there’s places like this one out my way.’ So I started looking.”

It was the beginning of a journey of discovery that continues to this day. Not only did Keller find remnant prairie populations all over northern Illinois, but he also devoted himself to restoring and expanding them, offering local residents at least a glimpse of the primordial ecosystems that greeted the pioneers when they first arrived.

“You’d see a plant around a headstone” in a rural cemetery, he recalls of those early days.

“And you’d ask permission to do a controlled burn to see what would come up.”

Keller points out the wild quinine at the natural prairie area at Thomas Park.

Sure enough, the resilient prairie shoots would reappear from the charred aftermath of the fires, much as they had in the days when the fires were sparked by lightning strikes and native peoples.

Over the course of the next half-century, Keller worked assiduously to bring the prairie back to life in the Sauk Valley. In the process, he demonstrated that the region’s original habitats can coexist and even flourish alongside the trappings of modern civilization.

Asterisk* The

Boutique

Tues - Thurs: Fri - Sat:

11am - 7pm 10am - 3pm

203 West 1st Street Dixon, IL 61021

815-973-0103 TheAsteriskBoutique.com

SM-ST4958-0718

The

Crafter’s Mill Home Decor & Gifts

SM-ST7528-0718

Thursday & Friday 10am-5pm Saturday 9am-3pm Sunday 12pm-3pm

26

1305 1st Ave Rock Falls, IL 61071

(across from Schreiner’s Mobil)

815-535-7862

A Unique Shopping Experience Of Handcrafted Items s u m m e r

1 6

like us on facebook

The list of his accomplishments is truly astounding. He has been a driving force behind prairie restorations at the Spring Slough in Whiteside County; the Lyndon-Agnew Railroad Prairie; the Clyde and Heaton cemeteries; the Smack Prairie near Erie; the Doug Wade Nature Preserve; Temperance Hill Cemetery; De Wolf Cemetery; Beach Cemetery; and the Munson cemetery in Henry County.

He also has been involved in the development of Sauk Valley Community College’s prairie and helped start the Byron Forest Preserve District’s Jarrett Prairie Nature Preserve.

Along with his wife, Carolyn, he has also been a leader in the Sauk Valley’s burgeoning environmental movement, and a guiding spirit in the formation of many local prairie restoration groups.

Together, the Kellers epitomize what volunteerism can achieve.

When not saving native ecosystems, the couple also farmed, and operated a successful small business, Ye Olde Cider Mill, which they opened in 1971 and ran until retirement in 2012. They even found time to raise two daughters, who have since married and enriched the couple’s life with five grandchildren.

Keller looks over a flowering milkweed plant at the natural prairie area at Thomas Park.

Perhaps Tim Keller’s most notable contribution to the local preservation movement has been his work with the Nachusa Grasslands, a 4,000-acre restored prairie in northeast Lee County near Franklin Grove operated by The Nature Conservancy.

The site attracts thousands of visitors annually to experience its diverse prairie ecosystems, which now even include a herd of bison, another of the region’s native species that succumbed to the march of civilization in the early 19th century.

But this impressive site likely never would have materialized if it had not been for Keller and a handful of other environmentalists.

“We call him one of the fathers of Nachusa Grasslands,” said Bill Kleiman, The Nature Conservancy’s project director for the site.

“Back in the late ’70s and early ’80s when most people didn’t understand what prairie was, Tim recognized this area’s potential, and worked to convince people of the importance of preserving it.”

The site’s potential originally had been identified as the result of a natural area survey of Lee County conducted by the Natural Land Institute in 1970. The resulting 20-page report ended up at the Lee County Soil and Water Conservation District office, where the district’s secretary, Hazel Reuter, decided to send a copy to Keller, according to information compiled

by Carolyn.

As a result of the report, Keller went to work, coaxing the site’s latent prairie back to life.

During those early days, Keller labored at the Nachusa site alongside Doug and Dot Wade, a local couple who also did pioneering work in prairie restoration. Together, they crafted small demonstration plots, called exclosures, to prove that the prairie still survived beneath the overlay of imported grasses and vegetation.

“Doug and I put up electric fences around small plots to keep the cattle away,” Keller says. “We set up the exclosure plots to see if we could bring the grasses and plants back.”

“We did that for a couple of years, and it worked so well that we proved the prairie could thrive there. In fact, we showed that this land wasn’t very good for crops, but it was ideal for prairie.”

But for all their success, the project faced a crisis in the mid-1980s, one that threatened to destroy the site before its promise could be fully realized.

The original landowner put the property up for sale, and it appeared likely a developer would buy the acres to build subdivisions.

In a desperate effort to save the nascent prairie, Keller and others attempted to convince various individuals and conservation organizations to step in and buy the land.

Their efforts eventually succeeded, but just barely.

In 1985, an auction was scheduled to sell off the property in small parcels, with the most likely result that those parcels would be sold for home construction, not prairie preservation.

But representatives of the Natural Land Institute and The Nature Conservancy arrived 15 minutes before the auction and persuaded the owner to sell the entire site to the conservancy. Thus was born the Nachusa Grasslands.

That original purchase amounted to about 400 acres, Kleiman said. Today, Nachusa Grasslands is 10 times that size.

“It’s been 30 years of slow accumulation,” Kleiman said of the site’s growth. “And a lot of it has been made possible by tons of labor provided by volunteers.

“And it really began with Tim’s vision to seed those small plots and demonstrate that the prairie was still there. That’s why I say Tim is one of the fathers of the Nachusa Grasslands.”

For Keller, the grasslands are but one example of what can be done when determined people join together for worthwhile causes, such as reclaiming the region’s natural heritage.

“If we don’t do it, it isn’t going to get done.”

And, for all that’s been accomplished, there’s still plenty to do, he says.

“I think we were sort of on the cliff, maybe even starting to go over the cliff. Now, I think things are better, but there’s a lot more that can be done.” s

d i x o n

l i v i n g

27

Relax in Style

Sweetwood Interiors GREATER LIFE CHURCH, 1403 HEMLOCK AVE, DIXON-IL, Ph 815-284-8680

www.glcdixon.org

Window Treatments • Flooring • Accessories Lighting • Furniture • Upholstery

107 Main St., Forreston, IL 815.938.3681 Toll Free: 877.938.3681 Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9am-2pm or by appointment www.sweetwoodinteriors.com

724 North Brinton Avenue • Dixon, IL 61021

815-288-4731

www.ExceptionalDentistry.us

SM-ST7526-0718

“All of us have to have a place we go back to...

Dixon is that place for me.”

-Ronald Reagan

SM-ST7523-0718

discoverdixon.org 815-288-1485

Come visit Dixon, President Ronald Reagan’s hometown. Kick back, relax and return to a quality of life that nurtured and inspired one of America’s greatest presidents.

Surround Yourself With Privacy, Security & Beauty

SM-ST7521-0718

2704 N N. L Locustt St St., St Sterling li 815-625-2201

28

www.sterlingfence.net s u m m e r

1 6

Amy Nicklaus, 28, opened Rustic Roots on Mother’s Day.

A country-chic boutique Rustic Roots offers handmade, homemade home decor Story By Kacie Klinge & Photos By Alex T. Paschal For Dixon Living

I

f you’re one of the many people who indulge in HGTV’s popular series “Fixer Upper” there’s a new store in town you may want to check out.

Rustic Roots Home and Decor opened over Mother’s Day weekend at 734 N. Galena Ave., next to Weeds, Florals, Designs and Decor.

Owner Amy Nicklaus, 28, creates, designs and revamps each item herself, for that special, personalized look.

After months of creating and selling her work out of her home, she decided it was time to have a space where she could create and sell. Her quaint shop filled with dozens of handmade signs, revamped pieces of furni-

Find your Rustic Roots

For now, Rustic Roots Home and Decor, 734 N. Galena Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday the first and third week of the month.

Find in on Facebook, go to rusticrootsil.com or call 815-994-2536 for more information or to check out and sign up for upcoming workshops. ture, and various knick knacks.

Nicklaus defines her style as country chic, with a modern twist.

“This is popular right now, it’s in style,” she said. “I specialize in handmade signs, but I also do tables, kid’s tables, benches … just about anything.”

She gets a lot of inspiration from “Fixer Upper” – she and host Joanna Gaines have similar styles. In fact, the walls of her store are lined with white ship lap – a Gaines trademark.

Continued on page 31

d i x o n

l i v i n g

29

146th Whiteside

County Fair

SENIOR SHOWCASE

August 16-20 • Morrison, IL $115,000 in Premiums

Tuesday Pro Bull Riding Thursday Monster Truck Throwdown Friday Tractor & Truck Pull Saturday Demolition Derby Saturday Harness Racing

Home Free

Just for the fun of it for those 55 years and above

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2ND

Wednesday, Aug 17th 7:00 pm

10am - 3pm Northland Mall • Sterling

www.whitesidecountyfair.org

CLEAN CLOTHES

THE OLD FASHIONED WAY! INDUSTRY LEADING

• NOT • SHORTER WASH CYCLES

5 YEAR

ALL PARTS & LABOR WARRANTY! *SEE STORE FOR DETAILS

FREE ADMISSION • VENDORS • DOOR PRIZES • GIVEAWAYS AND LOTS OF FUN

Mark your calendars and plan to attend this FREE, FUN event!

BINGO SENIOR SHOWCASE STYLE For more information contact Jennifer Heintzelman

3610 E. LINCOLNWAY STERLING, IL • 815-626-2996 30

s u m m e r

1 6

815-625-3600 ext. 5630 Email: jheintzelman@saukvalley.com

Continued from page 29

“I love to see the new products I created all set up in the store. ... I don’t want anything to sell because it looks so cute the way it is,” Nicklaus said with a laugh. “When I get done with these signs, I love the way it looks, it’s very rewarding.”

One her favorite parts of having a building in which to run her business is the social interaction with her customers.

“I love just being able to talk with the customers,” Nicklaus said. “That’s one reason why I wanted a shop, because it gets kind of lonely just being at home making this stuff, and I’m a big people person, so I love having the customers come in and stay and chat for a while.”

Despite the newness of her store, Nicklaus already has an impressive customer base: Rustic Roots’ Facebook page has more than 5,200 likes.

“Business is very good. I’m trying to keep up,” she said. “I don’t know how I got all those likes, but I really appreciate it.”

She also offers workshops in which she teaches s participants how to make specific pieces.

A recent one consisted of teaching her customers how to create a wooden welcome sign accented with a mason jar.

“It’s a lot of preparation, but a lot of fun,” Nicklaus said. “When I do workshops now I just hold them in the shop with 20 to 25 people.”

Another big inspiration for Nicklaus is her family. Her 5-year-old daughter, Emma, was the impetus behind her decision to offer craft workshops for kids, where they create things like dream catchers or miniature fairy gardens.

“My daughter loves doing this kind of stuff, so she was so excited when I started doing this stuff with her in mind,” Nicklaus said. “She is my biggest supporter. Every time I create a new sign, she says ‘I love that sign, Mom!’” She can’t wait to see how her Rustic Roots will flourish.

“I definitely want to expand and grow; eventually, I’d love to make it into a decor shop/ coffee shop type of thing,” Nicklaus said.

“I don’t have a game plan right now, I’m just enjoying what I’m doing.” s TOP: Nicklaus’ signs range in price depending on the size and the time it takes to create them.

MIDDLE LEFT: The 28-year-old business owner describes her work, such as these large painted letters, as “country chic.”

MIDDLE RIGHT: She often includes mason jars in her creations. In this case, they are painted with chalk paint to make unique centerpieces.

BOTTOM: Along with her signs and table top decor, Nicklaus also sells some furniture.

d i x o n

l i v i n g

31

Serving you since

1962

SM-ST7527-0718