Dixon Living_Summer 2020

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PUBLICATION • SUMMER 2020

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inside

SUMMER 2020

CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Publisher Don T. Bricker

A vehicle’s best friend, and man’s best friend ...

Balayti’s shop dog, Rizzo, and shop owner Colin Balayti pose outside the auto service shop in Dixon. If you want to see what Rizzo’s up to, he pops up from time to time on Balayti’s Facebook page.

General Manager/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editors Rusty Schrader & Kathleen Schultz Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222

ry

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Keeping the wheels in motion

Have a story ideas for Dixon Living? Let us know ...

Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Dixon Living 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.

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inside CONTENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

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Visitors to have an angel watching over them, thanks to a Dixon couple who welcomes people to make themselves at home.

It looks like art is turning a corner — in fact, it’s turning quite a few corners on a road trip through the Sauk Valley.

The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home and Visitor Center got some much-needed help for some home improvements.

A downtown Dixon shop owner is optimistic about the future of the cannabis business — he sees the glass pipe as half full.

Halo there! Art tour

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Byars Antique Angel, at 211 N. Ottawa in Dixon, is an all-inclusive interim professional home that can be rented weekly, monthly or annuall y.

“The whole theme of the house is buil t around a blessing,” said Loni Bya rs, who owns the home with her husband, Larry. “We feel we have angels arou nd us all of the time, and we want to be a blessing to the community.”

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STORY CODY CUTTER PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL | FOR DIXON LIVING

For Larry and Loni Byars, running Byars Antique Angel is more than just a way to earn some extra money in their retirement. “This is our legacy that we want to leave to people and say we did something for our community, and we care about our community,� says Loni.

oni and Larry Byars love collecting antiques. The Dixon couple have spent countless hours since they married about a decade ago, bargain hunting, traveling to antique stores, and rummaging through sales to find furniture, decor and more that’s more appealing than it is expensive.

But it’s the antique they bought a couple years ago that’s proven to be their most precious: a two-story house.

Loni, 64, and Larry, 69, bought the 1896 house at 211 N. Ottawa Ave., next door to their own home, in February 2018, and the purchase turned out to be quite the retirement project for the couple, as well as a business. After a complete refurbishing, the Byars decided to make the house more than just a rental; they turned it into an all-inclusive interim professional home that can be rented weekly, monthly or annually.

And that’s how Byars Antique Angel got its wings. “Say you have a corporation that needs to bring in people for training; rather than have them go to a hotel, it’s cheaper for them to stay with us,� Loni said. “Or say an insurance company has an entire family that’s had a total loss; this is a place where they can stay rather than putting them up in a hotel.�

Photos on page 6 & 7; story continued on page 8

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“... If you’re staying for a long period of time, maybe you want to cook something instead of getting takeout all of the time.

That’s the way I would be if I were going somewhere,” says Loni Byars.

Guests staying at Byars Antique Angel don’t have to worry about a thing in the fully furnished kitchen – all they have to do is bring food, prepare it and sit down in the kitchen or dining room (far right) and enjoy a meal .

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Each of the three bedrooms at Byars Antique Angel has its own character: one has a Queen Anne-style bed, dresser and highboy (a tall chest of drawers that was once common in older homes). Another room has waterfall-style furniture that used to belong to Larry’s grandparents. Regardless of which room guests use, they’ll get a good night’s sleep.

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Continued from page 5

The Byars provide professional and corporate housing to visitors, as well as people who may have been displaced by disaster. With three bedrooms, an office, living room, dining room, kitchen, two bathrooms and an outdoor deck, the fully furnished accommodations are ready to move into at any time. Everything’s provided – all tenants have to do is unpack and buy food.

The home’s name comes from Loni’s passion for antiques, and her belief that everyone needs an angel watching over them.

“If it were not for God and his angels, my husband and I would not be together, and this would not have come true,” she said.

With Loni designing the interior, Larry put all of the pieces together. The floors are all new, a back porch was torn out and a bathroom and mud room took its place, a deck was installed, and the kitchen was made to be more functional with more counter space.

“We are in such a wonderful neighborhood that we just know that this is going to be something good for the community,” Loni said.

“I’m not trying to undercut the hotels, but if you’re staying for a long period of time, maybe you want to cook something instead of getting takeout all of the time. That’s the way I would be if I were going somewhere.”

The decor throughout Byars Antique Angel reflects not only the Byars’ desire to provide people with a warm and welcoming place to stay, but Loni’s belief that everyone needs an angel watching over them. “If it were not for God and his angels, my husband and I would not be together, and this would not have come true,” she said.

Even with all the work the Byars did, they recognized – and retained – the charm of some of the home’s original features. The door frames and base boards are original, and some of the furnishings are almost as old as

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the house. They come mostly from antique stores, and sometimes thrift stores – all if the price is right for Loni, a self-described bargain hunter.

Continued on page 9

Room to relax ... Byars Antique Angel’s living room offers a comfy and cozy place for guests to kick back, put their feet up and unwind. Many of the pieces throughout the house were antique shop and sale finds that Loni picked up during her many bargain hunts. The Byars also retained much of the home’s original charm, like the vintage trimwork throughout the home.

Continued from page 8

“There are a lot of people who get tired of having something that’s just decorative,” Loni said.

The stairs to the second floor lead to a landing that goes off in five different directions: to three bedrooms, a bathroom and an office space.

Each bedroom has its own character: one has a Queen Anne-style bed, dresser and highboy (a tall chest of drawers that was once common in older homes). Another room has waterfall-style furniture that used to belong to Larry’s grandparents.

The bedrooms aren’t the only places with character: The Byars put a little bit of their heart and soul into the home, even in the landing and stairwell, where framed pictures feature inspirational phrases and art, some with – you guessed it – angels. There are even words of inspiration on one of the walls in the kitchen, which took Larry a good 6 months to rehab.

The home wasn’t the only thing to get a rehab. All that work also helped Larry on his road to rehabilitation. He recently had two knee replacements and four stents, and soon will have two hips replaced. Loni, too, has had her share of health issues, and they’ve come to believe that angels have looked over them in times of need.

“This was therapy for him. When you get over here to work, you’re bending and your doing the stuff that the doc-

tor wants you to do,” Loni said. “It really helped him a lot.”

“He has put his heart and his soul, and my tears, into this home,” she said. “It is absolutely breathtaking … It’s just gorgeous, you just have to come in and see it.

It’s in a beautiful location,” she said. “Everybody says, ‘I can’t believe you’re renting that, you need to move there.’ We love our house, and now we got to start working on ours.”

Loni said she tried to think of everything that anyone could need during their stay – a washer and dryer, a sewing machine, an iron and ironing board, colorcoded laundry baskets and towels. The central air, furnace, hot water heater, wiring and plumbing all are new. The house also comes with a garage, patio, gas grill, and garden area between the house and Byars’ home – and as an added perk, when Loni has extra goodies from the garden, she’ll offer to share with them tenants. She also makes homemade bread that has been a hit with recent guests, especially her banana orange pineapple nut bread and her pumpkin bread.

“The whole theme of the house is built around a blessing,” Loni said. “We feel we have angels around us all of the time, and we want to be a blessing to the community.

We might be old, but this is our legacy that we want to leave to people and say we did something for our community, and we care about our community. n

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MORE INFO Experience Byars Antique Angel 211 N. Ottawa Ave., Dixon Rates vary by duration of stay. Call 815517-3541 to arrange for a private showing.

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Balayti’s owner

Colin Balayti wor

ks on a car at hi

s service shop in

Dixon on July 2.

E H T G N I P KEE

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olin Balayti has always been into taking things apart, seeing what makes them tick and putting them back together.

The 38-year-old Dixon native opened Balayti’s Automotive, a full-service automotive shop, about a year and a half ago at 402 W. First St. in Dixon, the former Johns Automotive Service.

“I’ve always been into cars,” he said. “I love being my own boss and doing this.”

Continued on page 12

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Continued from page 11

Owner Colin Balayti checks the tire pressure on a customer’s Audi during an oil change July 2 at his shop. From the basics all the way up to bigger jobs, Balayti’s is at your service.

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Two decades ago, Balayti moved away when he was 18 and studied at Universal Technical Institute. He then pursued a graduate program at the VW/Audi Training Academy in Atlanta, and later worked in Chicago.

He joined the Illinois National Guard, and returned to Dixon about 8 years ago.

Balayti said he had his eye on the property, which was vacant for about 4 years before it went up for sale; he bought it, and then went to work sprucing the place up.

He remodeled the shop with the help of his dad, Bob Balayti of Balayti Painting, and sister Nora, a local artist who also painted the iconic wings mural on the side of the business, where people stop by for a photo (see sidebar story on page 14).

Balayti replaced the old hydraulic lifts, put in new doors and floors and cleared out leftover asphalt from when the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency had to remove underground gas tanks. The building was built in 1950 and was once a gas station.

The full-service shop does it all: oil changes, repairs, body lifts, wheel and tire packages, undercoating, and more.

Photos on page 13 & 14; story continued on page 15

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The difference is in the detailing … Not only does Balayti’s keep vehicles running good, the shop keeps them looking good, too, with bumper-to-bumper, or tire-to-tire, detailing service. Here, Danny Eddy cleans a customer’s Harley Davidson during detail duty July 2.

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Art wings is waiting

in the

STORY DIXON LIVING STAFF

Where some people see a wall, Nora Balayti sees potential — a larger-than-life canvas just waiting to speak to its community, to make an artistic statement.

Just stop at her brother’s shop and you’ll see an example of her inspired handiwork.

Nora (seen in the photo at left) turned one of the walls at Colin Balayti’s shop into an interactive piece of public art — not only can people admire it, they can be part of it.

Her project took flight in 2018, when she helped her brother by adding a personalized painting to his shop’s exterior: a pair of colorful wings stretching almost to the top of the building. The mural is situated on the wall so that people can pose in front of it to see what they’d look like with a pair of wings.

In a Facebook post, Nora said that since moving back to Dixon, she’s “constantly going around taking pictures of empty spaces and blank walls. To say I have a lot of ideas is an understatement. I want to liven up these areas. I want to get other artists to do the same.”

The wings, dubbed West End Wings, have even taken off on social media. Search for #westendwings on Facebook and you’ll find photos of people who’ve stopped by the shop to pose for a picture with the colorful wings.

Nora’s work can be seen elsewhere throughout town, too, including the side of Patio’s Irish Pub downtown, which she worked on with her father, and a Dukes dugout mural.

Nora’s also had a hand in improving her community in other ways. She and Dixon brothers Brent and Brandon Reuter, all disc golf enthusiasts, raised $6,800 from area businesses in 2018 to cover the cost of equipment for a disc golf course at Lowell Park.

She said she’s overjoyed at seeing how much fun the wings have brought to community. The wing work is just one more example of her philosophy on life, one she articulated in a 2018 interview with Sauk Valley Media, when Nora said one her favorite quotes is by Salvador Dali: “A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.”

A bird dog?

Even Colin Balayti’s shop dog, Rizzo, couldn’t resist posing with the West End Wings.

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Serving the Sauk Valley Area for Nearly 40 Years!

When Balayti’s owner Colin Balayti found himself with some extra space at his shop, it didn’t take long to figure out how to best use it — for bicycle sales and service. “Just like with cars, I’ve always been into bikes,” he said.

Continued from page 13

MORE INFO Balayti’s 400 W. First St., Dixon 630-707-2335 Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Online: Find Balayti’s on Facebook.

news: He turned the space into a bike shop, where people can buy a bicycle or have one serviced.

“Just like with cars, I’ve always been into bikes,” he said. “Wherever I went, the mountain bikes came with us.”

He started racing cross country on bikes with his sister when he was around 16 or 17.

The shop offers bicycles for all ages and lifestyles, from mountain bikes to town and country cruisers and more.

Many businesses have come to a halt or slowed down because of coronavirus, but Balayti said it seems like he’s gotten busier during this time. n

Balayti’s not only gets cars and trucks running as good as new, the shop can get them looking as good as new, too, with its detailing service, where they can add a sheen and shine from bumper to bumper and the tires on up.

He also partnered with a local barber to provide space in the shop, so people waiting on an oil change or repairs could get a trim while they wait. Though Jake’s Barber Shop closed, due to the loss of business during the COVID-19 pandemic, Balayti managed to put a positive spin on the bad

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It looks like art is turning a corner —

in fact, it’s turning quite a few corners on a road trip through the Sauk Valley STORY BY STERLING-ROCK FALLS LIVING STAFF | PHOTOS BY ALEX T. PASCHAL

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rt has been a driving force in Valerie Butcher’s life for years, and she’s hoping others will feel the same way, too.

Butcher, a local artist and the coordinator of the Corner Gallery in Sterling, has put together a self-guided tour that highlights Sauk Valley residents’ creative side: Art Along the Rock.

The tour features five stops: The Loft, 112 E. Main St. in Morrison; Art in the Park in the RB&W Park along the Rock Falls riverfront, Primitive Frills, 7 E. Third St. in Sterling, the Corner Gallery, 2522 E. Lincolnway in Sterling, and the Next Picture Show Fine Arts Center, 113 W. First St. in Dixon.

The art lover’s day trip is just the latest stop on her artistic journey.

Butcher was a painter for years, but turned to sculpting when her eyesight began to fade. She and her husband, Clarence, have works on display at the Corner Gallery.

She said she’d been trying to get an art tour going for sometime, but kept running into roadblocks, so a year ago she figured she would just try to get it started herself.

"I decided a long time ago that the only way we're really going to make it is for all of the artists along the Rock River to stick together," Butcher said.

She's also working on a show to celebrate Latin American art.

"That hasn't been done in a gallery, and I think they're an important part of our community and we need to promote their art," she said. "It's beautiful."

So, if you’re looking for some local art that really rocks, check out the stops along Butcher’s tour on the following pages ... s m a l l

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E

veryone wants their own little corner of the world where their work will be appreciated.

Local artists have found theirs at a gallery in Sterling.

Earlier this year, The Corner Gallery headed east to a new home at 2522 E. Lincolnway, after owner Larry Gaskill sold the gallery’s previous home, which shared space with his insurance office at 202 Fourth Ave. The office/gallery is now located in the strip mall spot previously occupied

by Prescott’s TV and Satellite, where artists are the ones now hoping for a good reception.

The photographer and business owner runs Larry Gaskill Insurance and the gallery. Gaskill said he’s hoping the new higher-traffic home will bring more people to the gallery, which features works in various mediums: painting, photos, jewelry, glassware and more. Pieces range in price from under $50 to over $200.

corner gallery STERLING

Continued on page 19

Valerie Butcher talks about the process used to create her glass art at the Corner Gallery in Sterling. Butcher spearheaded the effort to organize the first Art on the Rock art tour in the Sauk Valley. She’s excited about the art trail and hopes to be able to expand it throughout Illinois and even into Wisconsin. She’d been trying to get an art tour going for sometime, but kept running into roadblocks, so a year ago she figured she would just try to get it started herself. “The only way we’re really going to make it is for all of the artists along the Rock River to stick together,” she said.

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The Corner Gallery, at 2522 E.Lincolnway in Sterling, features works from local artists in various mediums: painting, photos, jewelry, glassware and more.

Continued from page 18

MOREINFO Corner Gallery, 2522 E. Lincolnway, Suite E, Sterling Hours: 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Online: Find The Corner Gallery on Facebook

He plans to expand the gallery’s offerings through exhibits of art for sale throughout the community. Businesses that want to display works would get up to four pieces, and proceeds would go toward advancing the arts in the community.

Gallery coordinator Valerie Butcher has big plans for her small space.

The gallery also has special exhibits throughout the year of Latin American art, and works from Whiteside County 4-H Club members, and Butcher said earlier this year that she’s looking to add more artists to the roster.

“I’m very excited with what we’re going to do.” n

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The Loft is located at 112 E. Main St. in Morrison, in a renovated 1800s building.

MOREINFO

L

ocated downtown at 112 E. Main St. in Morrison, in a renovated 1800s building, The Loft has become a hub of artistic activity for local artists since it opened in 2017.

The gallery provides a place where artists can sell their works, it hosts exhibits, and it provides a location for Woodlawn Arts Academy to offer art classes for kids as well as private voice and music lessons.

It’s come a long way from its early days – becoming a thriving member of the downtown and artistic communities – but that’s no surprise when you consider the lofty goals organizers set when they opened it. They wanted to create a regional arts destination that would provide a venue for local artists to create, promote and sell original art, and to foster art education through lessons and programs, which is just what they did – and their work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The Loft earned a Governor’s Hometown Award in 2018. The award is given annually to projects sponsored by local government but brought to fruition by strong volunteer support.

The gallery even set up a non-profit organization to oversee operations.

What started as an empty building with eight artists is now full of potential, where today’s artists have found a home and tomorrow’s talent can learn how to hone their creative muscles. n

the loft

The Loft, 112 E. Main St., Morrison | 815-772-4005 Online: loft112morrison.org and on Facebook Hours: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Thursday,: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday

MORRISON

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From wood to watercolors and more, The Loft offers art in a wide range of mediums and prices.

A

rt is in the air in Rock Falls.

Just head downtown to the riverfront and you can breathe it all in at RB&W District Park, where you’ll see several sculptures that make up the Art in the Park self-guided tour. Stroll through the park to see the works of art on a self-guided tour aimed at promoting art and provoking thought. The first group of pieces was installed in 2018 after Chicago artist Charles Yost organized the effort to turn the park into an outdoor art studio.

The goal is to have different artists display their work on a rotating basis, with new pieces brought in for a year-long visit to the park. The first batch of art came mostly from Chicago artists, but organizers hope to feature more local artists. With each new installation, the city will hold what it describes as a “gala event of great music, fine wines, craft beers and gorgeous, thought-provoking art.”​ The next event is scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. n

art in the park

ROCK FALLS

MOREINFO Art in the Park, 301 W. Second St., Rock Falls Go to visitrockfalls.com/new-page-2 for more information. To submit a sculpture for consideration, email travel@visitrockfalls. com or call 815-622-1106.

LEFT: “Life of Whimsy,”

by Stephanie Sailer.

RIGHT: “Reaching for the Sun,” by Jennifer Meyer.

ABOVE: “Drip Edge,” by Craig Snyder, is one of the sculptures on display at Art in the Park in the RB&W District Park in Rock Falls.

LEFT: “Point in Time,” by V. Skip Willits.

Lori Erbes, GRI

Designated Managing Broker/Owner

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815-535-6295 1922 Tower Rd. • Sublette, IL 61367

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LEFT: “Nemesis,”

by Gregory Mendez.

Over 30 Years Experience 21

The Next Picture Show art center hosts classes, exhibits, receptions, concerts – just about anything that has to do with art.

N

estled among its downtown neighbors in Dixon, a gallery/studio is the Next best thing about art.

Founded in 2004 by Ralph Edgar and his wife, Jane, The Next Picture Show is all about art: displaying it, celebrating it, selling it, teaching it, appreciating it – how great their art, indeed.

The non-profit arts center hosts classes, exhibits, receptions, concerts – just about anything that has to do with art. Its goal, according to its website, is to “nurture, develop, educate, foster the arts, and galvanize artists and patrons within the community.” Its exhibits and contests attract artists and audiences from throughout the Sauk Valley and beyond.

It hosts popular events such as the annual Nuts About Art, and the Really Affordable Art Exhibition – a show that lives up to the Next Pictures Show’smission of getting art in more people’s lives, and their homes, by featuring original works for $199 or less.

The fine arts center also sealed a deal in June to give it a home it can call its own, buying the building that’s housed the gallery for 16 years from Ralph Edgar Properties for $135,000, thanks in part to money raised during its Crossroads fundraising campaign.

“We greatly appreciate the many years of support from Ralph and Jane Edgar, and we also thank all of the generous people and organizations that contributed to our Crossroads campaign and made this purchase possible,” TNPS President David Bingaman said in a news release. n

the next picture show DIXON

MOREINFO The Next Picture Show – 113 W. First St., Dixon Contact: 815-285-4924 or nps@grics.net Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday, or by appointment Online: nextpictureshow. org and on Facebook

The Next Picture Show of Dixon is one of five stops on the Art on the Rock tour put together by local artist Valerie Butcher.

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P

rimitive Frills not only sells crafts, it teaches people how to create them.

Owner Sonia Vega Robinson opened her shop in 2016 at 10 E. Miller Road before finding a new home at 7 E. Third St. in downtown Sterling. The store specializes in items that are “handmade, homemade, upcycled and made with love,” according to its Facebook page.

Robinson has put together a team of crafters – her talented Primitive Frills family, as she calls them – whose works fill the shops’ shelves, along with decor in farmhouse, rustic, primitive and shabby chic styles, and antiques and vintage goods, too.

But there’s more than just crafts behind her the store’s doors. Primitive Frills has a workshop loft that’s a perfect spot for hosting classes.

Area artisans at several different experience levels come together for the workshops, and sessions often have specific themes; some based on specific materials or a different holidays and seasons.

Robinson has worked in the craft business for years, selling her work mainly through e-commerce channels. It was the teaching element and opportunities for more community involvement that attracted her to the idea of having her own storefront – a place where she could offer arts and crafts with all the frills. n

primitive frills STERLING

Primitive Frills owner Sonia Vega Robinson has put together a team of crafters – her talented Primitive Frills family, as she calls them – whose works fill the shops’ shelves, along with decor in farmhouse, rustic, primitive and shabby chic styles, and with antiques and vintage goods. More than just a store, Primitive Frills is also a gallery and a DIY studio.

MOREINFO Primitive Frills – 7 E. Third St., Sterling Contact: 815-716-6311 Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Closed Monday and Sunday Online: primitivefrills.com and on Facebook

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Reagan home Opportunity knocked at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home and Visitor Center, and it opened the door to some upgrades and much-needed work at the historic house 24

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STORY KATHLEEN SCHULTZ PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL | FOR DIXON LIVING

T

he Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon is going to remain shuttered for a little while longer, but not because of COVID-19.

Thanks to a $100,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the historic house and museum, visitor center and gift shop at 810 S. Hennepin Ave. and its barn are getting a new $35,000 cedar roof.

“I don’t want to endanger my patrons by walking them through a construction zone,” Executive Director Pat Gorman said.

Oh, and the visitor center also was completely remodeled, air conditioning is being installed, there’s new carpeting and wallpaper, new seats in the theater area, a handicap ramp and handrail were installed out back, the barn is getting a fresh coat of paint, landscaping will be done, storm widows are being replaced, new inventory will be coming to the gift shop – even the website is revamped.

Continued on page 26

LEFT: Bob Balayti paints trim on the visitor center of the Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon.

The foundation recently received a grant to pay for renovation work on the campus. (Bob isn’t the only Balayti whose handiwork can be found around Dixon. See the story beginning on page 10 to see what else the Balayti family is up to.)

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Continued from page 25

The home is where the 40th president, who was born in Tampico, spent his some of his formative years, and he always considered Dixon his hometown, returning for visits several times through the years.

Gorman applied for the grant at the suggestion of another of Dixon’s native sons – GOP state Rep. Tom Demmer.

Because the house is on the National Register of Historic Places, certain rules must be followed.

It’s why, for example, more expensive cedar shingles are being used — because that’s what’s there now.

Of course, during the pandemic is probably a good time to get repairs done – most of his volunteer docents, and Gorman himself, are of an age that exposure to the virus puts them at greater risk.

Soon though, the overhauled website, reaganhome.org, will offer virtual tours and other online options. “It’s the wave the of the future,” he said.

Continued on page 27

The grounds of the Reagan Boyhood Home have a 1920’s-style garden, planted and maintained by the Dixon Area Garden Club.

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Continued from page 26

While the infusion of cash was sorely needed, it in no way solves all of the home’s financial problems: The grant money can be spent only on very specific infrastructure projects, not to pare down debt, Gorman said, and donations still are needed, especially now that the home is losing nearly an entire season of visitor income.

The home is run by a nonprofit board: It is not funded by any government agency, and until it won the grant, was in real danger of closing for good.

Another bright spot on the horizon: Dixon and Lee County officials recently announced the birth of Dixon Gateway, a 27-acre project just a hop, skip and a jump down Galena Avenue from the Reagan home.

It’s expected to draw traffic and tourists off the interstate to its planned hotels, restaurants and retail shops. n

Bobbleheads, books and more ...

PAY A VISIT When it is open, admission to the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, 810 S. Hennepin Ave., is $8 for adults, $5 for veterans and children ages 5 to 12, and free for active duty military, law enforcement, firefighters and children younger than 5.

There’s lot of Dutch treats for tourists and other visitors in the Visitor Center’s souvenir shop: Bipartisan bobbleheads of presidents past and present, books, clothing, movies, even some of Reagan’s favorite sweet treats.

In addition to remodeling work, the Visitors Center also features a new pre-tour video.

WANT TO HELP?

Call 815-288-5176, go to reaganhome. org or find the home on Facebook or Instagram for more information, to make a donation or to volunteer.

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REEFER GLADNESS T

here are more than 280 different parts of a cannabis plant that can benefit the human body, and Guy Cooksey knows just about every one of them.

He should. Not only does his business specialize in merchandise that’ll help customers get the most out of the herb, he’s knows firsthand how much it can help people.

The owner of Herbal Essentials in downtown Dixon – the “one-stop shop for all the stuff you need to puff” – says cannabis has helped him get his mind and body in order, and he hopes his business can help others do the same.

“We have a cannabinoid receiving system in our body, and cannabinoids only come from cannabis,” Cooksey said. “Why would it be there if we weren’t supposed to use it a little bit?”

STORY CODY CUTTER PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL FOR DIXON LIVING

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The shop sells bongs, one-hitters, growing systems, rolling papers, and other marijuana/smoking paraphernalia – everything you’d need to puff, except for the stuff to puff.

While the store doesn’t sell bottles of vaping liquids, people can pick up vaping supplies, such as batteries, coils and caps. Also in stock: Yocan pens, concentrated wax pens with dual- and quad-coil systems, pens that can mask the smell of cannabis and storage sneak-a-tokes. For those who’d rather not use a glass device, the store carries silicone nectar collectors, used to vaporize cannabis concentrate. The store also sells hemp products, such as lotion, body washes and lip balm.

Curious what all the buzz is surrounding cannabis? Pull up a stool at the shop and Cooksey will be happy to fill you in and give you the essentials on the herb that’s now legal for recreational use in 11 states, and for medical use in 33 states. Illinois is the latest state to join those ranks, legalizing it for adult use in 2019, with sales beginning Jan. 1, 2020.

While customers won’t find cannabis at the shop, they will find a wide range of accessories to help people with a medical cannabis card utilize their medicine properly.

Cannabis, and his shop, have a lot to offer, Cooksey says, and he isn’t shy about letting people know. This is no covert head shop tucked away in a dark corner somewhere. The downtown shop has a clean, bright look and the store’s colorful stock is clearly visible through the front window, along with the store’s logo, with that iconic seven-pointed leaf beckoning customers to come in and say “high!”

It was during a vacation to Las Vegas with his wife, Chelsey, that Cooksey got the idea for bringing a more clean-cut cannabis shop to town.

He said he didn’t want to play into the stereotypes of cannabis use and open a “very hippie-fied” shop with “Rastafari music and tie-dye tapestries.”

Continued on page 30

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Continued from page 29

Herbal Essentials opened at the Dixon Mini Mall on March 1 before eventually moving to its new location May 1.

Cooksey admits that despite changing attitudes about cannabis, there are still misconceptions surrounding the culture of those who feel the need for weed, but he wants to “break the mold” and promote the positives of cannabis; after all, it’s worked well for him, he said.

“The biggest thing for me is to be able to help people and basically try to break that stereotype on what everyone thinks a typical pothead is,” he said. “I’m a father of five. My kids all are in advanced placement classes, A- and B-students, athletes and cheerleaders.

“Just because I smoke weed doesn’t mean I’m unproductive.”

Cooksey can even help guide customers through the process of obtaining a medical marijuana card. He’s a consultant for a Chicagoland-based firm that helps people get their cards to help with issues such as chronic pain, migrants, arthritis, neuropathy, fibromyalgia and anxiety.

Selling cannabis-related products is more than just a way to earn money for Herbal Essentials owner Guy Cooksey; it’s also about promoting the plant’s benefits. “The biggest thing for me is to be able to help people and basically try to break that stereotype on what everyone thinks a typical pothead is,” he said. “We’re here to help people. … We want to bring awareness to how much medical cannabis can help people.”

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Looking for cannabis-related products? Herbal Essentials lives up to its name: It has all the essentials, and then some.

Bongs, growing systems, rolling papers, cleaning supplies and clothes, and much more. Owners Guy and Chelsey Cooksley invite you to come check out what the shop has to offer. “I can go to work, smile about every day, and have a good time and talk to people,” Guy said. “I’m a people person. I like to talk.”

Guy’s wife, Chelsey Cooksey, describes the use and operation of one of the store’s glass water pipes.

The shop also carries rolling trays (above), clothing and hemp products (below).

ABOVE & LEFT: A swirl of colors and craftsmanship, some of the pipes at Herbal Essentials are like a work of art.

MORE INFO Herbal Essentials 308 W. First St., Dixon 815-440-9871 Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday-Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday: closed Sunday Online: Find Herbal Essentials on Facebook

Continued from page 30

Under Illinois law, once someone gets a card, they can grow up to five marijuana plants at home – and Cooksey can help there, too. He has an example of a self-sustaining grow system set up in his shop’s window, using a tomato cucumber plants to stand in for the cannabis.

The plant is placed on top of a tote, which acts as a water reservoir, with a pump on the inside that constantly filters water up to the bucket

system. Plants are never watered personally, or even touched. Using the ambient light, a plant can result in a yield in 6 to 7 weeks.

“We’re here to help people. We want to see things get better within the community,” Cooksey said. “We want to bring awareness to how much medical cannabis can help people.”

He said he’s enjoying being his own boss.

“I can go to work, smile about every day, and have a good time and talk to people,” he said. “I’m a people person. I like to talk.” n

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