Lifestyle www.saukvalley.com
3AUK 6ALLEY -EDIA s !
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Couple new to Florida unhappy with neighbors Dear Abby: My husband and I relocated to Florida a little more than a year ago and were quickly welcomed into our new neighbors’ social whirl. Two couples in the neighborhood are gay – one male, one female. While they are nice enough, my husband and I did not include them when it was our turn to host, because we do not approve of their lifestyle choices. Since then, we have been excluded from neighborhood gatherings, and someone even suggested
people were “different,� they apparently kept it to themselves. While I understand the phrase “when in Rome,� I don’t feel we should have to compromise our values just to win the approval of our neighbors. But really, who is the true bigot here? Would you like to weigh in? – Unhappy in Tampa
dearABBY Abigail Van Buren’s (Jeanne Phillips) column appears during the week through Universal Press Syndicate.
that we are bigots! Abby, we moved here from a conservative community where people were pretty much the same. If
Dear Unhappy: I sure would. The first thing I’d like to say is that regardless of what you were told in your previous com-
munity, a person’s sexual orientation isn’t a “lifestyle choice.� Gay people don’t choose to be gay; they are born that way. They can’t change being gay any more than you can change being heterosexual. I find it interesting that you are unwilling to reciprocate the hospitality of people who welcomed you and opened their homes to you, and yet you complain because you are receiving similar treatment. From where I sit, you might have chosen the wrong place to live,
Dear Sharon: Legally, no. But relationships are not always based on legality. Sometimes divorced couples remain extended family members, particularly if there are children involved. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was Dear Abby: If you are founded by her mother, divorced from your wife, Pauline Phillips. Write do her parents remain Dear Abby at www.Dearyour in-laws? This is to Abby.com or P.O. Box settle a disagreement. 69440, Los Angeles, CA – Sharon in Texas 90069. because it appears you would be happier in a less integrated neighborhood surrounded by people who think the way you do. But if you interact only with people like yourselves, you will have missed a chance for growth, which is what you have been offered here. Please don’t blow it.
SUPPORT GROUPS, CLUBS, AND SERVICES Thursday, Feb. 20 Childhood immunization clinic; women, infants and children clinic; and family planning services, all by appointment only, Lee County Health Department, Suite 100, 309 S. Galena Ave., Dixon, 815-284-3371. Abuse Changing team, 815625-0338. Twin City Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m., Ryberg Auditorium, CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road, Sterling. Free blood sugar screening, 8-9 a.m., Community Health Services Department, Mendota Community Hospital, 1401 E. 12th St., Mendota. 815-539-7461, ext. 3291, weekdays. Tests can be fasting or 2 hours after eating. North Central Illinois Logistics Council, 8-9:30 a.m., Room C316, Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, 815-220-3425. TOPS IL 1426, 8:30-9 a.m. weigh-in, meeting at 9 a.m., Coloma Homes, 401 W. 18th St., Rock Falls. Foot doctor, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Hub City Senior Center, 401 Cherry Ave., Rochelle, 815-5625050. Golden K Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., YMCA, 2505 YMCA Way, Sterling. Whiteside County Senior Center outreach caseworker, 10-11 a.m., Robert Fulton Community Center and Transit Facility, 912 Fourth St., Fulton, 815-622-9230. Free blood pressure check, 10-11:30 a.m., Oregon Health-
care Center, 811 S. 10th St. Prairie State Legal representative, 10 a.m., Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th St., Oregon, 815-732-3252. ’49ers, 11:30 a.m., Angelo’s, 800 N. Galena Ave., Dixon, 815285-0055. Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, 6 p.m., closed, Big Book, 90-92 S. Hennepin Ave., Dixon. Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, closed, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 114 S. Fifth St., Oregon. Parish Nurse Networking meeting, noon, CGH Professional Building, 15 W. Third St., Sterling, 815-625-0400, ext. 5425. Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, closed; 5:30, open, beginners; 7 p.m., closed, step, Bazaar Americana, 609 W. Third St., Sterling. Reality Check Narcotics Anonymous, noon, 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 506 Fifth Ave., Rock Falls, 779-245-8214. Downstairs, west door. Sauk Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Group, noon, open, 12 and 12; 8 p.m., closed, 12 and 12, 1503 First Ave., Rock Falls, back door. Scrapbooking class, 1 p.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling, 815622-9230. Healthy Lifestyles Club, 1, 7 p.m., ground-floor conference room, Mendota Community Hospital, 1401 E. 12th St., Mendota, 815-539-7461, ext. 5319. Alcoholics Anonymous, 2:30 p.m., closed, clearance required, BAAbble on for Life Prison Group,
815-973-6150. Narcotics Anonymous, 4-5 p.m., Sinnissippi Centers, 2611 Woodlawn Road, Sterling, 815625-0013. Helping Understand Grief for Survivors (HUGS), 5:30-6:30 p.m., Serenity Hospice & Home, 1658 S. state Route 2, Oregon. Call 815-732-2499 by noon Thursday. If no one calls, the meeting will be canceled. Overeaters Anonymous, 5:30 p.m., Lee County Council on Aging, 100 W. Second St., Dixon, 815-441-4452. Fibromyalgia Support Group, 6 p.m., Suite 215, Positive Changes Acupuncture, 609 W. Third St., Sterling, 815-499-5425. Breast Cancer Networking Group, 6-7 p.m., Home of Hope Cancer Wellness Centers, 1637 Plock Road, Dixon, 815-2884673. Sauk Valley Gluten-Free Support Group, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1013 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon, 815973-0537. Lee County Democratic Central Committee, 6:30 p.m., 77 S. Hennepin Ave., Dixon, 815-2889466. TOPS, 6:30 p.m., Rock Falls United Methodist Church, 210 Fourth Ave., 815-625-0431. River Cities Quilters Guild, 7 p.m., Fulton Presbyterian Church, 311 N. Ninth St., 815-499-5618. Dixon Veterans of Foreign Wars, 7 p.m., VFW Post, 1560 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon. Dixon Area Garden Club, 7
CHILI SUPPER
p.m., Plum Creek Garden, 626 Palmyra Road, Dixon. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 703 Third Ave., Sterling. Marine Corps League, 7 p.m., Rock Falls American Legion, 712 Fourth Ave, 815-625-9058. Sauk Valley Landlord Association meeting, 7 p.m., Coventry Living Center, 612 W. St. Mary’s Road, Sterling. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed, and Al-Anon, 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 709 Fourth Ave., Rochelle. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed, 808 Freeport Road, Sterling. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., open, Big Book, Rolling Hills Center, 201 state Route 64, Lanark. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., closed, St. Anne Church, 401 N. Cherry St., Morrison. Rock River Valley Barbershop Chorus practice, 7:30 p.m., Rock Falls Community Building, 603 W. 10th St., 815-284-7569. Sterling Rock River Masonic Lodge 612, 7:30 p.m., 113 1/2 W. Third St., Sterling. Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., closed, United Steelworkers, 502 Woodburn Ave., Sterling. Volunteer Care Center of Lee County, 403 E. First St., Dixon. Appointment: 815-284-9555. Friday, Feb. 21 Childhood immunization clinic; women, infants and children clinic; and family planning
services, all by appointment only, Lee County Health Department, Suite 100, 309 S. Galena Ave., Dixon, 815-284-3371. National Association of Health Underwriters Continued Education Class, 9 a.m., 6 E. 23rd, Sterling, 800-798-1771. Mercy Nursing Services free blood pressure clinic, 9:3011:30 a.m., Oliver’s Corner Market, 748 N. Brinton Ave., Dixon. Bible study, 10 a.m., Oregon Healthcare Center, 811 S. 10th St. Blood pressure check, 11 a.m., Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 Fourth St., Fulton, 815-589-3925. Reality Check Narcotics Anonymous, noon, 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 506 Fifth Ave., Rock Falls, 779-245-8214. Downstairs, west door. Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, closed, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 114 S. Fifth St., Oregon. Sauk Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Group, noon, closed, It’s Your Meeting; 8 p.m., open, grapevine, 1503 First Ave., Rock Falls, back door. Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, closed; 3:30 p.m., closed; 7 p.m., closed; 10 p.m., open, candlelight, Bazaar Americana, 609 W. Third St., Sterling. Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, 6 p.m., open; 10:30 p.m., open, candlelight, 90-92 S. Hennepin Ave., Dixon. American Red Cross blood drive, noon-5 p.m., Carroll County Farm Bureau, 811 S. Clay
St., Mount Carroll. Appointments: 800-733-2767. Mercy Nursing free blood pressure clinic, noon-1:30 p.m., County Market, 1380 N. Galena Ave., Dixon. Medicare information class, 1 p.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling. Registration: 815-622-9230. Sauk Valley Gluten-Free Support Group, 6:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1013 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed, 808 Freeport Road, Sterling. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., open; Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, state Route 52 N., Amboy. Reformers Unanimous Addiction Abstinence Program, 7-9 p.m., First Baptist Church, 24 N. Mason Ave., Amboy, 815-8572682. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed; Rochelle Hospital, 900 N. Second St. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., closed, First Congregational Church, 218 E. Third St., Prophetstown. Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., closed, Church of God, 816 S. Clay St., Mount Carroll. Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., St. Mark Lutheran Church, 201 N. Division St., state Route 26, Polo. Alcoholics Anonymous District 73 meeting, 8 p.m., St. Mark Lutheran Church, 201 N. Division Ave., Polo.
Today’s
P
Wednesday, March 12th 4:30-6:00pm
at the Post House Ballroom, Dixon
Chili and Chicken Noodle Soup will be served!
50/50
RAFFLE DRAWING
Adults $6 in advance, $7 at the door Kids under 5 free Tickets available at the Lee County Council on Aging or at the door
100 W Second St, Dixon 815-288-9236
Collect all 6!