SVM_Lake Lifestyle_November 2022

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Family roots run deep at nursery and landscape business Take a Day Trip to Oregon, Illinois

Be it ever so colorful, there’s no place like home for a Lena florist

A family business meets the growing D-mand for golf carts

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PUBLISHER Jennifer Heintzelman

Rusty Schrader

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Nursery has been in business for 50 years. Owner Tim Sweitzer (left) took over the business from his father, Richard “Duck” Sweitzer, in 2012.

By Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media

ichard “Duck” Sweitzer was a first-hand wit ness to Lake Carroll’s creation, when machines moved the earth and reshaped the land 50 years ago and crews began to plant the seeds of a community that would grow from former corn fields.

As it turned out, 1972 also marked the birth of a business nearby: Sweitzer Nursery — and the timing couldn’t have been better. As new houses sprang up, the family business was there to help put the finishing touches on Lake Carroll’s landscape, work ing with homeowners to provide them with nature to nurture in the growing community — trees to please and shrubs to add color and character to properties.

Duck and his Uncle Bob had an idea to resurrect a former family nursery busi ness to show lake residents, and sur rounding communities, the benefits of nature’s handiwork — like their early fliers said: “Beauty grows when you plan and plant.”

started the same year

Carroll did, and they’ve been good to us,” Duck said.

Duck still pops by and lends a hand around the nursery from time

time, he passed its ownership to his son, Tim, in October 2012. After a decade running the show, Tim oversaw a 50th Anniver sary open house on Sept. 17 and looked back on how the business has grown in the last decade.

“I learned a lot from Dad,” Tim said. “It’s hard to narrow stuff down. It doesn’t seem like 10 years.”

Throughout its first 40 years, the busi ness stuck to just selling trees and shrubs and selling deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, perennials and red and brown mulch has been a constant in the half-century that the Sweitzers have been in business — but Tim has also expanded the business to offer landscape work, lawn maintenance, mowing, retaining wall work, skid loader services, snow plowing and more.

Family, friends, starting a success ful business that he’s passed on to his son — Richard Sweitzer considers himself one lucky duck. As for that nickname? He can thank some rela tives who gave it to him way back when.

Those extra services also meant add ing people to the payroll — “I can’t do it on my own,” Tim said, but he’s been fortunate to be able to find good help, from family members to part-time help from local high school students.

Tim takes pride in being in a profession that makes a lasting impact. “You can look back at stuff you did, such as planting a tree, looking back 10 years from now and be able to say, ‘I planted that,” Tim said. “Or I can look around and say, ‘I did that landscap ing,’ and I enjoy hearing people’s

When he ran the nursery, Duck would spend late nights drawing up plans for the next day’s work. His dad’s dedication wasn’t lost on a young Tim, whose commit ment to the family business is like Duck’s.

Tim likes to keep his work closer to home — within about 20 miles either way of Lake Carroll. That way, he doesn’t spread himself to thin and can get to know his customers well. That familiarity has been a key part of the business’ success, and something the Sweitzer family prides themselves on.

They often work with their custom ers to determine just the right look for their landscape.

“Some of them know where they want them, and some of them I’ll kind of help them figure out where to place them,” Tim said. “You have to know your trees, how big they can get and how wide they can get. You don’t want a tree to touch a house.”

Specialty Magazines

It’s the same with shrubs, too. “I’ll put the shrubs in place and I’ll have the homeowner come and look at them,” Tim continued. “If they like them, I can plant them, or I can move a couple of things around. You can’t visualize something on a piece of paper. People can see the actual plant sit in there and see how it will look.”

The commitment to customers has paid off. Sweitzer’s open house had a good turnout, Tim said, and in honor of the half-century celebration, plants, shrubs, and perennials were 50 percent off. There was also food and drawings for prizes, and Duck even brought out his 1949 Ford truck to show off, with a display of plants on it.

Customers can see the trees, shrubs and plants outside of the nursery from sunrise to sunset; they can also see pictures of what the greens will look like when fully mature or in bloom, so custom ers can fast forward through the years to see what they’re buying will someday look like.

If you’ve got an appetite for fruit trees, Sweitzers can help. Apples and pears are a big seller, but peaches can be hit or miss — this year, though, they’ve been popular: the first batch sold out within a week, Tim said.

Duck’s wife and Tim’s mother, Kay (left), used to help water the plants and trees at the nursery whenever she had time away from her day job in Freeport. Kay passed away 4 years ago, but her spirit lives on with a bench dedicated to her memory outside of the nursery.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

“Some of the maples

the

some

red, some

Tim said. “I

oaks,

some hackberries and elms, and also some crab

and some pears. A lot of people come by and pick out their own tree, and some people come out and just say, ‘Pick out a nice tree’ to plant for them.”

Whether it’s a tree or a shrub, landscaping or lawn work, Tim likes to make sure of one thing: that things aren’t the same when he leaves — they’re better.

“I like to make it better after I leave,” he said. “The guys I have helping me also makes sure it looks nice, and they do a good job.”

Though the business marked its golden anniversary this year, the Sweitzer family actually has been in the nursery business for four generations, going back even further than 50 years. Duck’s grandfather, Edward, owned a nursery of his own elsewhere in rural Lanark in the 1930s and 1940s.

When Sweitzers first started out, its focus was on trees and shrubs, but when Tim took over, he decided to expand the business to offer landscaping, lawn maintenance, mowing, retaining walls, skid loader services, snow plow ing and more.

big moment in Edward’s

came in the fall of 1941, when he was chosen to have one of his trees, a 10-inch elm at that time, planted near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — which at that time had remains of American soldiers from World War I who could not be identified — near the nation’s capitol at Arlington National Cemetery. Just a few months later, the country would be caught up in another World War that saw more unknown sol diers take their final resting place at the memorial, protected by a Sweitzer tree. It didn’t take long before a young duckling in the family decided to help out with the nursery, and Richard followed in his father’s foot steps. As for that nickname? Some older relatives gave it to him when he was young though he doesn’t recall exactly why, but the “Duck” stuck, and that’s what many of his long time customers still know him by.

do

outside in

best to

what

of full-grown

of the

of what’s

and

“I can remember going out as a kid weeding some of the shrubbery Grandpa had, pulling out all of the weeds and such and keeping other weeds from growing around it,” Duck said. “I wasn’t very old then.”

Edward eventually got out of the nursery business before Duck decided to spread his wings and, with Uncle Bob, opened a nursery of their own on Forest Road, about a half-mile south of Zier Road. Its first big customer? That would be none other than Lake Carroll itself. When the original Plumtree Lodge was built, Sweitzer’s shrubs were lined up around it. After that, folks from the golf course knocked on the business’ door: They wanted some trees to be lined up around some of the greens and fairways. Even today, Duck can point out which trees he planted.

Tim, too, can recall memories of planting trees, and can point out ones he’s put in the ground years earlier, either with his father or on his own.

“You can look back at stuff you did, such as planting a tree, looking back 10 years from now and be able to say, ‘I planted that,” Tim said. “Or I can look around and say, ‘I did that landscaping,’ and I enjoy hearing people’s feedback on what they think of a job, when they say, ‘I like what you did here,’ or, “This looks nice.’” Duck’s wife and Tim’s mother, Kay, used to help water the plants and trees at the nursery whenever she had time away from her day job in Freeport. Kay passed away 4 years ago, but her spirit lives on with a bench in her honor on the nursery’s grounds. Other mementos, antiques and collectibles from Kay’s life, as well as Duck’s youth, are found inside the office.

As for Duck, he’s happy to see what the seeds he planted decades ago have grown into, and even happier that those seeds have become part of the family tree, with his son following in his footsteps.

“Did I find my pot of gold? Yes I did,” Duck said. “From the love of God, family, friends and acquaintances over the years.”

More info

Sweitzer Nursery, 15166 Lov ers Spring Roadin rural Lanark, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Find it on Facebook or call 815-9942434 for more informa

t takes skill to reel in a big one. It also takes patience.

Sitting in a boat, casting your line, hoping the fish take the bait — but for competitors in Lake Carroll’s Classic Invitational, it was all worth the weight.

Lake Carroll’s annual two-day bass fishing event, held each year at the lake in early October, isn’t about the sheer numbers of fish caught, but rather how they add up.

This year, teens Joshua Hayes and Colton Boelkes proved that you don’t have to have a lot of years under your belts to win a tourna ment. The aspiring professional anglers teamed up to collect 34.30 pounds of bass on Oct. 1 and 2 to claim this year’s invitational championship, headquartered at the West Marina.

Hayes and Boelkes reeled in 19.17 pounds during the first day, which was 4 pounds more than their best catches during the second day. No team is sure who’s reeled in the most weight until all of the weigh-ins are tallied, and Hayes and Boelkes wound up edging out the second place boat of Dan and Abby Hayes – Joshua’s father and sister – and Bill Morgan, who tallied 32.69 pounds.

Last year, the Hayes father-and-son duo took third place in the invi tational with 27.67 pounds of fish.

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

Colton Boelkes (left) and Joshua Hayes reeled in 34.30 pounds of bass to claim this year's invi tational championship. “[Day 2] started out with a bit of a struggle,” Joshua said. “We started out rough and ended up catching our fifth keeper at 11:30, and had two more after that, which pulled a little bit. It was a fun tournament.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

“[Day 2] started out with a bit of a struggle,” Joshua said. “We started out rough and ended up catching our fifth keeper at 11:30, and had two more after that, which pulled a little bit. It was a fun tournament.”

“This is a great place to fish,” Boelkes added.

The first-day total for Hayes and Boelkes was the largest catch for any boat in either day. The team of Greg Lester and Brent Rose came up with the second day’s largest total with 17.07 pounds, just 0.05 pounds more than what the Hayes and Morgan came up with on the second day.

In all, 17 boats competed and collected nearly 400 pounds of both large mouth and smallmouth fish. This year’s total catch wound up being bigger than last year’s collective catch, despite having one less boat this year. Of this year’s field, six boats caught more than 30 pounds, and all were more than last year’s winning collection of 29.28 pounds by the father-and-son duo of Bob and Robert Knackstedt.

The Knackstedts do more than just fish; they’re in charge of the entire operation as part of Lake Carroll’s Fishing Club. Though their total tally this year didn’t quite measure up to what they hauled in last year, that’s OK; they just enjoy being part of the fun and friendly competition, no mat ter who wins.

“It’s fun,” Bob said. “My kids have fished in the tournaments, my grand kids have. You get to meet a lot of people.”

Bob keeps track of each weigh-in on pen and paper, and Robert helps each boat unload fish into a bag used for the weigh-in. The results also are written on a large sign behind the West Marina concession stand for all to see. Though running the show keeps their hands full of more than just fish, Bob is quick to credit the people who started it all.

“The guys who started this a long time ago did the real hard work,” he said. “I just have to main tain it. I put the schedules together, the publicity, what little bit there is, and run them every morning; and even if I can’t make it, someone else will step in.”

Each year, the invitational field is made up of teams of anglers who participated in at least three of the Lake Carroll Fishing Club’s monthly fishing events at the lake. Each boat sought to catch as many bass as they could, but only their five best catches could be brought back to shore from their live-wells for official weigh-in.

Each of the event’s two days began with registration at 6 a.m. before the boats scattered about the lake to reel in their catches starting at 7 a.m. After 6 hours of fishing, the fleet of boats all converged back at the West Marina boat dock right at 1 p.m. to unload fish and await the results.

Prizes are awarded to the event’s top five boats, as well as the team that caught the biggest largemouth and biggest smallmouth bass. The team of Brett Johnigk and Matt Sosnowski caught the largest smallmouth bass, at 4.18 pounds; Joe Lester and Preston Labay hauled in the largest largemouth, at 4.57 pounds.

Each boat pays an entry fee to compete in the events from April to September and a portion of the fee goes to the Fishing Club for fish restocking and supplies. This year’s tournament schedule kicked off April 9, followed by events on April 23, May 14, June 4, July 9, Aug. 20 and Sept. 10. Most events started with registration at the West Marina early each morning, followed by 6 hours of fishing before lunchtime. The July event was the annual night tournament, when fishers had to deal with the dark between 7 p.m. and midnight out on the lake.

CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@ SAUKVALLEY.COM

Anglers wait in line for weighins after the round of fishing is over.

Left: Robert Knackstedt (left) holds a bag of fish that he and his father, Bob (right), caught during the Classic Invitational. The Knackstedts oversee the event in their role as members of Lake Carroll's Fishing Club.

For some teams, the invita tional is a family affair — father and son, father and daughter, grandfathers and grandkids ... “It’s fun,” Bob said. “My kids have fished in the tournaments, my grandkids have. You get to meet a lot of people.” Top right: Bob sets up the weigh station. Bottom right: Robert holds a bag of fish for the weigh-in.

Anthony and Jimmy Farace were another father-and-son team to compete in the event, this being their second year in the field. They finished having hauled in a few more fish on the second day than on the first day, ending on a bit of a high note.

“I love the competition of it, see how you did relative to everyone else,” Jimmy said. “It’s fun to get outside on beautiful days and catch a fish, and even better to want to see how well you do, even if sometimes you fall short.”

As with with the other teams, the Faraces said the event is also time well spent with friends and family.

“We have a great time out there,” Anthony said. “There are a lot of fathers and sons, grandfathers and grandkids, and even fathers and daughters, too. It’s a real fun family affair as well.”

The Knackstedts agree.

“There’s a lot of these guys who have been fishing this tournament for a long, long time,” Bob said. “It’s good to see the kids. I’ve watched Joshua grow up. He had been fishing in tournaments for a long, long time with his dad.”

Hayes and Boelkes, both part-time residents at Lake Carroll, have their sights set on competing at larger events nationwide with sponsorships.

Hayes recently graduated from Durand High School, where he par ticipated on the bass fishing team coached by his father. Just 2 years ago, during his junior year, his team won an Illinois High School Association Sectional championship at Pierce Lake in Machesney Park. Boelkes is a senior at Hononegah High School in Rockton, where he also competes on the bass fishing team. Hononegah and Boelkes finished runner-up to Durand’s Bulldogs and Hayes 2 years ago, and this past May back at Pierce Lake, the Indians’ boat won the sectional.

If they return to Lake Carroll competition in 2023, they’ll definitely be the team to beat.

“The people are great,” Hayes said. “It’s well-run. I enjoy the lake. It’s gorgeous, it’s great fishing, and it was a fun tournament.”

Want to learn more about fishing at the lake? The Lake Car roll Fishing Club can help. Its mission ...

"The Fishing Club was established in 1979 with objectives to propagate and restore all forms of game fish and improve the lake habitat. Its primary goal was to instruct, encourage and bring people together in the art and pleasure of fishing. Our current mission statement embraces these ideas and continues to promote fishing knowledge, conservation, education and fellowship through programs which ensure fisheries and habitats that benefit all Lake Carroll property owners. The club membership supports these ideals and is committed to the Lake Carroll community where families, committees, clubs and organizations can participate in the many other activities the club sponsors.

"Some of these other club sponsored activities include, fishing tournaments, golf outings, construction of lake structure, improving fish habitat, spillway rescue of game fish, seasonal road trips, barbecues, charitable contribu tions and monthly pot luck membership meetings where members and guests share friendship, camaraderie and community spirit."

Go to golakecarroll.com/LCA Main/Activities/Clubs/ Fishing Club to learn more about the Fishing Club and to view guidelines regarding the annual fishing tournament events.

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

oping to get in some more road trips before the snow flies? There’s still time, and this month’s Lake Lifestyle day trip destination heads to a town that’s unlike any other and that’s not just hype. After all, where else will you find another county seat along the Rock River with a 48-foot-tall Indian chief keeping an eternal watch over it?

About 45 minutes southeast of Lake Carroll, along state Route 64 — or North Avenue as it’s called in the Chicago area — Oregon (pop. 3,604) is a small town that’s big on things to do and see, including that larger-than-life chief, The Eternal Indian.

The concrete statue at Lowden State Park was designed by Lorado Taft and is perched on a bluff over looking the Rock River. The statue is a tribute to all Native Americans, but is most associated with Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk Tribe, who, after leaving the area following the Black Hawk War, is said to have admonished his captors to care for the land as he and his people did. The statue is thought to be the larg est concrete monolithic statue in the country, and the second largest in the world. It gazes toward the north end of town along the river, which runs along a picturesque state Route 2, itself a must-see site for all those leaf peepers out there who love a good fall foliage show, when a sea of green along the road transforms into a kaleidoscope of blazing color that lights up the sky in reds and oranges and yellows.

And while that stoic statue looms large in any list of things to see during a visit to the city, it’s far from the only thing. There’s his tory, fine arts (check out the list of sites at cityoforegon.org/category/ see-and-do/community-arts/), shopping, dining and more, so hop in the car and hit the road for a one-of-a-kind trip ...

That

locations

Oregon’s trio

it, as well as one more not too far from town.

Lowden State Park, 1411 N. River Road, features 207 acres of hiking trails, camping, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and both a softball diamond and sand volleyball court. The Black Hawk statue (see photo on previous pages) is the park’s primary attraction, and it underwent an extensive renovation project in the past few years. Across the Rock River, the boundaries of the park — named for former governor and resident Frank O. Lowden — also includes a boat launch

north of town off of state Route 2, where the park’s natural riverside beauty can be seen up close.

Castle Rock State Park, 2 miles south of Oregon on Route 2, is named for the sandstone bluff formation that runs along the edge of the river. Want to ascend to the top of the rock? A staircase, with about 100 steps, leads to two levels of sightseeing landings that offer stunning views of the river, its nearby woods and all of its natural beauty (photo below). Boat launches, hiking trails, picnic areas and playground equipment can also be found within the park grounds. Also within the park is the George B. Fell Nature Preserve, 710 acres of woodland reserved for animals and scientific research.

Gov. Lowden has his name attached to another nearby park, sharing it with grandson Warren Miller on land he once owned. Lowden-Miller State Forest, 180 W. Nashua Road, (photo at right) is full of tall trees

planted by the future governor personally or through projects overseen by him. The park features nearly 2,300 acres of natural area, with a network of trails to take you through it.

About 5 miles west of Oregon is White Pines Forest State Park, 6720 W. Pines Road, which features camping, trails and picnicking. The park also has a couple of fords (photo below) where motorists can drive through a flowing creek. Portions of the trail network also are used for cross-country skiing during the winter months. Cabin rentals are also available at White Pines Lodge.

MORE INFO: Go to www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/North western to learn more about Oregon’s state parks and others in northwest Illinois. In addition, the city’s park district has nine parks and two indoor recreation facilities. Go to oregonpark.org or find it on Facebook to learn more about the city parks.

117 N. Fourth St. | 815-881-8217

Online: Facebook or Instagram (@ rusticridgeax ethrowing), rusticridgeax ethrowing.com

Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Rustic Ridge is where customers take a hatchet in hand and let it fly. Axe throwing is a sport that’s grown in popularity in recent years. It’s similar to archery, but you don’t need a bow and arrow, just an axe and an arm. A good eye helps, too, because the object is to rack up points by hurling a hatchet at a target painted on a piece of wood. The closer to the bullseye, the better the score.

The venue opened May 28 and has seven throwing lanes — three sets of two and one all by itself. It is affiliated with both the World Axe Throwing League and the World Knife Throwing League; owner Christopher Chapman is a certified coach through both leagues. Knife-based sessions also are available and leagues are being considered for the future.

In order to throw, participants must wear close-toed shoes and fill out a liability waiver first. Those ages 14 to 17 must be accom panied by an adult; those 10 to 13 must also be approved by Chris personally before they can heave one at a target. Axes are available on site, or customers can bring their own, too — but only certain types that must be World Axe Throwing League approved and looked over by Chapman. Call or go online for hourly rates and reservations.

Lake Carroll Property Owner

EARLEEN HINTON/SHAW MEDIA

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

400 W. Washington St. | 815-881-8033

Online: Facebook Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday

Opened in 2021, this

the

of state

already

and

201 N. Second St. | 815-263-4088

Online: Facebook, Instagram (@whitepelicaninc), whitepelican.biz Hours: By appointment or during special events from April through November

Want to row, row, row your way down the Rock River? White Pelican Inc. has canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and tubes for rent for a scenic jaunt along the river. Specific trips are planned with end destinations at Castle Rock State Park, Grand Detour or Lowell Park in Dixon, and custom tours can be arranged elsewhere along the river. Overnight trip packages for Grand Detour and Lowell Park also are available. The Rock River has several islands where water wanderers can stop at and take breaks if need be. The islands also are havens for birds seeking shelter.

is

in the former National Clothing build ing

light beers, stouts, brown ales, maple brown ale, IPAs and more. Some of the brews are exclusive to the pub and the owners try to locally source as many of the ingredients as they can, including hops from 20 miles south of town in Amboy. Appetizers, sandwiches, plates and other menu items are available, and as they do with their beers, the owners want to offer food that’s unique to the brewery.

EARLEEN HINTON/EHINTON@SHAWMEDIA.COM

201 N. Third St.

815-732-3950

Online: Facebook, conoversquaremall.com

Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; individu al shop hours may vary

in 1971,

the north east edge of downtown was

into a mall in the late 1970s and retains much of its original European mo tif. Inside, shoppers will find

antiques, books,

pottery,

as well

a couple of

The mall’s space also houses the Blackhawk Model Railroad Club, with train lines throughout its space; the Eagle’s Nest Art Group studios and gallery with pieces from local artists; and the Billy Barnhart Museum of vintage toys, collectibles, sleighs, farm equipment and relics of the past collected by the Barnhart Family over many decades. There are also still a few Shiller pianos left on the former factory floor, where people can tickle the ivories.

1000 W. Washington St. | 815-994-1246

Online: ukulelestationamerica.com and both on Facebook

Hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday

The ukulele’s popularity has come and gone and come again, and the little instrument that could keeps chugging along. Ukulele Station owner John Lind horst (photo above left) has turned his love for the instrument into a business, setting up shop in small stone building that once housed a gas station and filling ‘er up with ukuleles. The ukulele is ubiquitous with Hawaii, where it started becoming popular in the late 1800s, and prevalent throughout the rest of the United States during the Roaring ‘20s. Recently, Lindhorst expanded his business, building a second location nearby: the Oregon Music Garage (photo above right): Its stock includes acoustic and electric guitars, electric basses, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, banjo-ukuleles, percussion instruments, and more.

The historic Chana School, 201 N. River Road (below left), was built in 1883, and unlike other schools of

connected at the corner with a

America, where

tower in

is a two-room

Such

really did walk a mile in the snow

once was located in the town of Chana,

get

5 miles east of

in

but was

1913 building that served the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railway. The depot saw its last passenger Zephyrs stop in 1971, but their memory lives on with this museum’s display of local railroad artifacts and memorabilia. In August, a vin tage 1947 Silver View dome rail car (below center) was welcomed to the museum and is parked nearby, where it will remain during ongoing restoration efforts, with the ultimate goal of getting the car read for rail travel again. The depot also served as a yard office for the Burlington Northern for about a decade after it closed to passengers. The depot, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, is open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; go to cityoforegon.org/oregon-traindepot or call 815-757-9715 for more information.

cgstauffer1@icloud.com

815-732-2447.

to rggruber.wixsite.com/ chana-school-museum for more information.

The Oregon Depot Museum, 401 Collins St. , is housed in a

Housed in an 1878 Midwestern prairie home that once belonged to the family of longtime Oregonian Chester Nash, the Ogle County and Ruby Nash Historical Museum, 111 N. Sixth St. (below center), has local historical artifacts, focusing mostly on Oregon. It’s open from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday; go to oglecountyhistoricalsociety.com or call 815-732-7545 for more information.

SVM FILE PHOTOS

Originally completed in 1930 as a summer home for the family of Walter Strong, Stronghold became a campground and retreat center for the local Presbyterian Church in the 1960s. Tours are available of the Tudor-style castle and its grounds: It boasts 10 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms and a secret passage or two.

107 W. Washington St. |

815-732-2396

Online: Facebook, jaysdrivein.com

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Currently, Jay’s is closed for the winter, but save this for the road trip itinerary when it opens back up in the spring. Once upon a time, ordering food from the comfort of a car didn’t involve a loop through a drive-thru. You pulled in and parked and a car hop would bring the food to you. Jay’s Drive-In brings back that experience. American food staples such as burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and chicken strips can be ordered through a speaker on the menu — just push a button and order away; inside seating is available too. Also on the menu are pulled pork sandwiches and gyros, and there’s plenty for des sert — ice cream, shakes, malts, sundaes, splits, flurries, deep fried Oreos and root beer floats. Root beer is a specialty at Jay’s; it’s made in house and can also be ordered by the gallon or half-gallon. The drive-in also has cruise nights once a month, with classic cars rolling in the parking lot to bring back that retro charm. The drive-in recently changed hands when a Amy and Michael Ortiz (photo above) bought it from former owners Terry and Vicky Wilkens on June 3.

1922 state Route 2 815-732-6111, ext. 613

info@strongholdcenter.org

Online: Strongholdcenter.org

Hours: By appointment

During the hour-long tour, visitors will learn about castle’s construction and how it man aged to get completed at the precipice of the Great Depression, as well as information about castle structures and medieval life.

Elsewhere at the facility are wilderness cabins, a camping area, dining and meeting rooms, and seven retreat houses that each can accommodate 8 to 56 guests. The summer camps, for children ages 6 to 18, include challenging courses and a confirma tion retreat. Stronghold also hosts the annual Olde English Faire in early October, which includes shows with actors depicting royalty, vikings, jesters, madrigals and more.

Castle tours are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 or younger. Email Stronghold to arrange tours.

Find “Oregon IL Area Chamber of Commerce” on Facebook, or go to oregonil.com to learn more about Ogle County’s historic seat, including places to visit, shop, eat and upcoming events.

1469 state Route 2 1-800-468-4222

Online: Facebook, maxsons.net

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 am. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Maxson Riverboat and Restaurant consists of both a paddle wheel riverboat, The Pride of Oregon, and a restaurant at the boat's dock. The 102-foot-long boat, built in 1989, is a replica of the famous Rosie O’Shea paddlewheel from Marco Island near Naples, Florida. The boat offers lunch and dinner cruises on a 15-mile round trip, with menus varying by the day. It’s also available for private sightseeing tours. The boat can hold up to 149 passengers.

On the shore, the restaurant serves up sandwiches, steaks and seafood. There’s also a Friday fish fry, Saturday prime rib and a Sunday brunch buffet.

SVM FILE

By Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media

Lena business has an arrangement with Mother Nature: You provide the flowers, we’ll tell them what to say.

“Get well,” “Thank you,” “Happy birthday,” “I’m sorry,” “Happy anniversary,” “Congratulations,” “I love you” ... There’s not much flowers can’t say. It just takes a special talent to pick the right words.

That’s where DeVoe Floral comes in. The Lena flower and gift shop can find the perfect way to say what’s on your mind and in your heart, but that should come as no surprise: It’s been doing it for more than 75 years now, the last 50 or so at its current location. During that time, it’s built up a reputation throughout north west Illinois as a go-to place for flowers and gifts.

Today, all that talent stems from owner Paris Hughes and her crew, who can help you pick the right flowers and choose the right gift.

Hughes’ shop is full of flow ers, home decor (both seasonal and year-round), plants and gifts set against the rustic back drop of her store.

For her, it’s all about that down-home feel.

DEALER

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

“I want them to feel like home, and it’s comfortable,” Hughes said. “I want it to be appealing to their tastes. We tend to go more on the country side, because it’s the community we live in, but we do have some specialty things here and there, too.”

Hughes has worked hard to build up a network of vendors and suppliers to stock her store with the kind of items that keep customers coming back for more. Much of the decor is chosen to compliment the power of flowers. She likes to choose items that are affordable, but sometimes she’ll find a big-tick et item that she just can’t pass up, and neither can her customers.

“Sometimes I’ll get some things that are pricey, and I’ll be surprised how fast they can go out the door,” Hughes said. “It just depends on who comes in the door and what they’re looking for.”

What they’ll be looking for pretty soon will be holiday items, and they’ll find them at an open house Nov. 18 and 19, when she premieres the Christ mas arrangements and decorations. The event will also have drawings, and fall items will be marked down to make way for the Christmas line.

The warm colors of fall will turn to the cool yule of red and white come mid-November: That’s when all of the Christmas arrangements and decora tions come out and are premiered at an open house on Nov. 18 and 19, an event that will also have drawings and a markdown of fall items.

The hard work put in by Hughes and her staff of 11 part-times hasn’t gone unnoticed. National florist FTD recently honored DeVoe Floral as one of its “Top 1,000 Partners” for 2021. It’s not the first time DeVoe has earned the honor — the shop was named one in 2017 — but this year’s recognition felt even more special, given all the changes and challenges small businesses had to contend with during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DeVoe Floral’s crew includes owner Paris Hughes (center), Carolyn Shick (left) and Alyssa Johnson, The shop, which sells flowers, home decor and more, has been in downtown Lena for nearly 50 years, with the beginnings of the business stretching back even further. CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

“It’s like a rating from them, and that’s very special because they’ve been a good partnership for me,” Hughes said. “And it came by surprise — this just showed up in a special delivery box, and I was like, ‘What is this?’ It was amazing.”

The pandemic threatened to take the bloom off businesses like DeVoe’s, with supply chain issues making it difficult to maintain a full line of mer chandise, and she had to really work her network of providers to keep the store stocked. These days, florists don’t just pop into a greenhouse to pick flow ers. Their flora inventory comes from local, national and even global suppliers.

“For a while, we couldn’t get a certain color rose, and that’s really hard, especially when it’s your basic white rose,” Hughes said. “You have to check the price of the flowers when they come in, which is unfortunate. You used to be able to preset the price of the flowers, but it fluctuates so much now. I’m not happy with that, but there’s not much you can do. Even the wholesalers can be frustrated, but there’s not much they can do either.”

Getting the job done has been a challenge, but Hughes and her crew have made it work.

“I don’t usually have too many problems finding things and getting them,” Hughes said. “I can be very lucky. I have some outlets where I can find stuff, and I’m grateful for those. It hasn’t been as easy as it used to be.”

Forever flora ... If you’re looking for flowers with some staying power, DeVoe Floral can help. Customers can pick up artifi cial flowers, as well as yard art that’ll bloom all year long.

to be a new State Farm®

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and am here to help

LAW-JONES

DeVoe Floral also is known by locals as “Flowers by Paris,” which is a secondary name for the shop that she’s owned for 15 years. Hughes has kept the De Voe name as its primary identity, she said, not only because of the name recognition it had built up over the decades, but as a nod to original owners, Ira and Hazel DeVoe, who made quite an impact on a young Paris nearly 40 years ago.

“It had been in town for 62 years when I bought it,” Hughes said. “It’s been wonderful. They had a reputation that was strong, and we’ve tried to build on that reputation as good as we can get it. There’s always room for improve ment, but we’ve done pretty good.”

The original greenhouse was where the mini golf course at Lions Park is today, and it moved downtown in the late 1970s. Shipping and consolidation has replaced the days of growing her inventory onsite, and there’s no greenhouse at the business today, but Hughes still holds the memories of spending time in that greenhouse close to heart, and she’s happy to share that history with her staff.

Ira and Hazel’s son, Duane, along with his wife Donna, took over the family business around the time it moved downtown. Donna still comes in once a week to help when needed.

“Ira was always the greenhouse man,” Hughes said. “He was very particular about his plants and how you planted them; and Hazel was really good at helping you get started. I had some ex perience, but not a lot. She gave you good basics to start with, and I’ve carried that on as much as possible.”

BELOW: Hughes’ fondness for flora has helped her shop twice be named one of FTD’s “Top 1,000 Partners” — in 2017 and again in 2021.

at Hartzel’s IGA

Warren, you can pick up flowers from a cooler DeVoe has there.

The shop will also deliver

homes and gravesites in Stephenson County and eastern Jo Daviess County. Hughes has even delivered to gravesites when there’s snow on the ground. She recalls a time during the first year she owned the store, when it had snowed before November, and it was tough finding the flat grave marker. She called up Donna, who helped her find it after some walking around and brushing off the marker.

“A lot of people have family members buried here, but don’t live around here anymore,” Hughes said. “I can deliver silk or fresh arrangements to cemeteries and put them on their gravestone. I can do Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and Christmas wreaths or evergreen Christ mas pieces typically by the last week of November.”

Customers can also shop DeVoe’s website, flowersbyparis.com.

By phone, online or in person, however customers choose to shop, communication is key to the quality and service her customers have come to expect — knowing what they want and helping them find it. It’s a philosophy Hughes has taken beyond the store. She’s worked with fellow small business owners and even other flower shops in the region to find out how to thrive in a tough economy.

And when times and things get tough? “Just keep working at it,” she said. “It’s been fun,” Hughes said, “and we have a good thing going.”

DeVoe Floral, 16 W. Main St. in Lena, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Find it on Facebook, go to flowersbyparis.com, email devoefloral@yahoo.com or call 815-369-5549 for more information.

Different colors, different models, different accessories — 3D Golf Carts and Trailer Rental has been adding to its inventory to meet a growing demand for the electric ve hicles. "We wanted to expand [and] we thought golf carts would be a good fit. ... Nobody [locally] is selling golf carts in large quantities besides us,” said owner Dominic Chase.

CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

BY CODY CUTTER | SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

ho says you have to play golf to have a golf cart?

Sure, they can be a godsend on the greens when you’re hauling around golf clubs, but these days, more and more people are hopping into golf carts off the links too, tooling around their own greens — the green green grass of home — and even on city streets.

That’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by a Fulton family.

The “3D Brothers” — Dominic, Drake and Dillon Chase — recently expanded the trailer and auto business they’ve owned for almost a decade and gotten into the electric golf cart market. 3D Golf Carts and Trailer Rentals opened in January as a spinoff of 3D Trailer and Auto in the Fulton Industrial Park.

The new endeavor is a continuation of booming business for the brothers, who were the industrial park’s first tenants two years ago. A large stock of Epic and Icon carts — about 50 in all so far — are on the lot, in a rainbow of colors and with a range of features. Icon makes both its flagship model and the Epics, which come loaded with a bit more luxury.

“We wanted to expand into trailers, and then wanted to expand into something else,” Dominic said. “We thought golf carts would be a good fit. There wasn’t a need met for golf carts around the area, and nobody [locally] is sell ing golf carts in large quantities besides us, from the Quad City area pretty much to Dubuque and southern Wisconsin. It was a really big thing for us because we saw a need in the market, and we thought we could build on that with the electric golf carts.”

Dominic runs the golf cart side of the brothers’ operation, and the family business isn’t done growing. Plans are in store for later this year and early next year: Trailer rental will begin later this year, and a full-service golf cart repair shop will open with mechanics to be hired in the coming months.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Dominic Chase, owner of 3D Golf Carts and Trailer Rental in Fulton, opened up shop in January. He's one of the three D's in the family business, along with brothers Drake and Dillon, who run 3D Trailer and Auto next door at the Fulton Industrial Park.

have come a long way

that just zipped

come

features

like backup cameras, turn signals

in

ATVs and cheaper to operate than bigger, gas-powered

systems and more. They can also be cheaper

— all you need is a 110volt outlet to charge the 6- or 8-volt battery. And

on where you live, they’re street legal, like they are in nearby Clinton and Fulton.

markets to more than just golf, it markets to families, it markets to a variety of different people,” Dominic said. “People who want to cruise around the neighborhood, people who want to get around town or on the golf course or on the farm, or from a friend’s house to another friend’s house. It’s really easy to navigate in these, and the cities are making it legal for golf carts to now be on city roads by just getting a registration sticker. It’s made the process easier; they don’t have to buy a $30,000 ATV, they can buy a $10,000 golf cart and they can still do the same things they had been doing before.”

Carts come in two primary types: lifted and non-lift ed. The latter is the more common of the two, built to a standard height. Lifted models allow for greater flexibility when entering and exiting the cart, based on a person’s size or mobility.

Golf carts have been around since the 1930s, but they’ve come a long way since then. These days, they can come with LCD screens for the backup camera, sound systems and other options. And if they don’t come with what you want, 3D Golf Carts and Trailer Rental offers accessories that can be installed.

Many parks and camp sites are changing golf cart rules to transition from gas to electric motors, cutting down on the noise — which is a big benefit in areas where people go for some peace and quiet — and eliminat ing emissions.

The carts can also be customized.

“Whatever you’re looking for in a golf cart, we can offer it to you,” Dominic said. Customers can test drive any cart to get a feel for how it rides. Dominic has met a number of new customers who had never been on a cart before, but once they try them out, they’re hooked.

“I just like seeing the joy on people’s faces and the surprise they get, whether they’re getting it for their wife or family, or are getting something new that they’re going to use and are going to take good care of, and they can enjoy that ride around town or their property,” Dominic said. “Something that they can enjoy and be proud of is something that, I think, you can really tell when they get to take it home or when we’re making a delivery to them. You really do see the joy and excitement on their faces.”

Financing is available, as well as delivery (at $3 per mile). Need a quick repair on a cart? 3D Trailer and Auto’s crew are servicing Icons and Epics until Dominic’s repair bays open. He plans to service all makes, models and types of golf carts — electric or gas. Cart sales typically slow down as the weather gets colder, but that will give Dominic more time to get the repair operation and trailer rentals up and running.

For now, Dominic is going to enjoy the ride, and he looks forward to seeing where it takes him.

“It’s gone well,” he said. “We’ve seen a real need for it. With the word of mouth and being on the website, we really got a lot of customers from the area buy ing these golf carts and different models, and we don’t see it slowing down.”

3D

&

600 Progress Drive, Fulton | 563-503-9516

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Online: 3dtrailerandauto.com or find 3D Trailer and Auto on Facebook Trailer rentals and golf cart maintenance services will be available at a later date; meanwhile, 3D Trailer and Auto, located next door, handles both for now.

Above: Plans are in the works to offer golf cart repair for all makes and mod els at 3D Golf Carts and Trailer Rentals. Until then, 3D Trailer and Auto will service Icons and Epics.

A Guide To Lake Carroll Real Estate

Margaret

Gary