NewsTribune_Holiday Life_103120

Holiday Life ILLINOIS VALLEY

2020

INSIDE

• Christmas music - holiday hits • Shaw staff talk gifts • Stay healthy this holiday season and more

publication

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2 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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contents

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

On the cover Cassie Donnelly, of Tonica, Maddie Spayer of Spring Valley, and Alexis Berg, from Streator shop downtown La Salle. Page 17

Holiday Lights This adorable light-up house at Valley Flowers and Gifts can make a great display piece this holiday season. Page 14

Holiday Life

426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com

Gifts to Remember 6

Shaw Media staff share stories of their favorite gifts.

Publisher Dan Goetz

Music for the Season 10

Editor Tammie Sloup

When do you start listening to Christmas music?

Advertising Director Jeanette Smith

jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Healthy Holidays 22

Try to keep healthy and fit throughout the Holiday Season.

Writers Charlie Ellerbrock Brian Hoxsey Stephanie Jaquins Mike Murphy Photographer Scott Anderson Designer Liz Klein Published by: est. 1851

4 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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Staffers share stories of their favorite gifts Merry Christmas!

As many families, especially children, make and add to their memories of Christmas, Shaw Media staffers are sharing their most memorable gifts.

Tammie Sloup, editor: Remember the great Cabbage Patch doll craze of 1983? I was 7 years old so I HAD to have one. However, my mom was not about to fight her way through a mob at Toys ‘R Us only to leave empty-handed and probably bruised up.

(The news clips of the frenzied shoppers were insane). So on Christmas morning, rather than opening a doll stamped with Xavier Roberts’ signature on its butt, I was given a handmade replica of a Cabbage Patch doll that my mom asked my aunt to make.

If I couldn’t have a real Cabbage Patch, my mom made sure I had the next closest thing. I couldn’t say what my reaction was then, but I certainly appreciate the sentiment today.

Derek Barichello, news editor: I don’t feel like I have the one favorite gift.

There have been a lot of good ones. I remember playing a lot with a Mr. Wizard. It was a talking quiz game. Other gifts that really stand out are a Drew Bledsoe jersey when I was in fifth grade, Ninja Turtles hockey that played similar to fooseball and a race car set.

JT Pedelty, sports editor: The Christmas present I remember opening best was my first Transformer, Bluestreak, when I was 9 years old. How cool, a die-cast metal car that turned into a robot with rocket launchers attached to his head! Bluestreak has never been a major Transformer in the toys, comics or movies, but he’s always been my favorite.

Tom Collins, reporter: Quick: Name a boy who grew up in the 1970s and didn’t own any “Star Wars” toys.

This ink-stained wretch is no exception. After seeing the original (later dubbed “Episode IV”) in summer 1977, I saw “Star Wars” seven more times and set about collecting all the Kenner toys. Ahead of Christmas 1978, I’d asked Santa for the replica Millennium Falcon and, for reasons I’ll never comprehend, I must not have made Old St. Nick’s list of naughty children because there was no lump of coal in my stocking. Instead, I got the coolest-ever spaceship and played with it for years. Today, it sits in my mother’s basement where, to my delight, my nieces and nephew have played with it.

Brian Hoxsey, sports reporter: I have always loved video games — heck I remember thinking Pong was the greatest thing I had ever seen — but I’m not sure anything could top the Christmas gift that opened when I was 12 years old. Now the details are a little fuzzy in my mind, but I know Mattel Electronics released the gaming system Intellivision sometime that summer or fall. From the minute I saw the commercial for it, and that it had a number of sports games, I wanted it. It was No. 1 on my very short list of things I wanted, mainly because at $300, I was hoping not being too greedy would help. I’m not sure if also listing socks and underwear right under Intellivision on my list sealed the deal, but needless to say I got it. I felt like the king of the world.

Jared Bell, account executive: One year, my wife did 12 days of Christmas where I received a small, simple present every day for 12 days leading to Christmas. Nothing big, but all were great. Some were practical, some were holiday related and some were just fun and goofy. I still remember it to this day and it meant a lot to me.

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Jeanette Smith, advertising director: One of my favorite Christmas presents was my very first Cabbage Patch doll. In the early ‘80s, like everyone else, it was all I asked for that Christmas. I was told over and over that they were impossible to get and not to get my hopes up but on Christmas morning after opening all of my presents I found a note in my stocking telling me I had one more gift by the front that wouldn’t fit under the tree! It contained my Cabbage Patch Doll – Arnold Page. Santa really came through with a little help from my mom and an out-oftown relative. To this day I still have my doll and the note from Santa!

Charlie Ellerbrock, sports reporter: I received my most memorable Christmas gift in 1981 when I was 23 years old. My father had passed away on Dec. 17, so obviously we were all still very shaken when we gathered for our family Christmas.

That Christmas Eve, my mom gave me the blue nylon winter jacket she bought to be my father’s present. We both cried and so did most of my family. I wore that jacket until it was so worn the fill was coming out of it. Even though it wasn’t even purchased for me, I wouldn’t have traded that coat for anything in this world.

Jayce Eustice, reporter: As with a lot of kids born in the late 1990s, I was obsessed with Toy Story. The Disney story about toys coming to life when no one was around and going on exciting adventures really fascinated my young mind. I got to the point where all I wanted for Christmas was an exact replica of Woody. Buzz Lightyear himself was very cool but something about having the rootinest tootinest cowboy in the wild wild west was all I wanted.

To my excitement I awoke Christmas morning to find him under the tree and the memory is still with me to this day.

Michael Urbanec, reporter: I think my favorite Christmas present ever had to be in 2000, when after months and months and months of begging from my brother and I, we found a Playstation 2 under the Christmas tree. It was just so unexpected and the scene was very similar to the viral video of a child getting a Nintendo 64 and just melting down, back in the days when viral videos were just part of a montage on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

We also got a copy of Gran Turismo 3, in which I refused to drive any car that wasn’t a silver Chrysler Grand Voyager, because that’s what my parents drove. I lost a lot of races, and somehow, even more games of Madden NFL Football.

Kevin Hieronymus, sports editor: It’s hard to say what my favorite Christmas present as a kid was being so many years ago. Anything sports, or a train set or a car racing track were good ones. My favorite Christmas present would definitely be my bride. I proposed to Kami on Christmas Day in front of her family (I don’t know how I managed to do that?). I wrapped up the engagement ring in about five different size boxes scaling down to the ring box without saying a word to anyone. Her saying yes (thank goodness), was my favorite Christmas present.

Kim Shute, reporter: I feel like this is a way to secretly date us, but since it brings back such nostalgia for me, I’ll spill. Christmas of eighth grade all I wanted was a leather bomber jacket. It was the most important part of all the painfully cool 13-year-old’s wardrobes. My parents gave me everything I needed and most of what I wanted but didn’t normally stretch to that kind of extravagance. To say I was floored to get one that Christmas would have been the understatement of the year. I don’t know if any other clothing purchase since has made me as happy as that coat did.

Goldie Rapp, associate editor: My husband and I got married under an old Hackberry tree in my parents’ yard. A couple years later, my parents announced they would be moving away. We were sad to know once they were gone, we wouldn’t get to visit that old tree any time soon. Not too long after the announcement, a heavy storm blew through the area producing lightening that struck the tree and split it in half. We were devastated to find out our tree was gone forever. Lo and behold, my parents had the tree pieces carved into a swing, which they surprised us with the Christmas before moving. It was the best gift I’d ever received. The swing now sits in our own yard and we forever get to hang onto a piece of our special day.

Scott Anderson, photo editor: It was 1992 and I was 6 years old. Home Alone 2 was released that year. Santa sent me on a scavenger hunt around my parents’ house and even outside in the cold. I was so happy to open a Sega Genesis under the tree.

It came with my all-time favorite game Sonic the Hedgehog. I still have the original Sega Genesis with the game, case and cartridge. I’ll never forget the joy that it brought me to this day.

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8 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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Sloppy Joe, DJ at Studstill Media, looks through Christmas albums while on the air in the Classic Hits 106 Christmas station radio booth.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas Holiday music offers different tunes for different venues, people

By Mike Murphy

A

mong western La Salle and Bureau County residents, there are as many preferences for holiday music as there are types of Christmas cookies.

Gary Swanson, a retired Princeton police officer and veteran musician, likes holiday songs from today’s country artists.

Sloppy Joe, program director for Peru’s all-Christmas radio station, enjoys 1940s standards up to today’s pop and classic rock tunes.

For Billy Quesse, of Spring Valley, nothing beats the holiday sounds of the Trans-Siberian

Orchestra, which blends with the outdoor light show he has presented at his home since 2014.

The sounds of silence — well, Christmas music without lyrics, that is — caters to the preferences of Princeton store owner Jyl Morse.

Regardless of preference, holiday sounds are everywhere from late November to New Year’s Eve. Between online streaming, dusty LP records and downtown speakers, it’s everywhere.

Sloppy Joe is program director for Classic

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Hits 106, WYYS FM, 106.1 FM and a Studstill Media station. Around Thanksgiving, Classic Hits 106 is transformed into The Christmas Station, presenting wall-towall holiday music through the evening of Dec. 25.

The task of selecting which of thousands of songs to play falls on Sloppy Joe, who says he doesn’t get tired of programming the holiday hits.

“I am a fan. The minute it changes over, I listen. And I’ve never gotten burned out on it,” he said.

New Christmas albums are recorded in February and March, with Sloppy Joe and Studstill Media employees listening to the latest songs months before the holiday season.

The best of the latest Christmas music is added to The Christmas Station playlist, which is supplemented by past selections as well as requests from listeners.

It’s been that way for nearly 10 years.

“We started calling ourselves ‘The Christmas Station.’ It really wasn’t one, but we played more Christmas music than other places. And people seemed to like it,” Sloppy Joe said.

Manager and part-owner of Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past china, jewelry and gift shop, 513 S. Main St., Princeton, Morse plays instrumental music during the holidays.

“It’s made to soothe people and make them enjoy the flow,” she said.

The tunes start playing the weekend before Thanksgiving to coincide with Hoffman’s holiday open house. The week before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Thanksgiving music is featured inside and outside the store. Christmas music only is played from the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov. 27) through the rest of the year.

“We play all types of music,” Morse said. “It allows people to have a background without people talking. It’s not confrontational. You don’t have to talk above the vocals.”

Another downtown, this one in La Salle, brings Christ-

mas music to shoppers and pedestrians starting with Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, and throughout the season.

“It really adds to the atmosphere of downtown,” said Leah Inman, vice president of the La Salle Business Association and city of La Salle economic development director.

The city and the business association teamed up two years ago to establish a sound system with speakers piping in Christmas songs gleaned from Mood Media, a provider of music and other interactive marketing products.

Inman said Mood Media doesn’t provide specific holiday songs, but playlists of different types of Christmas music. La Salle changes the mood on its own. Weekday music tends to be slow-paced while weekends feature classic rock Christmas songs.

“It’s a little more upbeat and festive,” Inman said. “We think it gets people more excited on the weekends.”

Swanson doesn’t limit his holiday tunes to downtown Princeton — he plays them all over town.

Every year Swanson and friends build a big float (mounted on his 30-foot trailer) for Princeton’s Lions Club Christmas parade, which will not take place this year.

“We travel all over town.

We’ll have a Christmas float and play Christmas music,” he said. “It’s kind of my pastime. I’m a big kid at heart.”

He decorates the float with inflatables, family friends in costume, banners on the sides and skirting. Music is a big part of the float — Swanson owns GES Sound, which will play the tunes.

The parade has been postponed this year, but one Christmas activity will take place.

Swanson will have his float present Saturday, Dec. 5, during a food drive and visit from Santa Claus at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N. Euclid Ave. Food and monetary donations will be accepted at the See MUSIC page 12

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Music

My True Love Streamed To Me

FROM PAGE 11

afternoon event, which will be sponsored by the Lions Club of Princeton. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

Swanson likes traditional Christmas songs such as Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock.”

“The country artists do a great job of providing Christmas CDs,” he said “People enjoy the country side of it.”

Quesse lives in Wolfe’s Grove subdivision, on the northwest end of Spring Valley, with wife, Gracelyn, and dog, Phoebe. Every year he decorates his home with lights and synchronized music so elaborate it’s been featured on Chicago television newscasts.

Motorists can drive by the Quesse home, 3 Hidden Grove Lane, to catch the display, which Billy feels can be therapeutic in a pandemic 2020.“If

The P1 Media Group and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems tested the 40 most played and 40 most streamed Christmas songs from the 2018 holiday season ranked among Christmas music radio listeners.

In honor of the 12 days of Christmas, here’s what they came up with: 1. “Jingle Bell Rock,” by Bobby Helms (1957) 2. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Andy Williams (1963) 3. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee (1960) 4. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” by Burl Ives (1964) 5. “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey (1994) 6. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” by Michael Buble (2011) 7. “Jingle Bells,” by Frank Sinatra (1957) 8. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas,” by Burl Ives (1965) 9. “Sleigh Ride,” by The Ronettes (1963) 10. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” by Gene Autry (1957) 11. “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” by Bing Crosby (1951) 12. “Linus and Lucy,” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965)

anything, this is THE year to have a holiday light show, with people not having to leave their cars,” he said.

Spectacular light shows are part of the in-concert orchestral rock sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. These concert presentations inspire the visual and musical entertainment preferred by Quesse.

Every year the show includes a non-Christmas song— an example was 2016, when “Go Cubs Go” was featured in honor of the 2016 World Series champions.

Could Quesse include a standard Christmas tune in this year’s repertoire?

“It would be possible. It would need to have a lot of

punch. I favor more of the stage show, flashy songs,” he said.

This year’s lights show starting date has not yet been determined, but will be at least Sunday, Dec. 1, through New Year’s Eve, 5 to 10 p.m. nightly. Check Quesse Christmas Light Show on Facebook for this year’s starting date.

Sloppy Joe is preparing The Christmas Station sounds for 2020. A former New England resident, he appreciates the atmosphere and nostalgia of the region.

Not to mention the music that goes with it.

“I love the lights and I love the music. That’s kind of why they let me handle (The Christmas Station). I dig it,” Sloppy Joe said.

Whether presented on via streaming, outside a store or in a subdivision, for the next couple of months Christmas music will attract people’s tastes the way a frosted Christmas tree cookie does.

“You want to play something to catch their attention and move to the beat, or even dance,” Swanson said.

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Valley Flowers and Gifts has a wide selection of holiday gifts for any occasion this season.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

From traditional to trendy, local shops offering holiday decor

By Stephanie Jaquins

Theresa Taliani, owner of Valley Flowers and Gifts, 130 E. Dakota St., Spring Valley, said lighted efore kids walk their neighitems are an emerging trend this borhoods in their Halloween holiday season. costumes, local shops are alShe’s carrying lighted prints wall ready looking ahead to Santa and decor and lighted lanterns. snowmen.

“The lanterns are really pretty.

Sasso Jewelry & Gifts, 629 1st They’re like a water globe and St., La Salle, typically waits until you can plug them into a USB,” the end of October to put out its she said.

Christmas decorations, but this Snowmen, Santa Claus, white year started putting items out a and black plaid and shabby chic little earlier.

“Truly, we could put Christmas metal remain popular Christmas decorations, she said. She also has out year-round and it would sell wreaths with succulents. year-round,” said Denise BernAs for floral, Valley Flowers abei, co-owner of Sasso, but noted also offers fresh and silk outdoor their preference is to display wreaths, grave blankets, which can Christmas decorations closer to be delivered upon request, poinsetthe season. tias and Christmas cactuses.

She said woodland decorations “People can bring in a basket, and traditional decorations continue to be popular with customers. tin or bucket we can fill with fresh greenery as well,” she said.

As far as gifts, she said jewelry For those looking for gifts, they is a top seller, noting diamond carry silks for the front door, hug earrings, and the Kendra printed interior design prints and Scott and Dana Rebecca lines framed prints. are big sellers. Customers are For Lori Mudge, owner of Devine welcome to create wish lists for Florals Designs and Gifts, 110 N. family members to shop.

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Columbus St., Oglesby, putting up Christmas decorations is a bit of an undertaking since she adds 20 lighted, decorated Christmas trees to her store.

She said the trees’ themes are a mix of traditional and trendy with everything on the trees for sale.

She also will have Christmas florals, such as poinsettias and Christmas cactuses for sale, grave blankets and greens for holiday decorating.

“You name it and we’ll probably have everything,” Mudge said.

For the first time, The Flower Bar, 906 Shooting Park Road, Peru, is offering a Holiday Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28.

At the market, which will be both indoors and outdoors, customers can purchase garland, centerpieces, wreaths, grave blankets, fresh floral arrangements, outside decorations, Christmas cactuses, holly, poinsettias and more.

Nikki Tonioni, Flower Bar owner, said Christmas items will be available in store throughout the season as well.

14 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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16 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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Shopping local helps better the quality of life of communities

By Brian Hoxsey

I

f you haven’t started thinking about it already, the holiday season will soon be upon us.

While many have started their own wish lists, as well as those for others, retailers from the biggest to the smallest use this time of year to place inventory orders and start thinking about what their customers will be looking for in 2020.

This year like no other brings with it a much more unique challenge for businesses across the board given the constant influence of

COVID-19 on consumer spending and shopping habits, this while many are still trying to recoup lost sales from the past eight months of the ups and downs with government shutdowns and reopening guidelines.

Even without COVID, the importance of shopping locally during the holidays can’t be underestimated.

“The same ideals of shopping locally all year long applies even more so during the holiday season,” said Debb Ladgenski, Economic Development Director in Spring Valley. “When buying gifts this holiday think of your purchase as an additional gift to the business, to the city and to the community.

When you shop locally, more of your dollars stay local. Having local businesses provides convenient goods and services, contributes to the tax base and supports the owners and

workers – many who live within the same community. A healthy business community enhances the quality of life for the residents, provides income for the city and jobs.

It’s all interconnected.”

According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales represent about 20 percent of annual retail sales each year, with some retailers like hobby, toy, and games stores totaling 30 percent of sales.

Of those sales, online represented nearly 15 percent in 2019.

The NRF survey also found nearly 75 percent of shoppers who plan to shop this season said they will shop online more for the holidays than they did in previous seasons, and a similar number said they would first browse for gift ideas online and not in-store.

“For many businesses the holiday season generates a large percentage of their overall annual operation income, so shopping local during this season makes a difference in maintaining this business within our town all year long,” Ladgenski said. “Spring Valley businesses offer many unique products at affordable prices. The owners and workers care about their customers and make many efforts to provide you with a satisfied experience. Spring Valley is also known for its variety of food See SHOPPING page 18

Cassie Donnelly, of Tonica, Maddie Spayer, of Spring Valley, and Alexis Berg, from Streator shop in downtown La Salle.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2020 17

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SHOPPING

rector. “A way we can do that is to make sure that the dollars that we are spending FROM PAGE 17 are spent locally. When we have more local dollars in our local economy we are offerings that are perfect for able to provide better serholiday entertaining, gift cards or just treating yourself. vices for the folks that live “Show your holiday spirit by here. Shopping local really getting gifts and gift certificates does matter in the perspective that not only are you locally. Celebrate together. helping small business ownYou’ll be glad you did!” ers to stay in business, thrive A Google survey found and keep people employed more than a third of U.S. shoppers who normally shop in our region, but you’re also helping the bigger scheme of in store for Black Friday say our quality of life.” they won’t this year. And Further information athalf of U.S. shoppers say the tained by the Google survey pandemic will affect how showed that: 66 percent of they’ll shop for the holidays shoppers said they plan to this year. This reaffirms the need for Main Street retailers shop more at local small to remain nimble and agile in businesses; 47 percent of planned shoppers said they’ll order to respond quickly as use options to buy online, we gain more clarity around pickup in store/curbside the response of shoppers pickup. And as far as shopduring the holidays. ping timing: 70 percent of “As community members shoppers said they intend to we want to have a better plan their shopping earlier to economic situation in our avoid crowds, and 80 percent region,” said Joni Hunt, Ilof planned shoppers will linois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic consolidate their shopping to make fewer trips than they Development executive di-

did in previous years.

“Some would argue that it’s more than the economic situation, shopping local has helped us create our identity,” said Hunt. “That can all slip away if we have less people supporting our local businesses. We all have to make that conscientious decision to shop local, where we probably benefit more in the quality of the items, that in a way being relationship-based.

“If you walk into a store and get great customer service that is going to mean something to you. If you walk into the pharmacy and they know your health situation they are more able to assist you in making better choices for your overall health. All of that comes from local relationships in small businesses.”

Radial, a leading omnichannel commerce company, surveyed 1,000-plus consumers across the United States to determine their holiday shopping plans. Those results include: 60 percent of consumers, while having a desire

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for in-store shopping, suggest they will use e-commerce to a much greater degree than in previous years because of safety concerns and increased familiarity with online ordering; 39 percent of shoppers plan to start shopping for the holidays in October into early November.

The majority of consumers surveyed plan to spend the same as last year on holiday gifts, meaning retailers should expect similar or higher order volumes as previous years, while 63 percent of shoppers say they are slightly or very much more likely to purchase from a retailer they know was following COVID-19 safety precautions in-store. “...Sometimes it’s more about the fabric of a community,” Hunt said. “It means something for everyone to be a part of something like that.

Shopping local we are all able to create something, contribute, and prosper, which is probably much more significant than we think about on a day-to-day basis.”

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Treat Yourself to Botox Before the Holidays and Look Better in Your Mask!

The holidays are quickly approaching and although we will be social-distanced and masked for many holiday events, your upper face will still be on display. One procedure that can improve your holiday appearance is Botox. Botox is a safe cosmetic procedure with amazing results when done in a doctor’s office by an experienced cosmetic physician.

Dr. Nicole Norris of Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, Illinois agreed to share her expertise about cosmetic Botox with us and answer some of our burning questions.

What is Botox? “Botox is a brand-name of botulinum toxin A. It is a liquid that is injected into a muscle that causes that muscle to not contract completely for approximately three months. In cosmetic medicine, this FDA-approved medication is commonly used to weaken the muscles of expression. Botox is commonly used to treat facial lines caused by smiling, frowning and looking surprised. In my practice the areas of the face most often treated with Botox include the forehead, area between the eyes, the crow’s feet, the eyebrow for lifting, lines above the lip, the lip (lip flip), the gummy smile and the muscles of the jaw to make the female face less square. Botox makes my patients very happy for many reasons!”

Are there any side effects of having Botox injected? “Since I use the smallest needles possible to inject Botox, there is a very small risk of bruising. If your cosmetic doctor is trained appropriately on facial anatomy and botulinum toxin A intricacies, there are no major side effects to expect.

I like to tell my patients that in my hands Botox is safer than a flu shot and much less painful!”

Are there other brands of Botox that can be used and how are they different? “Botox was the first botulinum toxin A to be FDA-approved for cosmetic use in 2002. We use a lot of Dysport (FDA-approved for cosmetic use in 2009) in my office because it is a little stronger than Botox and often lasts a little longer. Whether it is Botox or another brand of botulinum toxin that you have injected in your expression lines, the medication will kick in completely in about 2 weeks, have its strongest effect at 1 month and then gradually go away over 2-4 months depending on the person. The longer that you keep your muscles of expression from strongly contracting, the more your expression lines smooth out, and eventually go away. In my 20-30-year-old Botox patients, fine lines resolve more quickly and in fact

Botox prevents them from forming expression lines. I have always been a fan of preventative medicine!”

What would you tell your patient if they are concerned about looking frozen after a Botox treatment? “I am conservative with my Botox or Dysport dose for a new patient. I have them come back to my office two weeks later for a followup visit because I can always put in more medication, but once injected I cannot take it away. No one wants to look frozen, but everyone wants to get rid of as many expression lines as possible. It is a delicate balance to create a refreshed wrinkle-free look that does not look overdone. This is where the art and science of cosmetic medicine meet! Anyone can inject Botox, but not everyone makes it look natural.”

If you are interested in having Botox or Dysport before the holidays, Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa is offering a fabulous promotion for patients new to Botox or Dysport.

If you come for Botox or Dysport in November 2020 and buy one area of treatment (crow’s feet, frown lines, or forehead lines), you will receive a second area 50% off! If you are a new patient, your $50 Botox/Dysport Consultation fee will go toward your procedure this month. Call 815-780-8264 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Norris or visit NicoleNorrisMD.com to learn more.

20 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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Haleigh Augspols, nutritionist for Hy-Vee and Illinois Valley Community Hospital, holds a bag of sunflower crunch salad and poses with a fruit tray and squash.

The three foods are tasty healthy foods perfect for family get-togethers this holiday season.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Many ways to beat the holiday blues, paunch Moderation, activity keys to a healthy mind and body

By Charlie Ellerbrock

T

he Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are full of warm feelings for friends and family, the generous expression of love through greetings and gifts and of course, the plethora of tasty traditional foods that go with virtually every family gathering.

There are also some health-related pitfalls that celebrants should watch out

for during their outings and parties, but according to experts, none that can’t be handled with some moderation and good old-fashioned common sense.

Haleigh Kneebone Augspols, a certified dietitian and nutritionist at Illinois Valley Community Hospital and the Hy-Vee store in Peru, acknowledges that the last few months of a given year are usually extremely busy ones, and she has some rec-

ommendations to help people enhance their holidays with good health.

“This is always a tough time for everybody,” said Augspols, holder of a master’s degree with a specialty in nutritional education. “I still want people to be able to enjoy themselves, too, but they often go through a lot of stress planning all their holiday activities, so food and nutrition kinda go on the back burner … How fun are the holidays without

22 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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Grandma’s cookies, with mashed potatoes and gravy, without pumpkin pie? You have to have it.

“The trick is just about watching your portion of it. The biggest thing we dietitians try to tell people is that all foods can fit, it’s just eating them in moderation.”

Even before the holidays arrive, it may not be the best idea to try and trim of some extra pounds by limiting one’s food intake during those stressful planning stages. Even in minor stress, she stated, people lose vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and zinc, so it’s important to focus on getting fruits and veggies in during the winter months.

“Of course, people always want to look their best, so they try to lose a few pounds going into the season,” Augspols said. “The thing with that is people tend to lose a lot of weight really quickly, but they usually leave out a lot of nutrients and find a short time later that they’re gaining all that weight back because you were so restricted.

“It’s important to get those nutrients and to stay consistent with your meals, not skipping meals or thinking that if I skip breakfast, when Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner comes I can load up on calories. It’s really best to eat a consistent plate at each meal so that you don’t overeat or undereat.”

She also points out that because there are almost always leftovers from big family meals, limiting yourself one day doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them in smaller portions in the weeks that follow.

“There are so many fun ways to turn them into a great breakfast the next day or some small lunches for the next few weeks,” she said. “Again, it’s about moderation.”

To work some of those snacks off your body, the Illinois Valley YMCA offers its usual variety of aerobics and water fitness classes, though the status of a few holiday-specific events like

“Pumpkins in the Pool” and “Santa in the Pool” are uncertain due to pandemic restrictions.

But according to YMCA CEO Dave Potthoff, that won’t stop the Y from offering other ways to feel good during the holiday, and that in turn to make others feel good.

“One of the things we do that helps lift the people’s spirits during the holidays is giving,” said Potthoff.

“We help the local food pantry with the WLPO radio station’s Mayflower Food Drive held prior to Thanksgiving weekend at Hy-Vee. And one of the biggest things we do is help with ‘Toys for Lily,’ named after Lily Rosploch (who passed away from cancer in 2015 at the age of 5). We have just thousands of different toys that people donate and pass those on to the St. Jude Children’s Cancer Research Centers.

“That’s something that makes everyone feel good. Many, many people have come to the aid of St. Jude to help the kids and the food drive, that’s something that’s probably needed now more than ever. We’re proud to help them out.”

An individual’s handling of the holidays is not just about a person’s physical state, but also their mental one.

The short periods of daylight during winter, the missing of absent loved ones and the stress of covering every detail for those gatherings can bring on depression.

To help deal with that, Augspols recommends people keep moving whenever they get the chance, even when binge watching Netflix, even during the pandemic, even when Old Man Winter uses inclement weather to force them to shelter at home.

“It’s often tough to feel good about things during the winter,

with the overcast days, shorter periods of sunshine, plus the pandemic and everyone having to wear masks and not being able to go places,” said Augspols. “I think this winter is going to be really tough this year, so it’s important to do things, even little things to keep you going … Any movement like that will help them deal with stress and depression a little bit at a time.”

The CBD Store, located at 512 5th Street in Peru, offers another way to cope with the stress and depression of this holiday time. Its products are not only good for relieving pain, but also will help battle high blood pressure that accompanies stress and anxiety.

Dustin Delpizo, the store’s owner and operator, explained that endocannabinoids bind with cells in the body and essentially keep the body’s systems running smoothly without the “high” many associate with cannabis.

CBD products do not have an immediate reaction, but if taken on a regular basis, they can build up and over time can help alleviate anxiety.

“CBD stimulates CB1 or CB2 receptors, which produce the endocannabinoids that regulate just about everything about you,” said Delpizo.

“We can’t really make any medical claims because we’re not approved by the FDA yet, but there are new discoveries being made every day … Given time to build up in your system, CBD can help relieve the stress brought on by the holidays and the coronavirus.

And if you gorge yourself over the holidays, it can help with digestive issues, as well. It can be very helpful this time of year.”

A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2020 23

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24 October 2020 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

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