Illinois Valley Woman Magazine - September 2020

woman ILLINOIS VALLEY

September 2020

KEEP IT GOING Athletes, coaches grateful to have season

PLUS:

Pandemic fashion trends n Operation HerStory flight n Don’t delay cancer screenings n

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contents

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM SISTAK PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

On the cover Fieldcrest Cross Country Coach Carol Bauer, talks with her team moments before a recent meet.

Page 8

Fall Fashion Illinois Valley Woman 426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com Publisher Dan Goetz

Comfortable yet stylish is the fall forecast. Local boutique owners are stocking their shelves with mixand-match pieces that let shoppers add to what they have in their closets to update to a fresh look this season. Page 7

Women Inspired Network

Editor Tammie Sloup

A plus for nonprofits and local women.

Advertising Director Jeanette Smith

jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Writers Annette Barr Kevin Chlum Tom Collins Stephanie Jaquins Kim Shute Charles Stanley

Operation HerStory

5

11

Local woman to be part of flight to Washington, D.C.

Annual Exams

12

Women’s Expo

14

Cancer screenings should not be delayed, even during a pandemic.

Photographers Scott Anderson Annette Barr Tom Sistak

The NewsTribune’s annual Women’s Expo goes virtual for 2020.

Designer Liz Klein Published by: est. 1851

4 September 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication

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A WIN for Starved Rock Country The Women Inspired Network a plus for nonprofits — and local women

By Charles Stanley You don’t have to be rich to be a philanthropist.

Just ask the members of the Women Inspired Network, a growing group that now has more than 80 women ages 19 to 93.

WIN members pool their individual donations — typically starting at $200 annually — and then each fall vote on worthy organizations to receive grants.

WIN is organized along the lines of a “giving circle,” said Pamela Beckett, the founding president of the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation. “There are giving circles all over the world.”

In the grand scheme of organized philanthropies, giving circles are small players in terms of the amount of funds raised. But they are big players in spreading understanding about the members’ community.

Five years ago, Beckett was in the process of creating a giving circle when she learned OSF HealthCare Foundation Director of Philanthropy Cherie Reynolds was on a similar mission.

They decided to work together. It was Reynolds who came up with the WIN name.

For WIN, the goal is to champion women’s interests, causes and concerns throughout the region. In the process the members learn more about their communities — as well as about each other.

“First, there is the joy of giving, which exists for everyone,” Beckett said. “But, second, there’s the opportunity to get to know women from the entire Starved Rock Country area — women that they never had the opportu-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

A success from the start: The inaugural event for the Women Inspired Network was held Oct. 2, 2016, at the Lock 16 Cafe and Canal Visitor Center in La Salle. The Power of One Dessert Reception featured four women guest speakers telling how they took action to fulfill a community need. Within 60 days more than 40 women joined WIN. nity to meet before from a social standpoint. And you know, when you sit down and have a glass of wine together you find out how much you have in common.”

Members come from a wide area beyond Ottawa, La Salle and Peru including Seneca, Walnut, Ladd, Hennepin, Granville, Standard, Streator and Mendota.

Beth Acuncius, a senior risk management analyst at Heartland Bank in Spring Valley heard of WIN at a Rotary meeting where Beckett gave a presentation.

“It’s such a great group and Pam is such a powerhouse,” Acuncius said. “I love hearing about the different organizations that you might not know about.”

That’s the real payoff for members, Beckett said: discovering the community organizations that strike a chord with WIN goals and are awarded a grant to help with their good work.

Through the award process, “we’ve learned about organizations we never heard of,” Beckett said.

For example, last year, one of the three recipients was Illinois Valley Community College’s Single Parent Connections program. The program actually has been on campus since 1997 and served more than 500 students but has a low profile.

“Last year, not only did it help 53 pregnant girls ages 18 and 19 trying to get through college while working, but it also helped with the fathers who are trying to do the right thing,” Beckett said. “There are 80 women in WIN and no one had ever heard of it.”

The grant was for $5,000.

Similar grants were awarded to the Community Food Basket in Ottawa and Youth Outlook, an LGBTQ+ youth organization with a drop-in center at the Open Table United Church of Christ in Ottawa.

The grants are determined by how much money WIN collects during the year.

Any amount is welcome, but it takes annual donations totaling at least $200 for a woman to qualify as a voting member when it’s time to

select the grant recipients.

Yet, all women are welcome to WIN’s periodic meetings, whether they are a member or a friend.

“We would never turn any woman away,” Beckett said.

Dues can be paid all at once or in increments throughout the year.

In one case, the $200 for a member was donated by another family member. In another case, five female memberships were covered by one supportive man’s donation. In some other cases dues are paid by employers.

The grant award process is one of the highlights of the WIN year.

Grant applications are accepted during September, given an initial screening and finalists selected.

On Oct. 22, WIN members will assemble to hear the grant finalists’ presentations.

The winners will be selected by vote and then announced at the annual “Celebration of Giving” set for Sunday, Nov. 8, at Deer Park Country Club.

“We’ve been very blessed by this community,” Beckett said.

Thinking of joining WIN? Beckett said a $200 membership payment now would entitle a woman to vote for this year’s grant recipients and also serve as the payment of their $200 membership contribution for 2021.

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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2020 5

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Leggings Forever :

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

How the pandemic changed fashion trends

By Kim Shute

F

all is upon us, which for many means it’s the time to switch into our coziest clothes.

But, in the midst of a global pandemic, what does that mean when many have already traded business casual for work-from-home wear?

A couple local boutique owners dish on what’s new for fall and how trends are shaping up this season.

“Fashion styles have changed for some during the pandemic. People who went from working at a business to home I feel had the biggest change in fashion,” said Denna Leifheit, owner of Peaces of Fashion in La Salle.

“Overall fashion in the Midwest has been nice-casual for a while – nice-casual is comfortable pants and tops but with style. The days of uncomfortable heels and clothes went out years ago.”

“I feel people are smarter in their fashion, they buy things that can mix and match with different things and can be dressed up or down,” she said. “When we were on total shutdown we were in lounge wear, and sweats, but once things opened up we wanted to look nice when we went out.”

“I buy for the women that want nice casual clothing you can add to things you already have or that will not go out of style in one season,” Leifheit said. “Leggings and big tees will always be in.”

Fall fashion is still about comfort, Leifheit promises.

“My slogan is ‘comfort from head to toe.’ Overall we want comfort with style. Our clothing shows our mood and we are all trying to stay positive in this crazy time, so a new pair of shoes or an outfit does that for some. Retail therapy is something I heard a lot from people during all of this.”

Amia Boutique owner PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON Christine Eimer agrees that Accessories are a perfect way to comfort is in the forefront of dress up basics and add a signature fall style. touch to your look. Modern neutrals and a touch of delicate gold jewelry add a style to a basic look.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Boutique owners Denna Leifheit, Peaces of Fashion in La Salle, and Christine Eimer, Amia Boutique in Spring Valley, both say joggers, leggings and T-shirts with funny or quirky sayings are big sellers going into fall.

Shoppers are looking for casual yet stylish looks that are more versatile than the old work/home wardrobe.

“Leggings and comfy clothes have always been a customer favorite, but I would say even more so during the pandemic,” she said. “Leggings, joggers, slip-on shoes, graphic tees and comfy shorts have been popular during the pandemic.”

Eimer says customers still want something fresh and new, but also want to remain comfortable and stylish, so she tries to offer all that at Amia, located in Spring Valley.

“Our graphic tees have been a big seller during the pandemic,” she said.

“Shoppers love the variety of sayings and some bring some humor during these uncertain and stressful times.”

A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2020 7

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Fieldcrest Cross Country Coach, Carol Bauer, encourages her team during a recent meet.

TOM SISTAK

KEEP IT GOING Athletes, coaches grateful to have season, following guidelines

By Kevin Chlum

F

or 30 years, Fieldcrest cross country coach Carol Bauer has been teaching her runners to stay in packs while running in the street to stay safe with cars on the road.

Now she must have her runners stay 6 feet apart.

Bauer also is used to hugging, fist bumping or high-fiving her runners after a race.

She can’t do that this season.

She’s never had to carry around and constantly use hand sanitizer or wear a mask when around her athletes.

Now she does.

Such is life for an Illinois high school coach in 2020 as they handle and make sure their athletes follow protocols to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The biggest thing I’ve told the kids is we just have to be thankful for every day we spend together after what happened with track (being canceled in the spring),” Bauer said. “We were told (in track) it would just be a couple weeks then things would resume.

There really was no closure. We all understand at any point things can be canceled. It makes us appreciate things with a lot more intensity.”

Athletes throughout the area agree with Bauer and are thankful to have a season.

In late July, the IHSA announced contact sports such as football, boys soccer and volleyball would be moved to the spring, but low risk sports such as golf, cross country, tennis and swimming could compete in the fall with restrictions.

“I was just really happy we were going to be able to play,” St. Bede golfer Alyssa Heitz said. “It’s my senior year. I wanted to go out and have a good season. I’d be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the season going. I think that’s why it’s so important to keep the guidelines and try really hard to make sure this isn’t spreading. Sports are really important to us and we want to keep playing as long as we can.”

All fall sports began practicing Aug. 10 and the seasons will end Oct. 24.

Instead of the traditional state series, each sport will end with only a regional competition with no advancement.

Athletes are required to wear masks in practice or competitions when not actively participating with golf being changed to allow no masks when social distancing is possible on the course.

The number of participants among participants, coaches and meet officials is limited to 50 and spectators are limited to 50 with some schools choosing not to allow spectators.

Athletes must have temperatures taken and be questioned about symptoms before practices and meets.

8 September 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication

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St. Bede Senior Alyssa Heitz PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR

Participants should not hug, high five or engage in any other physical celebration.

Athletes and coaches must social distance on the bus ride to events and if that’s not possible, must wear a mask.

“I was very happy to hear we were going to have a season,” L-P senior tennis player Karissa Etzenbach said. “It was difficult to adjust to the precautions with wearing a mask at some points and not being able to touch every ball, but with a few meets so far, I have pretty much adapted to the restrictions.”

Each sport has specific guidelines and restrictions as well.

In cross country, the course must be at least 6 feet wide at all times; if multiple races are held, participants must leave the course after their race; team camps must be at least 30 feet apart and runners should be spaced 6 feet apart at the starting line or starts should be staggered among other guidelines.

In golf, warmup groups are limited to no more than 50 people, there should be an outdoor waiting area for participants, scorecards should be bagged and given to participants and event volunteers/managers should wear masks at starting tees.

“With golf we already distance,” Heitz said.

“There are spectator rules on how close they can get and if they can talk to us. I wouldn’t say that’s very different. The masks are differ-

ent, but the IHSA has changed that so we only have to wear them when we can’t distance, which definitely helps a lot.

“It’s definitely been a lot different, but we’re glad to have a season at all. I’m really happy to see my teammates and be able to get out and play with them. It’s important to focus on the positive aspect.”

For swimming, relays are not permitted and in practices more than one teammate can be in a lane with written consent from parents, timers should be at the finish line and wear masks while lap counters should be at the turn.

“It was kind of strange at first, but I guess we’re getting more used to it the more we’re practicing,” L-P junior swimmer Peyton Heagy said. “For practice, it’s really different. Usually we have everyone all in one group and we’re in our lanes all together. Now we have to space out as much as we can. We have a different way to communicate when we have to go.

At meets, we’re all wearing our masks until we have to actually swim. That’s kind of hard.

“I think we’re all staying positive even if it’s way different than what we’re used to.”

In tennis, alternating courts should be used for play if possible and players should avoid touching the ball as much as possible and balls should be restricted to certain groups.

“Everyone is having to adjust to it,” L-P junior tennis player Catherine Engels said. “It’s definitely not anything we’ve had before. It’s something we all have to work together to figure out to get through it.”

Bauer said from what she’s seen, the athletes have done a good job sticking to the guidelines.

“They’re grateful to be back in school,” Bauer said. “All of our lives have changed, but for kids especially. They’ve missed out on a big chunk of their lives. It’s not as dramatic as someone losing a loved one due to the virus, but for them they’re grateful and if these are the rules they have to follow, they’ve been good about it. The only problems have been ones of innocence where they just forget and I have to remind them to be 6 feet apart.

“Every coach I’ve talked to has said everyone is so thankful to have something that the kids are all following along.”

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10 September 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication

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Local woman to be part of Operation HerStory flight to Washington, D.C.

By Annette Barr hen Charlotte McGrath joined the U.S. Navy at just 19 years W old, she was looking forward to

getting out of her small town and experiencing life elsewhere. Now more than 40 years later she is waiting for her opportunity to travel once again.

“I came from a very small town in upstate New York which did not have a lot to offer in the way of career opportunities for a young person. I felt the Navy would satisfy my long-term goals of travel, learning a trade and meeting people,” said McGrath of Ottawa.

This October McGrath was slated to be a passenger on the first all-women veterans’ Operation HerStory flight as part of Honor Flight Chicago. The mission of Honor Flight Chicago is to recognize more than 100 senior war veterans with an all-expense-paid day of honor in Washington, D.C. Funding for the flight comes from donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, schools, military organizations and other fraternal organizations that wish to honor these veterans and realize the urgent need to fly World War II, Korean War and Vietnam era service men and women to see their memorials.

The special Operation HerStory flight will include female veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War Era when it is rescheduled sometime in 2021.

“This trip has been a dream for several years since first hearing about

Charlotte Carson McGrath holds her official U.S. Navy portrait from when she entered the service in May 1965 when she was 19 years old.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR

Honor Flights,” McGrath said. “I had hoped my late second husband and I could go together, however he passed away in December 2019.

So, I am making this trip not only for me, but to honor his memory and service to our country.”

Her late husband, Jim McGrath of Ottawa, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era 1948 to 1949 and in the Army Reserves 1949 to 1953.

While waiting for the trip to be rescheduled, Operation HerStory staff is working to collect photographs and questionnaires from the female veterans to highlight each passengers’ service prior to the 2021 flight. The profiles will be featured on the group’s various social

media platforms as well as their website www.operationherstory.org.

In addition to the written submissions, The Pritzker Military Museum & Library, a donor to Operation HerStory, is gathering oral histories of women who served.

McGrath is looking forward to participating with her recording.

When asked to recall her biggest challenge she faced while serving in the military McGrath responded, “Boot Camp! Oh my, the discipline.

I had a difficult time understanding why my underwear had to be folded in such a special way. To this day I still fold everything in a similar manner.”

Information collected also will be shared with the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, Virginia to be displayed in the museum during the Operation HerStory visit in 2021.

A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2020 11

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Annual cancer screenings should not be delayed, even during a pandemic

By Stephanie Jaquins

the patient and one guest (no one under 18).

Masks are required and we, of course, have increased disinfecting and sanitizing practices.

hile many patients have turned to telehealth for their medical needs W during the coronavirus pandemic,

some appointments don’t work well through a screen.

A woman’s yearly exam with her gynecologist or midwife requires a physical examination.

In recent months, many patients have postponed their annual exams to avoid a trip to the hospital or medical office. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll published on May 27 found that 48 percent of American adults had skipped or postponed medical appointments over the previous three months.

Dr. Anna Bida Dudun at the Women’s Health Care Center at Illinois Valley Community Hospital recommends her patients keep their appointments at the Peru office. Dudun recently answered some questions for IV Woman about the basics of yearly exams, the impact of COVID-19 and the importance of keeping your yearly exam appointments.

Q. First, can you walk me through what yearly exams entail?

A. A normal annual exam would be a breast and pelvic exam, preventive care discussion, STD prevention history, any issues and concerns, cancer screenings (cervical, breast,

Q. If a patient is anxious to come into the office for their annual exam, do you think it’s OK to delay the appointment? If so, for how long?

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Women’s Health Care Center doctors Anna Bida Dudun and Ilan Bornstein (pictured) recommend not putting off annual cancer screenings due to COVID-19. colon) osteoporosis in menopausal women and pregnancy prevention, if needed.

Q. Is there anything women need to do to prepare for their exam?

A. Just be ready with any questions you need answered and any medications you are on.

Q. What safety measures are in place in your office for COVID-19?

A. We ask appropriate questions regarding COVID-19, as well as temperature checks for

A. We would encourage patients to keep their appointments. We do not want them to neglect their health and, in many cases, people will become more anxious with time. We realize patients are worried about coming to a medical facility, however medical facilities are taking all precautions.

Q. Have many patients canceled appointments because of the pandemic?

A. We had many patients reschedule their appointments, especially in March, April and May of this year.

Q. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is approaching. In your experience, how often do you discover a breast lump during an annual exam as opposed to the patient coming to you with a concern?

A. That would be 50/50. Some patients certainly are doing their self-breast exams, but many do not and have no complaints.

There is a portion of those patients that have a lump or pain found at their annual screening exam.

12 September 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication

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The NewsTribune’s annual Women’s Expo goes virtual for 2020 5 days, 30 vendors and lots of great local information and offers

By Tom Collins Eat right. Exercise regularly. Visit your doctor annually. The staff at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru does outreach all the time but needed a moment to adjust to making presentations into the camera lens.

IVCH was one of the participants and sponsors of this year’s Illinois Valley Women’s Expo, held virtually because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. After two successful in-person expos, they and other participants could be forgiven for wondering: Would anybody be watching?

The answer, it turned out, was an emphatic “yes.” Those who organized the Aug. 31-Sept. 4 event were pleasantly surprised to learn more women tuned in to the virtual expo than were physically present at the 2019 event.

Joan Fernandez is IVCH spokeswoman and she agreed that holding a virtual expo was a roll of the dice, but the success of past events warranted a reprise. It’s simply too important to urge women to monitor their health and well-being.

“I think women understand they need to do preventative care but often times they get busy and annual exams can get pushed back,” Fernandez said. “Especially in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic more people were postponing their checkups.”

The analytical data from the virtual Women’s Expo still is trickling in, but the still-early feedback underscored that just as women today are likely to procure their goods and services online, they’re likely to participate in virtual forums, as well.

Kelly Campbell is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor for the Illinois Valley YMCA, one of the corporate sponsors and participants of the virtual forum.

While nobody will miss the pandemic and people are understandably eager

to return to in-person forums, early feedback from the virtual Expo has been positive.

“The YMCA found great value as a corporate sponsor at the Women’s Expo the past few years. With things being different this year, we were happy for the opportunity to reach the local market in a fresh way, and appreciate the effort involved in putting it together.

Though there was brief discussion about canceling this year’s expo because of COVID-19, organizers decided the past two expos were successful enough to try a virtual event. Over five days, local businesses hawked their wares and services, provided demonstrations and talks and did it all digitally.

Jeanette Smith, one of the organizers, said it will take some time for the analytics to emerge, but first-blush data clearly showed the virtual expo was better attended, so to speak, than the last in-person Expo.

“Due to the pandemic we knew we had to make the tough decision to not hold an in-person event in 2020,” said Smith, advertising director for the Bureau County Republican, NewsTribune and Ottawa Times. “But we didn’t want to cancel it. We wanted to find a way to still bring together our local businesses and the women in our community.”

Finding sponsors and virtual content proved to be a snap. Smith and her team found dozens of local retailers, professional services and healthcare providers eager to reach out to women across Starved Rock Country.

“We’ve really enjoyed having a presence at the Expo over the last two years,” said Linda Dose, owner of Dose Insurance Agency in Oglesby, “so we were more than happy to be a part of the virtual event this year.”

Each day organizers provided a newsletter with stories that cover

cooking, parenting, DIY, investing, women’s health and more. Registered participants also received exclusive access to the virtual “goody bag” filled with coupons, offers and information from vendors.

One participant said signing up was a cinch.

“The process to sign up as a vendor was simple and well organized,” said Pamela Beckett, president of Starved Rock Country Community Foundation. “It was a pleasure to work with Jared Bell in this initiative. Being able to provide several links for the participants to learn more about the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, particularly our women-inspired network, was an added plus.”

Smith gave a heartfelt shout-out to the sponsors, which also included St. Margaret’s Health, Illinois Valley YMCA, JP Motors and Hy-Vee, as well as the 25 featured vendors and to the hundreds of participants who made the third annual Women’s Expo a huge success.

“We look forward to hosting this event again in 2021,” Smith said.

Hopefully, that will be in person – but this year’s early feedback suggests a virtual component is by no means off the table.

14 September 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication

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16 September 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication

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