Starved Rock Country Magazine - Winter 2020

Winter 2020

R

A SHOW ON THE ROAD

The scoop on the painted satellite dishes on I-80 Page 14

ON THE LOOKOUT

Here’s how and where to spot eagles this season

Additional copies at 801 E. U.S. Highway 6, Utica 61373

Page 32

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Pictured Top - Hiking through the Heritage Corridor Bottom Left to Right - Lincoln Landing (Lockport), Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby), Final Cut Steakhouse at Hollywood Casino (Joliet)

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Inside

ON THE COVER

8 14 18 24

Tripp Mulcahey of Chicago uses the telescope on the Starved Rock Lodge Veranda looking for bald eagles during the annual Eagle Watch Weekend.

Photo by Tom Sistak

IN EACH ISSUE

32 36

MADE IN SRC

From harvest to cup, Sally Sue’s Coffee knows all about its beans OFFBEAT

Earth to drivers – the story behind the colorful collection of satellite dishes along Interstate 80

40 44

FEATURE

La Salle Celebration of Lights is a bright spot among winter holiday traditions GIFT GUIDE

Looking for the perfect gift? Check out handmade items 8 Starved Rock Country artisans have to offer

TREASURES

50

When the weather turns cold, warm up with 3 seasonal craft drinks

LODGINGS

52

Fried chicken takes on legendary local status at Rip’s Tavern in Ladd

MUST SEE

56

Lil’ MAD Cafe in La Salle lives by its slogan, “It tastes as good as it looks”

Shoe repairman’s vintage trade thrives in downtown Ottawa shop Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock has activity options for everyone The eagles are landing in Starved Rock Country – learn how, when and where to watch them FAMILY MATTERS

Winter is an outdoor season in Starved Rock Country – check out 7 excursions to stay active this season

60

FEATURE

GOOD TASTE

SWEET SPOT

ON THE BOOKS

Author Jim Ridings makes history a talking point in books chronicling region’s history

EDITOR’S NOTE ������������������������������������ 4 POSTCARD ������������������������������������������ 64

2 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 3

| EDITORS’ NOTES | R

S

ince 2016, I’ve had the honor of having my words published in this space several times a year. As editor of Starved Rock Country magazine, I’ve introduced readers to the features inside, shared a bit about our planning process, and woven personal stories into this column.

Since the first edition was published in 2013, I’ve been involved as both an editor and writer. The product was our first venture into a magazine of this size, and it was exciting to be part of the team that turned Starved Rock Country from concept to creation. I remember our initial hours-long planning sessions, complete with a whiteboard filled with scribbles of story ideas. And sandwiches.

Lots of sandwiches.

We wanted to be more than a tourism guide. Visual storytelling has remained a focus, as well as an emphasis on the

H

i! I’m really excited to be working as the new editor of Starved Rock Country Magazine. Tammie has done an excellent job producing interesting, meaningful stories for readers all across North Central Illinois, and my goal is to do the same.

I am a recent graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and new to the St. Charles area. I spent the summer getting to know the region, including several trips to explore Starved Rock Country!

Growing up, every two summers, my family of six piled into the car and went on a camping trip for two weeks. Dad devised the routes so that we hit as many national and state parks as possible. We made a game out of setting up the tent, kept track of the wild animals we spotted and saw so much beauty. It intro-

4 | Winter 2020

people who work in and call Starved Rock Country home. The people we have photographed and quoted in these pages deserve our gratitude. You let us tell your stories and take your picture, and trusted us to share your words and photos with thousands of readers. Without you, this magazine wouldn’t exist.

And that focus will continue going forward. Only now, the magazine will be led by new editor Hannah Hoffmeister, niche products editor for Shaw Media.

Hannah, who brings with her a wealth of knowledge of magazine production, will continue to work with the current writers, some of whom have been with us since day one.

While I’ll still be involved in an advisory capacity, I look forward to Hannah’s fresh ideas and a continuation of the storytelling and visuals that have made this magazine special.

And I believe the best is yet to come.

T

AMMIE SLOUP Editor

Copyright 2020. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner, without permission, is prohibited.

Vol. 8 No. 3 Winter 2020 Edition 2020-11/25,000

PUBLISHER Dan Goetz EDITORS Hannah Hoffmeister Tammie Sloup PHOTO EDITOR Scott Anderson GRAPHICS AND DESIGN Julie Barichello

duced us to the adventures of road trips, the unexpected joy of discovering something new.

I mention this because I get the same feeling when I visit the Starved Rock area — there are so many treasures to find, both in the parks and in town. This month, I was particularly intrigued by the story on Carl Walter’s painted satellite dishes, displayed along Interstate 80 (P. 14). How many readers have driven past those, wondering about the story behind them? That journalistic intersection — a compelling character, the story behind something interesting and awesome photos — makes working with magazines so fun and worthwhile for me. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Please feel free to reach out with any ideas or suggestions. Thanks for reading!

H

Starved Rock Country magazine is published quarterly or seasonally four times per year.

Shaw Media 110 W. Jefferson St. Ottawa, IL 61350 815-431-4014 starvedrockcountry.com Email photo or article submission queries to hhoffmeister@shawmedia.com.

PRODUCTION Rhonda Dillon CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Derek Barichello Annette Barr Stephanie Jaquins Mike Murphy Vicki Martinka Petersen Ryan Searl Charles Stanley Steve Stout CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Scott Anderson Annette Barr Ryan Searl Tom Sistak Steve Stout

ANNAH HOFFMEISTER Editor Starved Rock Country

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Winter 2020 | 5

LIVE THE HARBOR L I F E

C p of Joe

Get to know your

Sally Sue’s in Magnolia provides unique experience for coffee aficionados Story by Derek Barichello, Photos by Tom Sistak

H

ave you ever wondered where your morning cup of coffee comes from?

It’s OK if you say no. Most people don’t think about it.

For Tyler Reaska, owner of Sally Sue’s Coffee in Magnolia, a college assignment about the coffee industry sparked him to ponder the story behind his morning cup and ignited his own family-owned roastery business, built on organic and fair trade principles.

At Sally Sue’s Coffee, Reaska knows the story behind every cup his shop serves.

Sally Sue’s Coffee, named after Tyler’s mother, is sold in several grocery stores, including Hy-Vee and Schnucks, but is served made-to-order from a pour-over or French press in a downtown shop in Magnolia.

Magnolia is a quiet town in Putnam County along state routes 89 and 18; about 23 miles southwest of Starved

8 | Winter 2020

Rock State Park, it’s a perfect stop on the way from Peoria. The coffee shop and roastery are one of just a few other businesses in the downtown.

Reaska acknowledges Magnolia residents aren’t his core customers, but he beams with pride in providing his hometown with a high-end coffee experience found mostly in major cities and suburbs.

“I love coffee and I love my community,” Reaska says. “I wanted to locate my business here, but the coffee shop is a way I can give back to my community.”

Reaska, a self-taught roaster who already had an entrepreneurial spirit, decided to start his business after learning from his college assignment that coffee was expected to replace oil as the most traded commodity in the world. He had always enjoyed drinking his morning joe, but now he knew there would be a future in it.

He dove into the details. He wanted to

Starved Rock Country

Tyler Reaska pours coffee beans into the roaster. The beans are a grainy color before they are roasted to their darker color we recognize as coffee.

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 9

When the coffee beans leave the roaster, they fall into a batch where they are cooled.

10 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

p Sally Sue’s Coffee Co. offers an array of organic coffee blends that customers can buy by the pound.

Buyers can learn where their beans have come from – such as Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia or Ethiopia – and know the coffee has been roasted in Magnolia. t Visiting Sally Sue’s Coffee Co. in Magnolia is the best way to sample the roaster’s organic, fair-trade coffee.

make sure the coffee he roastshop and delivered to stores. ed was free of chemicals and The best way to try Sally it was fairly traded by paying Sue’s coffee, however, is at a premium to the farmer who 110 N. Chicago St., the shop. grew it.

During the pandemic, cusMagnolia In the back of the coffee tomers can ring a doorbell at Sally Sue’s Coffee shop in Magnolia, he roasts one of the windows and Co. on Facebook the grainy beans that come in either he or his fiancée, from Nicaragua, Honduras, Emily Wingate, will answer.

Colombia and Ethiopia in 150-pound bur- Their coffee menu includes frappes, lap sacks. With three roasters firing up lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, amerito temperatures as high as 700 degrees, canos, iced coffee, tea and espressos, he can produce 350 pounds of coffee in among other items. Reaska soon will an hour. offer a nitro cold brew “with a nice texThose beans are bagged in the same ture,” catered to his tastes.

SALLY SUE’S COFFEE

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 11

t Emily Wingate prepares a coffee drink for a customer at Sally Sue’s Coffee Co. in Magnolia. q Each bag of Sally Sue’s coffee is bagged by hand in the Magnolia shop.

Reaska says he’s sampled thousands of coffees and has figured out what he likes best. Roasting it himself gives him the advantage of making sure he can customize every quality he likes into the coffee. The Nicaragua-Medium is his best seller.

And if anyone is curious, ask Reaska where their coffee comes from. With each bag, there’s a label he can look up each coffee’s portfolio on his computer.

It tells him what farm the coffee was grown, when it arrived to his shop, what temperature he roasted it at, and what day he did, among several other details.

S R “I just love the details.” C

12 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

THE GATEWAY TO – ILLINOIS – STARVED ROCK

EXPLORE NORTH UTICA Filled with rich history and built on tradition.

Our town is full of great places, wonderful people and amazing things to see.

Come enjoy our delicious dining options from North to South.

From gourmet treats, wines and unique spices to antiques and specialty gifts. We have it all. om me fo Come for a day or the weekend.

Photo by Paula Guttilla: Hatchet Canyon Photography

utica-il.gov Photos

by Rock Country Starved Matthew Klein Films

Winter 2020 | 13 The Village of North Utica • PO BOX 188 • Utica, IL 61373 • 815-667-4111

14 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

| Offbe at |

The Alien Dish Farm 103 painted satellite dishes provide something to ponder while driving Interstate 80 Story by Charles Stanley, Photos by Scott Anderson

D

riving by at 70 mph doesn’t give viewers much time to take in the unexpected sight: Breaking up the vista of cornfields and white barns is a long row of brightly painted satellite dishes stretching along Interstate 80 east of Princeton.

Instead, creator Carl Walter hopes drivers and passengers will give a little contemplation to his Alien Dish Farm, the nearly half-mile display on the north side of the interstate near mile marker 67.

It’s been five years since Walter, 67, of rural Spring Valley began posting his satellite dish artworks. They’re mounted along the fence row that borders the interstate and the farmland he worked for decades with his dad, Ivan Walter, 93, of rural Arlington.

“I’m retired, but I farmed up until two years ago with my dad,” Walter says. “I farmed for 47 years and my dad for 70.” p More than 100 painted satellite dishes line Interstate 80 east of Princeton.

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 15

“

I’m going to keep putting them up until I run out of fence row — or I hear from the aliens.”

Walter winters in Arizona, where he gets most of the discarded satellite dishes. “I do get a few from around here, but I pick up most of them in Arizona at the park where I stay,” he says.

Walter saw permanently departing residents discarding their satellite dishes when they moved on. “The dishes would just go out with junk or scrap, so I thought, ‘What can I do with them?’”

Walter found himself inspired by Cadillac Ranch, a famous outdoor sculpture in Amarillo, Texas. There, 10 vintage Cadillacs are partially buried in a row nose-down in pastureland along Interstate 40.

The Cadillacs sparked a whimsical notion that appealed to Walter. “I’m always playing practical jokes and pranking people,” he says. “I thought, ‘Why don’t I just paint up some satellite dishes and put them out there along the fence line to see what people think about

16 | Winter 2020

them?’” Walter says. “It would give them something to look at and wonder about.”

So, for the last five years, Walter has hauled back a selection of the junked satellite dishes for conversion into artwork.

His technique is pretty straightforward.

“Basically, I just bring ’em home. Then I go over to Menard’s and pick up some cans of bright-colored spray paint, paint ’em up and put ’em along the interstate.”

At first, locals were surprised at the display of painted dishes. “A lot of them wondered why I was doing it,” Walter says.

Now they take them in stride as a familiar jolt in the landscape.

The display will keep growing, Walter says. “Last year, when I had 80 of them up, somebody said, ‘You should stop because you have 80 dishes along Interstate 80,’” he says. “But I thought,

‘Well, I think I still want to keep going.’

“This year I put up another 31 of them and also, for something a little different, put designs on all of them.”

It took longer, but the results were worth it, he says. “Some people have told me they look like Easter eggs the way they’re painted.”

Currently, there are 103 of the painted satellite dishes. Walter has done 101 of them. Two more were donated, already painted, by a local man who became intrigued with the project and sought Walter out.

Walter can’t say when he will be finished. He hasn’t covered even a third of the family farm fence row that borders Interstate 80. But most likely, every year the Alien Dish Farm will be getting longer, he confirms.

“I’m going to keep putting them up until I run out of fence row — or I hear S R from the aliens.” C Starved Rock Country

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Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 17

Tino Rubio sews part of a boot at Tino’s Shoe and Boot Repair in downtown Ottawa.

SOLE MAN Special orders, antiques big parts of Main Street business | Tr e asure s | Story by Mike Murphy, Photos by Annette Barr

I

s it a shoe repair shop or an antiques store?

18 | Winter 2020

Customers window shopping Tino’s Shoe and Boot Repair store in downtown Ottawa can figure it out by the namesake sign that hangs in the front window. However …

“The out-of-towners don’t know it’s a shoe store,” says Tino Rubio, the store’s owner, as he looks over his antiques on display.

“One of them wanted to buy the sign,”

says Tyler Ahrendsen, Rubio’s grandson and sole employee.

Now celebrating 50 years as a shoe repairman (or “cobbler,” to use an earlier term), Rubio brings more to the store than vintage items. Customers from several states send their shoes to the Main Street store.

“Petite person” Sandy Querciagrossa,

Starved Rock Country

Image: Skyarts/Pngtree.com

Downtown Ottawa’s

Tyler Ahrendsen, an apprentice at Tino’s Shoe and Boot Repair, removes a worn sole from a cowboy boot.

friends with Rubio since they were teens, recently sent the store a special order of 15 pairs of shoes to work on, since she couldn’t find as competent a cobbler in Florida, where she lives. “He just kicked booty,” she says about her recent order, pun intended. “Tino is the best I’ve ever seen.”

Closer to home, Oglesby resident Sue Jagodzinski has reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which causes her toes to stick up. “I buy shoes, and he tears them apart and fixes them for me,” she says. “I would be lost without Tino.”

Filling special orders is a traditional part of the shoe repairman’s job, Rubio says.

“We do a lot of orthopedic work,” he says, noting 40% of his business is repairing orthopedic shoes. “It’s a sense of accomplishment in helping out customers.”

Inside the store, Rubio adapts, alters and repairs shoes; makes lifts for shoes; repairs jackets and luggage; laces baseball and softball gloves; replaces zippers; fixes cowboy boots and work boots; and orders specialty medical shoes.

Shoe repair machines behind the curtain at Tino’s date to 1903, 1906, 1910 and 1913.

The store’s sole stitchers can be used to make and repair boots, and a Time-Master Auto Soler finishing machine dates to the mid-1960s.

“You have to maintain them. Oil is cheaper than parts,” Rubio says.

For 28 years, Ann Haskin Ward of Mendota has brought her shoes to Tino’s. It started with a recommendation from a retired Mendota physician who also had leg problems. (One of Ward’s legs is shorter than the other.) Rubio repaired that first pair; now every shoe she owns was fixed by him.

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 19

u Tino Rubio repairs the sole of a cowboy boot at Tino's Shoe and Boot Repair in downtown Ottawa. q TOP: Before and after examples of boot refurbishing. BOTTOM: Tino Rubio repairs a purse at his Ottawa shop.

TINO’S SHOE AND BOOT REPAIR 217 W. Main St., Ottawa 815-434-0720 Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (closed for lunch 11 a.m. to noon), 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Shoes and other items in need of repair can be dropped off at Tino’s as well as Mr. John’s Dry Cleaning, 401 E. Bridge St., Streator, 815-6727458; and Western Factory Outlet, 1320 38th St., Peru, 815-224-2668.

20 | Winter 2020

“He did a spectacular job. He’s made my shoe wardrobe great rather than just medical, orthopedic shoes,” Ward says. “It’s a bit of a drive yet well worth my while.”

Shoes are no longer sold at Tino’s, but customers can purchase polishes, care products, 100 different styles of laces, insoles, dyes, conditioners, salt removers and purses.

Working alongside the 69-year-old Rubio is Ottawa native and U.S. Army veteran Ahrendsen. He started working at the store in high school and returned to Tino’s a few years after his military service ended, working

full time beginning in 2019. “My mother initially wanted me to help my grandfather. Then I started to like it.

Every problem has a solution,” Ahrendsen says.

The 25-year-old Ahrendsen will take over the store from Rubio, who says he will keep working “as long as I feel good. I still enjoy it.”

“People are getting glad to see Tyler here and involved in the business.

Tyler is good with his hands and technically minded. I’ve gotten ill a couple of times and he has been a great help,” Rubio says.

Sheri Gottlieb of Morris says the Starved Rock Country

store “is bright and cheerful,” and returns so Rubio can install lifts in one of her shoes. She enjoys talking to him. “In some places they don’t even come back from behind the counter,” Gottlieb says.

Rubio got into the shoe repair business when he was in high school, at Salomone’s General Store in Ottawa. He was best friends with Bill Salomone Jr., whose father owned the store.

“I started working there in high school, off and on between in 1968 and 1970. We wouldn’t get paid; we just wanted to learn a trade. I was Starved Rock Country

good with my hands,” Rubio recalls.

He was hired full time in 1970.

Salomone’s burned down in 1976 and moved to 221 W. Main St., closing in 1986. By then, Rubio had bought the business and diversified by selling antiques.

“That’s when I changed it to my name,” he says. Rubio’s moved his store to 1015 La Salle St., where it remained until 2019. He then relocated it to 217 W. Main St. Rubio and Ahrendsen do their work in the back of the store, but the front room is where the antiques are stationed.

p TOP: Tools of the shoe repair trade hang on the wall at Tino’s Shoe and Boot Repair in downtown Ottawa. ABOVE: Tino Rubio stores replacement heels and soles on a shelf at his shoe repair and antique shop.

Winter 2020 | 21

Items for sale include transistor radios, toy mechanical robots and a 1932 Chen toy Ferris wheel, Ottawa drugstore and milk bottles, doorknobs, tobacco tins, knickknacks, old toolboxes, chairs, cabinets and stained-glass pieces. “We try and keep a nice variety,” Rubio says.

“Quite a few people think we only do antiques,” Ahrendsen adds.

But many of Tino’s customers swear by the work he does on their S R footwear … however the shoe fits. C

22 | Winter 2020

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Grand Bear Resort

Where You’ll Find an Abundance of Entertainment Options This includes a 24,000-square-foot water park, an arcade and mini golf Story and Photos by Annette Barr

W

hen searching for overnight accommodations in Starved Rock Country that will appeal to multiple generations, Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock in Utica offers everything from peaceful villas to an action-packed water park with several attractions in between.

“At Grand Bear Resort, our motto is ‘Minutes from Home, Miles from Ordinary,’ and we strive to provide just that,” says Andrew Harsted, director of sales. “The Grand Bear staff and management take a lot of pride in being a destination designed for families to be able to spend time together and build memories; along with a beautiful scenic destination for weddings, events and retreats of all kinds.”

Situated in the natural beauty of the Illinois River Valley, the resort offers a break from the hustle of the city without skimping on adventure.

Grand Bear Falls is the 24,000-square-foot indoor water park that can be enjoyed year-round. The wet and wild fun zone includes multiple slides, a wave pool, lazy river, kiddie pool and a hot tub.

24 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

GRAND BEAR RESORT AT STARVED ROCK 2643 IL Route 178, Utica 866-399-3866 GrandBearResort.com

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 25

3 26 | Winter 2020

4 Starved Rock Country

1. The indoor water park is among the main attractions at Grand Bear Resort.

2. The main hall at Grand Bear Resort.

3. Canyon Creek Mini Golf is available at Grand Bear Resort’s Bear Island.

4. Visitors can buy mementos of their stay at the resort’s gift shop.

5. Both children and adults can play at Cave Arcade.

6. Jack’s Place, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and features a full bar, is one of the dining options at the resort.

1

2

5 Starved Rock Country

6 Winter 2020 | 27

The Cave Arcade is just steps away from the Grand Bear Falls entrance. It features more than 60 interactive games for both children and adults.

If guests are searching for more fun to be had while enjoying fresh air, then Bear Island offers Canyon Creek Mini Golf, a playground and an outdoor bar with ample seating. Friends and families can sit canyonside and enjoy the tiered deck that offers views of the serene woods. Food is served at Bear Island as well as Jack’s Place Restaurant & Bar, an on-property casual dining spot.

The Wave Cafe offers drinks and snacks for those enjoying the water park. To satisfy a sweet tooth, the Honey Pot Cafe has a variety of baked goods, quick snacks, ice cream treats and coffee.

Grand Bear Resort also features nine different event areas, perfect for special events, weddings, holiday parties, business meetings and retreats.

Located in the heart of Starved Rock Country, visitors can enjoy all the resort has to offer as well as venture out to explore the three nearby state parks, shop and dine at S R local spots. C

May Your Holidays Be Filled With Gnomes Nov. 14th 3 French Hens Market Nov. 21st Morris Kris Kringle Market Nov 27 28 29 Home For the Holidays Holiday Window Walk Nov 29th Montage Kris Kringle Dec 4th Noon to Midnight Midnight in Morris Dec 12th and 13th Party with Elf on a Shelf and Peppermint Teddy Bear Hunt.

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28 | Winter 2020

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Like both locations on Facebook for upcoming events & live entertainment Winter 2020 | 29

BUIL

Illinois’ longest operating lumberyard continues to thrive along Peru’s historic riverfront. Maze Lumber has been providing top quality building materials to Illinois Valley contractors and homeowners for 172 years, still owned by the founding fathers (Maze).

Located in a 15,000-square foot showroom and office, we offer building materials for the modern home as well as a full line of the traditional lumber items used in home building, commercial construction, and industrial applications. Our experienced sales staff takes pride in their ability to provide knowledgeable assistance along with prompt delivery at reasonable prices.

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LOOKOUT

ON THE 32 | Winter 2020

| Must See |

Whether you’re a new or seasoned eagle watcher, here’s how and where to spot them Story by Vicki Martinka Petersen, Photos by Tom Sistak

I

f you’ve ever wanted to see a bald eagle up close, the area around the Starved Rock Lock & Dam along the Illinois River is the place to be — especially during the winter months.

The area is a haven for bald eagles, thanks to the dam that keeps the water moving and prevents it from freezing completely over in the winter. Access to fresh water is important for eagles, whose primary food source is fish.

“You’ll see lots of eagles located around bodies of open water looking for fish to dine on during the cold winter months,” explains Julie McDonald, park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center.

Starved Rock Country

Jane Seitz of the Illinois Raptor Center shows Laura, a 2-year-old bald eagle, to an audience at Starved Rock Lodge during a raptor program that is a regular part of the park’s Eagle Watch Weekend.

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Winter 2020 | 33

WINTER WATCHING

p TOP: A bald eagle sits on the ice of the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park. The birds of prey are a common sight during winter in Starved Rock Country and can be viewed from the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center.

ABOVE: A great horned owl greets visitors in the Great Hall at Starved Rock Lodge during Eagle Watch Weekend.

Vendors set up a variety of interactive displays.

34 | Winter 2020

When people picture a bald eagle, our nation’s emblem of an eagle with a white head and tail might come to mind. But juvenile eagles start out chocolate brown and don’t have the familiar white head until they’re adults around age 5. Bald eagles have a 6- to 7-foot wingspan, sometimes bigger, and weigh 7-14 pounds on average.

“Winter is a great time to go eagle watching because there are no leaves on the trees so they’re easier to spot. They’re also more actively hunting for food on cold winter days,” says McDonald.

Eagles also are more welcoming to having other eagles in their territory during the winter because they’re not guarding a nest full of young that time of year.

The past couple years, Illinois has hosted the highest number of migrating bald eagles in the lower 48 states. As the waterways up north freeze and block their access to fish, eagles go down to the lower states, where water doesn’t completely freeze over and they’re still able to fish. Even if there’s a milder winter up north, the eagles will eventually move down to the lower states but at a slower rate, says Jo Fessett, assistant to the executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society.

As for where to look, the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center and Starved Rock State Park offer great views of the dam.

There’s also riverfront viewing in downtown Ottawa.

“The worse the weather is, the more eagles congregate near water sources. You’ll probably see eagles flying overhead anywhere in that area. The main thing is they want access to the S R river, especially when the weather is bad,” Fessett says. C

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• Bring your binoculars and cameras.

• Look for dark, football-sized shapes in the trees first, then bring your binoculars up to your face for a closer look.

• Watch first thing in the morning when eagles are hunting for their first meal. If you can’t make it then, try a few hours before the sun goes down when they’ll be getting their last fish to eat for the day.

• If you go eagle watching in the morning, face west. If you go in the afternoon, face east so the sun will be behind you.

• Eagles spend most of their time sitting in the trees.

When you do find an adult eagle, look very closely for juveniles. They tend to blend into the trees with their dark heads.

• You won’t hear the sound eagles make on TV and movies. “They actually sound like a laughing gull,” says Fessett.

The Illinois Waterway Visitor Center outdoor viewing area will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please use the new access entrance to the visitor center. If you are interested in viewing wildlife and towboats indoors, contact the visitor center at 815-667-4054 for more information on availability. At time of publication, a decision hadn’t been made on whether to host the annual Eagle Watch Weekend amid the pandemic.

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Winter 2020 | 35

Winter

Excursions

in Starved Rock Country Pack a scarf, hat and gloves, and check out these 15 hikes and other adventures

By Starved Rock Country Staff

| Fa mily M atters |

S

hoveling, shivering and slipping on snow and ice can be a drag in the winter. But the weather also brings picturesque views and fun family-friendly activities in Starved Rock Country.

From scenic cross-country skiing to snowmobiling and even ice climbing, you can take your pick of winter excursions.

Here are some of our favorites.

Editor’s note: Please check ahead for availability due to changing COVID-19 guidelines.

36 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

Ice Skating Echo Bluff Park and Recreation Area located between Spring Valley and DePue in Western Starved Rock Country is hailed as the “Illinois Valley’s premier ice skating rink.”

In addition to skating, the rink is also available for hockey games and more, and skates are available to rent. The park is traditionally only open on weekends unless arrangements have been made beforehand.

Cross-Country Skiing Trails for cross-country skiing enthusiasts are available at Matthiessen State Park (at the Dells area) and, on a more limited basis, at Starved Rock State Park.

Matthiessen not only offers 6 miles of trails, but also ski rentals (weather allowing) on weekends from December through March.

The Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail, too, is ideal for skiing in wintertime when the ground cover allows, with more than 60 miles of trails. Illini State Park in Marseilles also boasts 2 miles of skiing trails, with Buffalo Park State Park just west of Ottawa, Echo Bluff Park and Recreation Area near Spring Valley, and Goose Lake Prairie State Park near Morris featuring ski trails as well.

Ice Climbing There are more than a dozen waterfalls at Starved Rock State Park, many of which transform into beautiful, natural ice sculptures as winter tightens its grip on Starved Rock Country. According to the Starved Rock staff, some of the more notable (and stunning) ice waterfalls can be found in St. Louis, French, Wildcat, Tonti, Ottawa and Kaskaskia canyons. Some of the ice formations — after signing in at the park office — are also available for climbing when there is enough ice.

Nearby Matthiessen State Park also typically features a pair of frozen waterfalls in the heart of winter.

Snowmobiling While you can see them all around Starved Rock Country after a good snowfall, the Illinois & Michigan State Canal Trail provides a great grail for snowmobilers.

Sixty-one miles of groomed trails along the historic canal’s towpath and through the heart of Starved Rock Country are open after a 4-inch snow base has been set.

Access points can be found in or near the cities of Ottawa, Marseilles, Utica and La Salle, as well as at designated locations within Buffalo Rock (Ottawa), Gebhard Woods (Morris) and Channahon state parks.

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 37

Ice Fishing There are many private ponds and small lakes in Starved Rock Country that are available for ice fishing. (Get permission first!)

Fred Krause of Marseilles, a local fishing guide, says there also are a few Department of Natural Resources lakes or small waterways for ice fishing including the I & M Canal between La Salle and Utica, the Hennepin Canal in Bureau County, and Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris in Grundy County.

For a good guide, he says, pick up a Sportsman’s Northern Illinois Fishing Map Guide (SCmaps.com or sportsmansconnection.com).

He passes on these tips: Two inches of ice supports a 200-pound man, and 10 inches supports a small auto or truck. It is sometimes late winter before there is safe ice. Test the ice with an ice spud, a sharpened steel chisel device on a long, heavy metal pole. If it penetrates and you see water, the ice is not thick enough. Watch for underwater springs that show up as lightened areas with bubbles. On safe ice, drill several holes about 20 feet apart. The deepest part of the lake is best. Primary targets will be bluegills, bass and maybe crappie and catfish. Best baits: wax worms or mousies.

Eagle Watching Eagles can be seen year-round now at or near Starved Rock State Park, but their numbers increase in the mid-tolate winter months.

For more on eagle watching, head to P. 32.

38 | Winter 2020

And for the hikers There are countless miles of breathtaking trails through Starved Rock Country. Winter can be an especially beautiful time for those willing to brave the elements.

For guided hikes at Starved Rock State Park, find more information at www.starvedrocklodge.com.

Other notable hiking trails include: T Allen Park, Ottawa — room to walk and play along the Illinois River near downtown Ottawa with toboggan run and sledding hills.

T Buffalo Rock State Park, near Ottawa — offering a wooded trail along the Illinois River as well as a hike around Effigy Tumuli, massive land sculptures engineered to resemble and honor native creatures.

T Carlson Nature Preserve, Lowell — a secluded spot for rugged hiking along the west banks of the Vermilion River.

T Echo Bluff Park and Recreation Area, Spring Valley — a 60-acre park open only on weekends (or by appointment) featuring trails and tons of other activities.

T Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris — not only has its own trails to explore, but also connects with the I & M Canal State Trail.

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T Goose Lake Prairie State Park, Morris — 7 miles of trails through various environments.

T Illini State Park, Marseilles — large riverside areas for hiking, sledding or ice skating.

T I&M State Canal Trail — more than 60 miles of trails along the canal, crossing paths with four state parks.

T Lake Kakusha, Mendota — shelters and trails surround this man-made lake.

T Matthiessen State Park, Utica — more than 5 miles of trails with a pair of waterfalls/icefalls in a mile-long canyon.

T Miller-Anderson Woods, DePue — a beautiful preserve featuring moderately difficult, ribbon-marked trails.

T Sandy Ford Conservation Area, Leonore — 200 acres along the Vermilion River with rugged trails throughout.

T Snyder’s Grove, Mendota — wood-covered trails cover this 104-acre preserve.

T Spring Lake Nature Park, Streator — dozens of trails wind through this nature preserve, all surrounding the titular spring.

T Warnecke Woods, Princeton — paths fill a 30-acre floodplain forest.

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 39

Merry & Bright La Salle’s drive-thru Celebration of Lights provides holiday spirit, joy Story by Stephanie Jaquins, Photos by Scott Anderson

40 | Winter 2020

B

etween the jingle of holiday music and the reflection of 350 lighted displays, this year’s Celebration of Lights is sure to make any backseat passenger point and smile.

This holiday magic, glimpsed solely as a drive-thru show, has the potential to draw even more people this year due to the pandemic, according to Beth Ketter, administrative assistant for the City of La Salle, and volunteer Mark Schneider of La Salle.

“With people looking for things to do that are socially distanced, I think it’s just going to make this bigger than ever,” Schneider says.

About 12,000 vehicles drove through last year, Ketter estimates.

Volunteers will wear masks and keep their distance from vehicles.

“People stay in their cars, so it’s completely safe for the people driving through,” she says.

Starved Rock Country

Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

La Salle’s large display of lights wouldn’t be possible without volunteers helping at La Salle Rotary Park. “We never have trouble getting volunteers,” says Ketter.

“It’s just fun. People are so happy when they come through.” To further bring in the Christmas spirit, many of the volunteers wear festive attire.

Schneider has been volunteering at the display since its inception. “I just think it’s really cool to see the spirit and the joy on their faces,” says Schneider, who has volunteered along with friends and family. “You run into people every day and people are going through a lot of things and just don’t have the time.

They come out there and everything just kind of melts away a little bit.

It’s just the joy and the spirit of the holidays.”

The idea came from La Salle Mayor Jeff Grove. Entering its eighth year, the lights show has grown immensely since it started with 13 displays powered by generators. In the second year, city employees went to busi-

Starved Rock Country

nesses to explain their vision, Ketter says. With more sponsorships, the displays grew to around 60 the second year.

“Honestly, every year I kind of anticipate — especially this year with COVID — maybe it’ll be less, maybe it won’t grow as much this year,” Ketter says. “And every year it grows; every year is bigger than the year before.”

This year features about 50 more displays than last year’s show. As it grows, Ketter says the displays are getting bigger and more custom. The city tries to prevent duplicates in the show.

Some displays are traditional —

like Santa Claus, snowmen or candy canes.

Some are custom to fit the theme of a business with a holiday twist.

Some are purchased in memory of a loved one.

“We usually work with the customer, the family or business to see what they’re interested in,” says Ketter.

Jeff Bumgarner, La Salle superintendent of public works, says setup began in mid-October this year, taking four to six weeks to complete. The display is easily seen from Interstate 39, which causes many travelers to pull off the highway to drive through the display show. Many locals drive through more than once.

CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. weekdays; 5 to 11 p.m. weekends; Nov. 16-Jan. 1 WHERE: La Salle Rotary Park, 2837 E. Fifth Road COST: Free, donations accepted Tune your radio to WYYS-FM (106.1) for Christmas music

Winter 2020 | 41

42 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

“They come out there and everything just kind of melts away a little bit. It’s just the joy and the spirit of the holidays.”

“You might have an older person who comes down and they’ve literally just got their dog on their lap. And their dog loves to see (the lights),” Schneider says. “You might have a young teenage boy and girl who are out on a little date and thought it would be cool to go to the lights together, so it’s really a mixture.”

About half the donations go toward Rotary Park improvements, with the other half for maintenance. A small amount goes toward the city’s own display. This year, Ketter is getting her wish. “For five years I’ve wanted Old Man Winter and this year I’m getting it, so I’m very excited,” she says.

Ketter says she couldn’t pick a favorite display out of previous years.

“They’re all such unique, custom displays,” she says. “I can’t really pick S R one.” C

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 43

| Hol id ay Gif t Guide |

8

Made in Starved Rock Country

Last-Minute Handmade Gift Ideas Compiled by Ryan Searl

This holiday season, give the gift of a one-of-a-kind item, made right here in Starved Rock Country! We’ve assembled a collection of eight amazing artisans, creating excellent last-minute presents and stocking stuffers.

44 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

A Piece Of Fine Field Pottery Fine Field Pottery (located inside of K’s Secret Garden in Streator) specializes in functional and fun pieces of stoneware. This art is just as beautiful as it is practical. Consider getting the baker in your life a gorgeously glazed pie plate or French butter keeper. Check out Finefield Pottery’s Etsy page — ­ the products are shipped nationwide directly from the heart of Starved Rock Country.

K’s Secret Garden 215 E. Main St., Streator finefieldpottery.com

A Custom Plant From Petals By Peyton A Personalized Piece of Jewelry From Chain, Link And Gemstone

Looking for a live stocking stuffer for the plant fanatics on your list? Stop by Petals By Peyton for all your cactus, succulent and holiday arrangement needs. This chic store in downtown La Salle offers a wide assortment of beautiful plants housed in funky reclaimed containers. While you’re there, be sure to check out their home decor selection for even more great gift ideas.

Petals By Peyton 552 First St., La Salle 815-780-8251 facebook.com/petalsbypeyton

Gifts don’t get any more handmade than Arica Dearcos’ fingerprint pendants! These beautiful pieces are created by pressing a finger into silver clay, which is then fired and mounted on a standard 18-inch chain. If you’re looking for an extra personalized gift, consider adding on birthstones, inscriptions or a special chain!

Chain, Link and Gemstone 400 Fifth St., Peru 815-448-9649 facebook.com/clgemstone

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 45

A Hand Blown Ornament From Starved Rock Hot Glass For a beautiful one-of-a-kind gift, pay a visit to Starved Rock Hot Glass in downtown Ottawa. Over the last decade, artist Laura Johnson has perfected the craft of creating stunning hand-blown pieces of art glass. From her colorful and crowd pleasing glass flowers, to mixed media pieces made from blown glass and reclaimed driftwood, pieces from Starved Rock Hot Glass make for excellent presents during the holiday season.

Starved Rock Hot Glass 700 W. Main St., Ottawa 815-313-5445 starvedrockhotglass.com

A Bottle From August Hill Winery

For your family and friends who enjoy a fine glass of wine during the holiday season, be sure to stop by August Hill’s beautiful tasting room in downtown Utica. Consider purchasing them a bottle of Berlyn Semi-dry Red, made from Illinois-grown Frontenac and Chambourcin grapes, grown, aged and bottled right here in Starved Rock Country!

August Hill Winery 106 Mill St., Utica 815-667-5211 augusthillwinery.com

A Bottle Of Brandy From Star Union Spirits This small-batch micro-distillery, located in the historic Westclox building in Peru, is producing premium spirits in turn of the century branding. The bottles are as elegant as the spirits they hold! The Star Union Spirits diverse portfolio includes apple, cherry and cabernet sauvignon brandies, grappas, rums, whiskies and vodka. For a sample of what can be made with their products, take a look at their Instagram.

Star Union Spirits 300 Fifth St., Suite 135, Peru 815-205-1234 starunionspirits.com

46 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

Choice

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Jeremiah Joe, a local favorite establishment that recently opened up a second convenient location on Canal Avenue in Ottawa, roasts all of its signature blends of beans in-house! You can see how all the roasts that go into their wide array of coffees and espressos are carefully blended through big bay windows towards the back of the La Salle Street location, giving you a glimpse into this intricate process. Pick up a few bags of freshly roasted beans and some Jeremiah Joe merch for the coffee connoisseur in your life, available at either of the Ottawa locations.

A Growler From Tangled Roots Brewing Company

Ottawa’s own Tangled Roots Brewing Company is producing some of the finest craft brews in the midwest. Consider gifting the craft beer fan in your life a growler of Forty1-Eighty8 — this farm to foam American pale ale has all of its agricultural products grown right here in Starved Rock Country! If you already know someone who’s a big Tangled Roots fan, sign them up for the Tangled Roots Brew Club.

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Starved Rock Country

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Whether you live in Starved Rock Country or are here for a visit, remember to take time to hike, go eagle watching, find an adventure, or just RELAX! A visit to SaltTreeYoga will provide you with the relaxation and harmony you need to balance your life.

Try a YOGA CLASS and SHOP in our unique gift shop before or after you relax!

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3

Seasonal Craft Drinks For The Holidays

Prepare for upcoming holiday festivities by sampling some of Starved Rock Country’s signature drinks Compiled by Ryan Searl

50 | Winter 2020

Loco Cocoa at Clarks Run Creek Gift and Wine q Clarks Run Creek’s signature winter drink, Loco Cocoa, returns to its beautiful downtown Utica wine bar and gift shop! This easy-drinking, alcohol-infused hot cocoa is the perfect beverage to prepare you for some holiday shopping in the boutique stores of North Utica.

Made with their house port Clarks Run Creek wine and a signature hot Gift and Wine cocoa mix, this spiced bever143 Mill St., Utica age is garnished with a spritz clarksruncreek.com of whipped cream and served in a glass mug. Sip your cocoa while relaxing in Clarks Run Creek’s spacious lounge or while browsing their selection of wine and gifts. After you’ve enjoyed your Loco Cocoa and sampled some local wines for yourself, consider picking up a few bottles of Illinois-grown wines as gifts. When you purchase a bottle of wine from Clarks Run Creek, you’re not just shopping small, you’re aiding Illinois’ burgeoning wine industry!

Starved Rock Country

The ISC Experience Flight at Illinois Sparkling Co. q Illinois Sparkling Co. is deeply committed to quality and authenticity. Their line of traditional method sparkling wines demand close attention to detail, unmatched by other winemaking methods. Each bottle is personally handled from beginning to end, a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that yields impeccable results. Looking for introduction in the ISC’s line of locally crafted sparkling wines? Look no further than their Experience Flight Trio.

This flight of three traditional method sparkling wines, The ISC Brut, Brut Ombré Rosé and Demi Sec Rosé, were hand-selected by the winemakers to show the variety and strengths of the ISC line. Proudly made with locally grown grapes and served at the Illinois Sparkling Co. and August Hill Winery tasting room in downtown Utica, these three wines are truly local products. When you order the flight at the tasting room, you’ll be given a QR code that describes each entry in the flight and gives you an inside peek at the hard work that goes into crafting traditional method sparkling wine.

Illinois Sparkling Co. 106 Mill St., Utica iscbubbly.com

The Roosevelt at Star Union Spirits

p

Star Union Spirits, an award-winning micro-distillery located inside Peru’s historic Westclox building, offers an ever-growing selection of small batch Brandy, Vodka, Rum and Grappas, perfect stocking stuffers for any craft liquor enthusiasts. Drop by the distillery tasting room to sample spirits or enjoy a signature craft cocktail, like The Roosevelt. This cocktail incorporates Star Union’s aged Apple Brandy and pays homage to former President FDR, who preferred his Manhattans to be made with Apple Brandy instead of Rye Whiskey.

Looking to buy a botStar Union Spirits tle of Star Union’s 300 Fifth St., Apple Brandy and Suite 135, Peru recreate this cocktail starunionspirits.com at home? Here’s the recipe for The Roosevelt: Add 3 oz. of Star Union Spirits Apple Brandy, 1/4 oz. maple syrup and 2 dashes of Black Walnut Bitters to a cocktail shaker.

Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Add Fabbri Amarena Cherry to bottom of the martini glass. Drizzle syrup over sunken cherry. Savor the boozy goodness of this DIY craft cocktail.

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 51

Legendary Small-Town Eatery Serves

Fried Chicken

52 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

| Go od Tas t e |

Plan a road trip to Ladd’s own Rip’s Tavern Story and Photos by Ryan Searl

G

ood food is worth driving for, but great food is worth embarking on a road trip to experience for yourself.

Rip’s Tavern, located off of Interstate 80 in the small town of Ladd (population 1,200), has been a magnet for fried chicken fanatics for several generations. This unassuming tavern has made appearances on culinary television shows, been favorably written up in major food blogs and has built a dedicated fan base that drives from states away just to enjoy the truly classic fried chicken.

In 1934, one year after the repeal of Prohibition, Silvio “Rip” Gualandri and his wife, Emma, opened up a small bar called The Old Tin Front in Ladd, then a bustling coal mining town. To differentiate themselves from competing saloons, Gualandri began offering free deep-fried chicken with the purchase of every drink. Soon, the popularity of this signature dish was bringing in too many customers for The Old Tin Front to accommodate, so Gualandri moved the business to a larger building across the street in 1936. He gave the operation its new name, Rip’s Tavern, and a new focus, their signature deep-fried chicken.

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Winter 2020 | 53

So, what separates Rip’s from other fried chicken destinations?

Authenticity and atmosphere. While the entire food industry and supply chains have changed drastically over the near century they’ve been in business, Rip’s has been dedicated to keeping every ingredient and prep step strikingly similar to what was implemented back in the ’30s. They use fresh — never frozen — chicken that’s trimmed, hand cut and brined, all before it reaches the battering stage.

This is a labor-intensive process that harkens back to the era before fast food.

The original fry oil used at Rip’s is no longer manufactured, so to retain that signature taste, they’ve concocted a house combination of three oils that perfectly replicates the flaky golden exterior that Rip’s Chicken is so well known for. This special concoction, and their hand blended flour, are just a few small examples of the many ways Rip’s has steadfastly stayed true to its roots.

All this effort is on full display in the final product. Each piece of chicken has a substantial crust that lends a pleasant crunch to every bite. One

taste, and it is clear why Rip’s legions of fans rave about the delicious ridges of crispy crust (so much so that you can get a side order of just crust “crispies”). This savory exterior gives way to the impossibly moist and flavorful chicken inside. Unlike other fried

chicken, the outside is perfectly dry while the inside traps in all that brined and never-frozen goodness. On each plate, you’ll also find a generous helping of crispy french fries.

Forks are available, but it’s customary to enjoy Rip’s by hand, off of the

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Starved Rock Country

Rip’s Tavern 311 N. Main Ave., Ladd Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 4-8:30 p.m., Friday 4-9:30 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4-9:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2-8:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday closed Contact: 815-894-3051 or Facebook

paper plate it’s served on.

The dinner menu at Rip’s is simple and efficient: six varieties of chicken and a few delicious signature apps. The lunch menu, available only on the weekends, features a gambit of sandwiches like the deep-fried burger and

Tacos Burritos Enchiladas Quesadillas Sizzling Fajitas

pork tenderloin, along with wings and house-made chicken strips. For a real treat, drop by Rip’s on a Friday night when they’ll be serving their catfish and whitefish specials.

Rip’s is legendary for one other thing as well: its lines. It’s not uncommon to

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see a queue of hungry customers waiting to get a peek at the classic tavern decor and delicious freshly fried smells inside the restaurant. This year, due to the restrictions of COVID-19, many customers are opting for Rip’s other services like socially distant outdoor dining and convenient curbside pickup, rather than queueing in large lines.

These lighter crowds make 2020 the ideal time to plan your trip to this iconic dining destination! No matter where you choose to tuck into your meal, you’ll still get to enjoy that sumptuous, deep fried, traditional chicken that’s earned Rip’s such a lasting reputation in Starved Rock Country and far S R beyond. C

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Winter 2020 | 55

56 | Winter 2020

Starved Rock Country

| S w ee t Spot |

Looks

As Good As It

La Salle eatery boasts unusual name, menu offerings Story by Mike Murphy, Photos by Tom Sistak

L

il’ MAD Cafe Gourmet Shop in downtown La Salle is out of the ordinary, and not just for its name.

How many restaurants have menus in which crepes make up half of the listings?

The French pancake enveloping sweet or savory fillings isn’t found on many Starved Rock menus, but at Lil’ MAD Cafe, it’s a featured item. “We feel our crepes are as good or better than the ones in France,” says Martin Cingle, Lil’ MAD owner.

Open since December 2019, the eatery is gaining attention in downtown La Salle.

“The food is good, and the family is always there helping out. And the food is fresh,” says Donna Leifheit, owner of Pieces of Fashion, a clothing store across First Street from Lil’ MAD. Some customers ask about the name of the cafe. The second part of the restaurant’s name comes from the initials of Michael Anthony Dreibelbis, the firstborn

Starved Rock Country

grandson of Cingle’s parents, John and Bonnie Newcomer. Dreibelbis grew up in New Lenox and Joliet, served three tours in Iraq for the U.S. Army and now is a nurse in Florida.

Cingle grew up near New Lenox and moved to rural La Salle with his wife,

Winter 2020 | 57

Sophia, and daughters three years ago.

Cingle’s parents worked at Bakers Square, Pizza Hut and other suburban restaurants. Bonnie graduated from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school of Chicago, and with John owned a Westmont cafe for six years. They sold food at farmers and French markets in the western Chicago suburbs before concentrating on catering and special events.

But the family wanted to operate a restaurant together. They settled on a philosophy even before they found a location. In Naperville, “We saw a (restaurant) display with beautiful items, but they didn’t taste good. We wanted our food to look as good as it tastes,” says Cingle, a graduate of College of DuPage’s culinary school.

“It tastes as good as it looks” is the slogan for Lil’ MAD, which features topquality products.

“We don’t cut corners. We are picky about our ingredients,” Cingle explains.

The restaurant is open mornings until midafternoon six days a week. The Newcomers’ catering business is located in the same building, which once was

Martin Cingle, owner of Lil’ MAD Cafe in La Salle, crafts food that looks attractive with a taste to match.

occupied by Sally Sue’s For more on Coffee, a Magnolia cofSally Sue’s fee business.

Coffee, go to Since Lunch Box Cafe P. 8. closed, downtown La Salle “lacked a breakfast and sandwich shop,” Cingle says.

Lil’ MAD offers an online food delivery service and worked with the city of La Salle to get 15-minute parking status in front of the cafe when it’s open. “We get a lot of people because they like our products,” Cingle says.

Lil MAD pays attention to its exterior

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be selling Wounded Warrior Project coffee mugs, with a portion of proceeds helping out that organization. “We’re a big military family,” Cingle summarizes.

Bonnie Newcomer makes the restaurant’s scones, which meet with nearly as much acclaim as the crepes. Other menu items include numerous hot and cold drinks, muffins, cookies, breads and quiche as well as breakfast, club and salad sandwiches.

Yet it’s the crepes that remain signature items. The Elvis crepe is made of peanut butter, bananas and bacon.

Leifheit’s favorite is the banana Nutella crepe.

“The flavor. And again, it’s fast, fresh and delicious,” says Leifheit, who makes her own crepes at home.

Cingle’s short-term goal is to be at the La Salle location the next five years, and acquire a food trailer for the catering business.

“It’s semi-full service,” Cingle says of Lil’ MAD. “We’ve wanted our company to be like this. It was the right place at the right time.”

And for the cafe’s faithful customers, S R the right taste. C

LIL’ MAD CAFE GOURMET SHOP 728 First St., La Salle 815-250-0255 www.lilmadcafe.com Hours: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tuesdays through Thursdays, 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Sundays, closed Mondays.

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as well as the food inside. Sophia Cingle created the eatery’s windows display, which won the decorating contest earlier this year at downtown’s Christmas in July celebration. Lil’ MAD also has outdoor seating with heaters.

Leah Inman, city of La Salle economic development director and owner of the Lil’ MAD building, orders once a week or every 10 days from the restaurant. “I like that Martin has gluten-free options and (is) a family-owned business,” says Inman, who prefers gluten-free items due to dietary restrictions.

In addition to Sophia Cingle, the couple’s children — Martina, Merissa, Savannah and Cecelia — help out at the cafe. Nephews Corbin and Tristen help during the summer (“They love our crepes,” Cingle notes), and his aunt, Teresa, assists during the week. Bonnie Newcomer works Fridays, and John Newcomer lends a hand during market appearances. Cingle’s nephew, brother and aunts live in Florida and Virginia and help out during their visits.

Family members have served in the Army, Marines and Navy; Cingle himself was active in ROTC. Lil’ MAD soon will

Starved Rock Country

Winter 2020 | 59

| On The Bo ok s |

In Ridings’ Research,

LOCAL HISTORY COMES ALIVE

Photo Provided

u Hundreds rush to the Cherry coal mine as news spread about an underground fire that claimed 259 lives in November 1909.

The goal is to find new material and information that has not been previously revealed, he says Story and Photos by Steve Stout

60 | Winter 2020

A

passion for local history and knack for historical research has led a prolific writer from Herscher to celebrate the recent releases of his 26th and 27th publications.

Jim Ridings, formerly of Ottawa and a self-made expert on the heritage of Illinois, is the author of “The Society of the Living Dead: The Illustrated History of Ottawa’s Radium Dial Scandal” and “The Illustrated History of the Cherry Mine Disaster of 1909.”

Ridings says Radium Dial opened in a former Ottawa high school building in 1922 where women were hired to paint luminous radium on clock and pocket watch dials

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to make them glow in the dark. Company officials knew the extreme dangers of exposure to radium, according to Ridings’ research. He says dial painters in New Jersey and Connecticut facilities already were dying of radium poisoning when the Ottawa facility opened.

Despite the known danger, the company continued to instruct workers to lick the brushes with their tongues to get a better point on the radium painting.

In 1937, a “Society of the Living Dead” was organized by sick and dying dial painters to bring legal and community attention to their situation. Beyond never-seenbefore photographs and personal stories of victims and survivors, Ridings’ book also includes the industrial history of Radium Dial and Luminous Processes and the complicated cleanup of other contaminated sites in Ottawa up to the present day.

Ridings, 70, first wrote about Luminous Processes in 1978 working as a reporter for The Daily Times in

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Photo Provided

q Herscher author Jim Ridings signs copies of books recently at the La Salle County Historical Museum in Utica, where nearly 100 local history readers lined up to meet the writer.

p A worker at the Radium Dial factory paints a clock face with radioactive paint. Many workers developed fatal illnesses from licking paintbrushes for a more pointed tip.

Winter 2020 | 61

“

It is important to write local history. In most instances, the information I found and wrote would never have been discovered or written if not for me.”

Ottawa. He says the workplace health scandal hit a peak in 1938 when investigative hearings into the poisoning problem were held before the Illinois Industrial Commission in an Ottawa courthouse. The workplace hazard case centered on Catherine Donohue, a former dial painter who was interviewed during the final weeks of her life.

Also recently published by Ridings is “The Illustrated History of the Cherry Mine Disaster of 1909.” The 224-page book contains more than 400 photographs of the tragic disaster and its aftermath from a deep coal mine fire under Cherry. The incident killed 259 men and boys in one of the worst coal mine disasters in American history.

In the book, Ridings recounts many true tales of tragedy and of heroism, including the rescue of 21 men who were trapped underground in the burning mine for eight days. The book contains a lot of new information Ridings uncovered and offers photographs and stories from descendants of victims and survivors.

DeAnn Pozzi, curator at the Cherry Mine Disaster Museum in Cherry, praises Ridings’ writing efforts.

Pozzi says she and her husband, Jim, were extremely impressed by the compilation of historic photographs and many families’ sad stories. “We’ve never seen some of this material before,” Pozzi says.

The Cherry tragedy led to the enactment of workmen’s compensation legislation and stricter child labor laws in Illinois and across the nation.

A 1976 Southern Illinois University graduate, Ridings says the goal for all his books is to find new material and information that has not been previously revealed.

During a recent appearance at a book signing event, Ridings said his purpose was to not merely chronicle the stark details of both tragedies but to focus on the personal stories: “to put a human face on the tragedy.”

Explaining his personal philosophy about the importance of learning and preserving local history, the writer says, “First, it is important to write local history. In most instances, the information I found and wrote would never have been discovered or written if not for me. Second, I like to discover information that has not been covered previously. Third, I like to get personal stories from people, not just because it gives them a chance

u Herscher author Jim Ridings has penned 27 books recounting history in and around Starved Rock Country. His latest releases include “Society of the Living Dead” and “The Illustrated History of the Cherry Mine Disaster of 1909.”

62 | Winter 2020

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p A memorial stands in Holy Trinity/Miners’ Memorial Cemetery in Cherry to commemorate those who lost their lives during the 1909 Cherry Mine fire.

to tell stories that otherwise would not be told, but also because you cannot tell the story of a town without telling the story of the people who were there.”

Both books were published this year by America Through Time, a division of Arcadia Publishing. Several of his previous publications have won awards from the Illinois State Historical Society and the Illinois Humanities Council.

Of the 27 books he now has to his credit, Ridings says his favorite stories include “Small Justice,” the first detailed account of the 1987 murder of Stephen Small, who was buried alive in Kankakee in a failed ransom scheme.

“The convicted killer never cooperated with police and refused all interviews, until recently, when I became the first person to interview him,” says Ridings. “The details (of the crime) had never been told before. I am very proud of that.”

He says he is also proud of “Len Small: Governors & Gangsters,” the only book written about the man who was governor of Illinois in the 1920s.

“He (Small) was the biggest crook this state ever saw,” says Ridings. “He stole millions and then was acquitted at trial when Al Capone’s hoodlums bribed the jury. He sold pardons and paroles to gangsters, and he was a friend to the Ku Klux Klan.”

Coming up with ideas for new writing projects has always been easy for him, Ridings confirms. “Even the smallest town has a history and plenty of stories,” he says.

Many of Riding’s publications are available at Prairie Fox Books in downtown Ottawa, the La Salle County Historical Society in Utica and from various online S R booksellers. C

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During a raptor program at Starved Rock Lodge, those in attendance received an up-close opportunity to photograph a variety of birds of prey. This owl was more than happy to pose for their photographs during Eagle Watch Weekend.

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