SVM_Sterling Rock Falls Living - Summer 2020

Sterling-Rock Falls

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PUBLICATION • SUMMER 2020

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Making pets

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You won’t find any tails of woe at the humane society in Rock Falls — just all things cute and cuddly and warm and snug gly looking for a place to call home

more inside ...

It looks like art is turning a corner — in fact, it’s turning quite a few corners on a road trip through the Sauk Valley The driving force behind one of the best disc golf courses in the area earns a spot in the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame Green Eggs and hamburger ... A Sterling store has a whole buffet of choices for your backyard barbecue

MAKE YOUR WEEKENDS Wild!

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Friday, July 31, 2020 | Gates: 5:30 p.m. l Showtime: 6:00 p.m.

Opener: The Charlattans An All Ages, Free Outdoor Event. Food and Beverages will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chairs. No coolers allowed.

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Sterling-Rock Falls

SUMMER 2020

inside CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Publisher Don T. Bricker

St er lin g- Ro ck Fa lls

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General Manager/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editors Rusty Schrader & Kathleen Schultz Page design Rusty Schrader

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Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Have a story ideas for Sterling-Rock Falls Living?

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Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com

Making pets happy

Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Sterling-Rock Falls Living Magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

You won’t find any tails of woe at this humane society in Rock Falls.

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COME FOR THE FOOD… STAY FOR THE BEER 1301 PROPHETSTOWN RD., ROCK FALLS • (815) 626-1470 s t e r l i n g - r o c k

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inside

Sterling-Rock Falls

CONTENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

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It looks like art is turning a corner — in fact, it’s turning quite a few corners on a road trip through the Sauk Valley.

The driving force behind one of the best disc golf courses in the area earns a spot in the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

Propane, pellets, charcoal ... A Sterling store has a whole buffet of choices for your backyard barbecue — including Big Green Eggs.

Art tour

His claim to fame Grill power

Service You Can Count On

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2704 Locust St, Sterling • 815-626-8911 www.sterlingdoor.net 4

Serving the Sauk Valley Area for Nearly 40 Years! s u m m e r

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Great Food.

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Experience big taste in an unforgettable place!

103 West 3rd Street Sterling, IL 61081 815-548-9550 Kitchen Open 7 days a week 11am-9pm

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It looks like art is turning a corner —

in fact, it’s turning quite a few corners on a road trip through the Sauk Valley STORY BY STERLING-ROCK FALLS LIVING STAFF | PHOTOS BY ALEX T. PASCHAL

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rt has been a driving force in Valerie Butcher’s life for years, and she’s hoping others will feel the same way, too.

Butcher, a local artist and the coordinator of the Corner Gallery in Sterling, has put together a self-guided tour that highlights Sauk Valley residents’ creative side: Art Along the Rock.

The tour features five stops: The Loft, 112 E. Main St. in Morrison; Art in the Park in the RB&W Park along the Rock Falls riverfront, Primitive Frills, 7 E. Third St. in Sterling, the Corner Gallery, 2522 E. Lincolnway in Sterling, and the Next Picture Show Fine Arts Center, 113 W. First St. in Dixon.

The art lover’s day trip is just the latest stop on her artistic journey.

Butcher was a painter for years, but turned to sculpting when her eyesight began to fade. She and her husband, Clarence, have works on display at the Corner Gallery.

She said she’d been trying to get an art tour going for sometime, but kept running into roadblocks, so a year ago she figured she would just try to get it started herself.

"I decided a long time ago that the only way we're really going to make it is for all of the artists along the Rock River to stick together," Butcher said.

She's also working on a show to celebrate Latin American art.

"That hasn't been done in a gallery, and I think they're an important part of our community and we need to promote their art," she said. "It's beautiful."

So, if you’re looking for some local art that really rocks, check out the stops along Butcher’s tour on the following pages ... s t e r l i n g - r o c k

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veryone wants their own little corner of the world where their work will be appreciated.

Local artists have found theirs at a gallery in Sterling.

Earlier this year, The Corner Gallery headed east to a new home at 2522 E. Lincolnway, after owner Larry Gaskill sold the gallery’s previous home, which shared space with his insurance office at 202 Fourth Ave. The office/gallery is now located in the strip mall spot previously occupied

by Prescott’s TV and Satellite, where artists are the ones now hoping for a good reception.

The photographer and business owner runs Larry Gaskill Insurance and the gallery. Gaskill said he’s hoping the new higher-traffic home will bring more people to the gallery, which features works in various mediums: painting, photos, jewelry, glassware and more. Pieces range in price from under $50 to over $200.

corner gallery STERLING

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Valerie Butcher talks about the process used to create her glass art at the Corner Gallery in Sterling. Butcher spearheaded the effort to organize the first Art on the Rock art tour in the Sauk Valley. She’s excited about the art trail and hopes to be able to expand it throughout Illinois and even into Wisconsin. She’d been trying to get an art tour going for sometime, but kept running into roadblocks, so a year ago she figured she would just try to get it started herself. “The only way we’re really going to make it is for all of the artists along the Rock River to stick together,” she said.

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Resident

Approved The Corner Gallery, at 2522 E.Lincolnway in Sterling, features works from local artists in various mediums: painting, photos, jewelry, glassware and more.

Continued from page 9

MOREINFO Corner Gallery, 2522 E. Lincolnway, Suite E, Sterling Hours: 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Online: Find The Corner Gallery on Facebook

He plans to expand the gallery’s offerings through exhibits of art for sale throughout the community. Businesses that want to display works would get up to four pieces, and proceeds would go toward advancing the arts in the community.

Gallery coordinator Valerie Butcher has big plans for her small space.

The gallery also has special exhibits throughout the year of Latin American art, and works from Whiteside County 4-H Club members, and Butcher said earlier this year that she’s looking to add more artists to the roster.

“I’m very excited with what we’re going to do.” n

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ocated downtown at 112 E. Main St. in Morrison, in a renovated 1800s building, The Loft has become a hub of artistic activity for local artists since it opened in 2017.

The gallery provides a place where artists can sell their works, it hosts exhibits, and it provides a location for Woodlawn Arts Academy to offer art classes for kids as well as private voice and music lessons.

the loft

MORRISON

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Continued from page 10

It’s come a long way from its early days – becoming a thriving member of the downtown and artistic communities – but that’s no surprise when you consider the lofty goals organizers set when they opened it. They wanted to create a regional arts MOREINFO destination that would provide a venue for local artists The Loft, 112 E. Main to create, promote and sell St., Morrison original art, and to foster art 815-772-4005 education through lessons Online: loft112mor- and programs, which is just rison.org and on what they did – and their Facebook work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The Loft earned a GovHours: 10 a.m.- ernor’s Hometown Award 2 p.m. Thursday, in 2018. The award is given 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri- annually to projects sponday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. sored by local government Saturday but brought to fruition by strong volunteer support.

The gallery even set up a non-profit organization to oversee operations.

What started as an empty building with eight artists is now full of potential, where today’s artists have found a home and tomorrow’s talent can learn how to hone their creative muscles. n Continued on page 12

From wood to watercolors and more, The Loft offers art in a wide range of mediums and prices. The gallery is located at 112 E. Main Street in Morrison, in a renovated 1800s building.

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“Drip Edge,” by Craig Snyder, is one of the sculptures on display at Art in the Park in the RB&W District Park in Rock Falls.

rt is in the air in Rock Falls.

Just head downtown to the riverfront and you can breathe it all in at RB&W District Park, where you’ll see several sculptures that make up the Art in the Park self-guided tour. Stroll through the park to see the works of art on a self-guided tour aimed at promoting art and provoking thought. The first group of pieces was installed in 2018 after Chicago artist Charles Yost organized the effort to turn the park into an outdoor art studio.

The goal is to have different artists display their work on a rotating basis, with new pieces brought in for a year-long visit to the park. The first batch of art came mostly from Chicago artists, but organizers hope to feature more local artists. With each new installation, the city will hold what it describes as a “gala event of great music, fine wines, craft beers and gorgeous, thought-provoking art.”​ The next event is scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. n

art in the park

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MOREINFO Art in the Park, 301 W. Second St., Rock Falls Go to www.visitrockfalls.com/new-page-2 for more information. To submit a sculpture for consideration, email travel@visitrockfalls.com or call 815-622-1106.

Your Voice Has POWER We Believe You. We are Here to Help.

We Offer FREE and CONFIDENTIAL Services for All Genders and Ages.

• Sexual Assault Counseling • 24-Hour Crisis Intervention

• Legal Advocacy • Medical Advocacy

• Services available in Spanish ywsauk.org This project was supported by subgrant #2018-WF-AX-0045, awarded by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for the STOP Formula Grant Award. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, State of Illinois, or the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

24-Hour Hotline: 815.626.7277 & 815.288.1011 SM-ST1792503

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Clockwise, from top left, some of the sculptures on display in the RB&W District Park in Rock Falls: “Life of Whimsy,” by Stephanie Sailer; “Nemesis,”

by Gregory Mendez; “Point in Time,” by V. Skip Willits; “Reaching for the Sun,” by Jennifer Meyer. The pieces are part of the Art in the Park display, and can be seen along the Art on the Rock self-guided tour.

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The Next Picture Show art center hosts classes, exhibits, receptions, concerts – just about anything that has to do with art.

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estled among its downtown neighbors in Dixon, a gallery/studio is the Next best thing about art.

Founded in 2004 by Ralph Edgar and his wife, Jane, The Next Picture Show is all about art: displaying it, celebrating it, selling it, teaching it, appreciating it – how great their art, indeed.

The non-profit arts center hosts classes, exhibits, receptions, concerts – just about anything that has to do with art. Its goal, according to its website, is to “nurture, develop, educate, foster the arts, and galvanize artists and patrons within the community.” Its exhibits and contests attract artists and audiences from throughout the Sauk Valley and beyond.

It hosts popular events such as the annual Nuts About Art, and the Really Affordable Art Exhibition – a show that lives up to the Next Pictures Show’smission of getting art in more people’s lives, and their homes, by featuring original works for $199 or less.

The fine arts center also sealed a deal in June to give it a home it can call its own, buying the building that’s housed the gallery for 16 years from Ralph Edgar Properties for $135,000, thanks in part to money raised during its Crossroads fundraising campaign.

“We greatly appreciate the many years of support from Ralph and Jane Edgar, and we also thank all of the generous people and organizations that contributed to our Crossroads campaign and made this purchase possible,” TNPS President David Bingaman said in a news release.

the next picture show DIXON

MOREINFO The Next Picture Show – 113 W. First St., Dixon Contact: 815-285-4924 or nps@grics.net Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday, or by appointment Online: nextpictureshow. org and on Facebook

Continued on page 15

The Next Picture Show of Dixon is one of five stops on the Art on the Rock tour put together by local artist Valerie Butcher.

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rimitive Frills not only sells crafts, it teaches people how to create them.

Owner Sonia Vega Robinson opened her shop in 2016 at 10 E. Miller Road before finding a new home at 7 E. Third St. in downtown Sterling. The store specializes in items that are “handmade, homemade, upcycled and made with love,” according to its Facebook page.

Robinson has put together a team of crafters – her talented Primitive Frills family, as she calls them – whose works fill the shops’ shelves, along with decor in farmhouse, rustic, primitive and shabby chic styles, and antiques and vintage goods, too.

But there’s more than just crafts behind her the store’s doors. Primitive Frills has a workshop loft that’s a perfect spot for hosting classes.

Area artisans at several different experience levels come together for the workshops, and sessions often have specific themes; some based on specific materials or a different holidays and seasons.

Robinson has worked in the craft business for years, selling her work mainly through e-commerce channels. It was the teaching element and opportunities for more community involvement that attracted her to the idea of having her own storefront – a place where she could offer arts and crafts with all the frills. n

primitive frills STERLING

Primitive Frills owner Sonia Vega Robinson has put together a team of crafters – her talented Primitive Frills family, as she calls them – whose works fill the shops’ shelves, along with decor in farmhouse, rustic, primitive and shabby chic styles, and with antiques and vintage goods. More than just a store, Primitive Frills is also a gallery and a DIY studio.

MOREINFO Primitive Frills – 7 E. Third St., Sterling Contact: 815-716-6311 Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Closed Monday and Sunday Online: primitivefrills.com and on Facebook

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RUSTY SCHRADER/SVM ILLUSTRAT

27 at Happy Cyzyk a puppy peck on the cheek June Jesse gives Happy Tails director Donald

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Tails Humane Society in Rock Falls.

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csotover ry STORY BY ERIC INGLES | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KRABBENHOEFT FOR STERLING-ROCK FALLS LIVING

You won’t find any tails of woe at the humane society in Rock Falls – just all things cute and cuddly and warm and snuggly looking for a place to call home

appy Tails director Donald Czyzyk has overseen a lot of growth over the years.

St er lin g- Ro ck Fa For a few years, Happy Tails took lls dogs and cats in and adopted them out, just like any other shelter. But it wasn’t long before its mission expanded.

“About four years in we changed our name to Happy Tails Humane Society rather than animal shelter,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know, but an animal shelter intakes animals and adopts them out, and that’s a great thing. Like Granny Rose [in Dixon], that’s what they are: they adopt animals out and take them in.

“But a humane society does programs and community outreach and they have a vet clinic. That’s us. We have our food pantry program, our low income program for vaccines, spay and neuter. We have an amazing community service program for people that are in court services.

We have a mobile unit that acts as an adoption unit but also can convert into a natural disaster unit.”

The mobile unit can roll into an area hit by a disaster and set up pop-up cages and tents to serve as an animal control unit.

Happy Tails offers a vet clinic, which offers routine checkups, vaccines, spaying and neutering and microchipping.

It also offers offer education programs to teach people about compassionate and responsible pet ownership, hosting field trips to the shelter or paying a visit to schools.

The impact of COVID-19 hit pretty much everyone, but Happy Tails has been able to weather the viral storm, where Czyzyk stockpiled enough of everything to last 6 months, from surgical equipment to PPE. Happy Tails also operates a thrift store, taking donations of clothing, housewares, bedding, games and more and turning them into cash, with proceeds going to help Happy Tails’ spay and neuter project.

It opened in 2019 and moved to its current location at 206 Dixon Ave., Suite 3, in December.

“We really wanted a good fundraising source where every day we had a fundraiser going,” Czyzyk said. “That’s what the thrift store is; it’s a fundraiser that happens every single day.”

Photos on pages 18-20, story continued on page 21

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If you’re worried about a black cat crossing your path, don’t be. The folks at Happy Tails say you’d be lucky to have a friendly feline like Geneva (above, with Donald Czyzyk). But if you prefer a more fair-furred feline, Happy Tails has those, too, like this white kitten (left), topped off with a touch of color.

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A lot of pet projects Happy Tails Humane Society is more than just a place where animals go to be adopted. “An animal shelter intakes animals and adopts them out,” Happy Tails director Donald Czyzyk said. “... but a humane society does programs and community outreach and we have a vet clinic (including a fully equipped surgery room, at right).” Happy Tails also has a food pantry program, vaccines, spay and neuter for low-income residents and it even has a mobile unit that can be pressed into service to help pets in case of a natural disaster.

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Has produced the following KWH’s over the years: 2019- 7,121,000 2018- 8,441,000 2017-10,664,000 Average household uses 600 KWH’s/month The City of Rock Falls uses approximately 6,506,147 KWH’s/month.

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Shopping goes to the dogs, and cats Whether you’re looking for a bargain or a way to help support Happy Tails Humane Society, you’ll find them both at the Happy Tails Thrift Store. “We really wanted a good fundraising source where every day we had a fundraiser going,” Happy Tails Direct Donald Czyzyk said. The store welcomes donations of clothing, housewares, bedding, games and more.

MORE INFO 206 Dixon Ave., Suite 3, Rock Falls Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Online: Find Happy Tails Thrifty Outlet on Facebook

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Temporarily shuttered due to COVID-19, the thrift store re-opened June 6 while limiting the number of people who could be in the 6,000 square foot store at any one time under the guidelines of the Restore Illinois plan.

As much as Czyzyk has going on a Happy MORE INFO Tails, it wasn’t always that way. He had stepped away briefly – but the call of the cute little critters beckoned him back.

“I took a break for one year. I had started a business that I was really enjoying that was located in malls, but once malls started failing it didn’t do so hot,” he said. “So 1408 McNeil Road, Rock I came back to Happy Tails. NonFalls | 815-626-2994 profits are my life, my world. I was Online: happytailsborn and raised in non-profits.” animalshelter.org or find Happy Tails on Facebook In fact, his parents own Hoo Hours: 8 a.m. to noon Haven, a wildlife refuge in Durand daily. Note: As of press which they’ve owned for 35 years. time, Happy Tails Humane Hoo Haven helps injured, sick and Society is temporarily orphaned wildlife and educates closed to the public due to the pandemic. Its Adoption people about the importance of Center is open by appointconservation. ment only and the WellWhile his parents are busy caring for ness Clinic will continue owls, coyotes, pelicans and rabbits, Czyzyk operations. To arrange for is dealing with animals that most people are a pet adoption, call or text 815-626-2994. far more familiar with, but the aim is often the same.

“When it comes to saving animals’ lives and raising money to keep doing what we’re doing and implementing amazing programs, I was just born and raised into it and it’s been a big passion of mine,” Czyzyk said. n

Some of Happy Tails’ canines are cute and cuddly, some have a few more dog years on them, but they all have one thing on common: they’d like a lap to lay on and a place to call home.

Welcome to

Grace Episcopal Church

Walk through these doors, and you will find friends and a place of Grace!

While our building was closed, we continued to be the Church.

Worship schedule for July Outdoor Church in the parking lot at 9:00am Zoom Church at 10:00am

Tentative worship schedule for August In-person worship in the sanctuary at 10:00am (Social distancing, masks, and other precautions to will be necessary to ensure the safety of everyone.)

707 1st Avenue, Sterling

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815-625-0442

https://www.facebook.com/episcopalgrace/ The Rev. Peg Williams, Rector Emeritus

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www.episcopalgrace.org

gracechurchsrg.office@gmail.com

The Rev. William P. McLemore, Priest Associate

The Rev. Lori M. Lowe, Rector

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His claim to

fame Disc golf players have Terry Batten to thank for one of the best places to play in the area, and the driving force behind that course has the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame to thank for becoming a member of the Class of 2020

We invite you to stop by and enjoy a multi-level shopping experience

Lori Erbes, GRI

Designated Managing Broker/Owner

Over 30 Years Experience 815-535-6295 1922 Tower Rd. • Sublette, IL 61367

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lorierbes@gmail.com

307 First Ave., Sterling • 815-564-9376 Mon.-Fri. 9 - 5:30p.m., Sat. 9 - 5p.m., Sun. 10 - 4p.m.

T

he baskets at Sinnissippi Park in Sterling dot the landscape, nestled among the trees and pathways to mark out the disc golf course.

On a recent pleasant June afternoon, a family of three winds through the course with their discs, stopping briefly at the wooden sign that guides players along the course. Nearby, sitting at a picnic table, is a man who hasn’t thrown a disc in years. But when he was throwing them, few threw them better.

“I first found disc golf in Joliet in 1979,” Sterling native Terry Batten said. “I was going there a few times a week to play and we had a beautiful park here to put a course in, so in 1981 I went to the park district to ask them if we could put a disc golf course here.”

Back then putting in a course cost about $6,000, and the park district didn’t think it had the money to build one, so Batten offered to raise the money himself.

“A month later, I had the money,” he said. “It was just support from local businessmen and activists in the area, and we raised the money for it and in 1982 it went in the ground.”

Batten was one of the designers of the course, along with “Steady” Ed Headrick, who had been an executive at Wham-O where he invented the modern Frisbee, and later left Wham-O, formalizing the rules for disc golf in 1976 and founding the Professional Disc Golf Association.

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Terry Batten stands near a basket on the disc golf course at Sinnissippi Park in Sterling. Batten was instrumental in bringing the course to the community. He helped design it and raised the money for it – and it only took him about a month, thanks to “support from local businessmen and activists in the area,� he said.

Batten was part of the PDGA Tour for more than 20 years, winning 41 events including six Illinois state championships.

He played in 18 world championships, finishing as high as 16th in 1995 and ranking in the top 30 in the world for several years.

Between his dedication to growing the game early on and his success on the course, Batten has earned a spot in the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. “It’s nice to get the recognition, because it was a lot of hard work and dedication,� he said. “But I got so much back. I got so much back in friendships and traveling experiences and watching the disc fly. It’s like a family, the disc golf world, it really is.�

His career took him all over, to Los Angeles several times, Tulsa, Florida, even a trip to Switzerland where he took second place in a big tournament in 1989. He estimates that he made $40,000 in his career throwing the disc. That seemed like a lot then, but these days disc golf players like Paul McBeth are signing $1 million deals with Discraft.

For 20 years, Batten organized the Sinnissippi Open in Sterling, which would bring in some big talent. There often would be a couple of hundred entrants. One year there were 74 professional players, including players from Canada and Sweden and a carload of players from California. Six different world champions have played a tournament at Sinnissippi.

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“We ran big tournaments here,” he said. “We had tournaments here with purses over $5,000 three years in a row, where we gave that much away to winners, and prizes for the amateur players too, we’ve always had a good amateur turnout.”

He designed several courses, including Sinnissippi’s and the course at Kelly Park in Morrison.

His course designs always stressed scenery with a little bit of a challenge. Trees would often be a major factor to build into a design, something there is plenty of at Sinnissippi.

“There’s out of bounds, hazards all over the place, but it’s still beautiful to play,” he said.

Batten may not be playing any more, but he said it makes him feel proud to come out to Sinnissippi and still see people playing the course he raised money to build.

“You have to purchase a disc, but the rest is free, and it’s good recreation,” he said. “It’s pretty healthy for you, a lot of walking.”

He’s been retired from disc golf for about 10 years now, playing golf with a bag of clubs and a dimpled ball instead of a disc and baskets.

“It’s nice not traveling so much anymore,” he said. “I was gone 20, 25 weekends a year for 20 years.”

Batten joins Paul McCallister, Barrett White and Marshall Hopkins as the Hall’s Class of 2020. This is the second class of the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame, the first being inducted in 2019. n

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Terry Batten throws a disc at Sinnissippi Park. Batten was recently inducted into the Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame. “It’s nice to get the recognition, because it was a lot of hard work and dedication,” he said. “But I got so much back. I got so much back in friendships and traveling experiences and watching the disc fly. It’s like a family, the disc golf world, it really is.”

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which has raged he philosophical debate going still: on throughout the ages is charcoal or propane? traditional small metal Whether you opt for the black briquettes, or the sphere powered by small tank of propane, everytall grill with a five-gallon ll and tucked into a one who has fired up a gri mer evening has a side. burger or a brat on a sum the debate can gear up Grillers on either side of op in Sterling. at Jim Prescott’s BBQ Sh t just gives you a tha nk “The charcoal, I thi ich I’m a fan of,” Deanwhole different flavor, wh gas grill has its place. na Prescott said. “But, the it up and move on with Some people want to fire tion might be. I prefer whatever their time restric a lot of people do. I the charcoal, and I think s young and we cooked think back to when I wa the lighter fluid.” on charcoal and used all

T

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Prescott’s BBQ sales rep Deanna Prescott talks about the features of the Traeger Pellet burner at the Sterling store.

The pellet burners offer the ease of gas with the flavor of traditional wood.

Continued from page 27

The charcoal briquette is actually not much older than gas.

While Chicago Combustion Corporation started selling gas grills for home use in the 1950s, based on an earlier design used for restaurants, the charcoal briquette dates back only to the 1920s, when Henry Ford, his cousin Edward Kingsford, and Thomas Edison worked together to turn scrap wood leftover from making the wood trim of a Model T into charcoal at a plant in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Even for adherents to charcoal grilling, there is the new pure lump charcoal, carbonized wood which, when used with a starter brick, can eliminate the need for dousing the coals with a charcoal lighter fluid.

“There are better ways to get that charcoal lit without using any of those chemicals,” Prescott said. “With the Green Egg, we use pure lump charcoal. That does not take any lighter fluid. It burns clean. That’s actually my favorite charcoal cooking is on the Big Green Egg.

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One of the newer options is a pellet grill, using wood pellets loaded into a hopper which can then be dropped into the fire pit underneath whatever you are cooking. The newer models have digital electronic controls that automatically gauge how many wood pellets to drop in, and fans to stoke the fire and create convection heat to evenly cook your food.

“A lot of people like the fact that they don’t have to babysit the grill all the time,” Prescott said.

“They heat up fairly quickly, so busy families, they want to come home and cook something and it pretty much does the work for you.”

For backyard gourmets who want to go low and slow, there are smokers, offering up a chance at a brisket that melts in your mouth or some ribs that fall off the bone in your own backyard.

It may take a big longer than a burger or a chicken breast over the coals, but for some, it is well worth the wait.

“Weber makes one that’s actually a charcoal version,” Prescott said. “The pellet grill, you can smoke with that since it uses wood pellets. We also have a couple different types of cabinet smokers. They’re also pellet-fueled. They’re true smokers, they only get to 350 [degrees]. Smoking is meant for lower temperatures.”

Picking out what type of wood pellets can come down to individual taste, since different pellets create different flavor. Apple might give your food some smoky and sweet flavor, mesquite is more tangy and spicy, while hickory can result in a rich taste that hints at bacon.

But of course, when it comes to flavor, a lot comes down to picking the right seasoning.

“Some people like to have something that’s kind of bold that really can stand up to the meat, other people like seasoning that really lets the meat shine through but gives it a little extra,” Prescott said.

Potential backyard grill-masters can also load up with grill accessories to complete the grilling experience.

“We just always make sure they have some good grilling tools; a good pair of tongs, a good spatula, that kind of thing,” Prescott said.

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Which came first: The chicken or the Big Green Egg? Who cares when you can have them both.

Whether you’re barbecuing chicken or searing a steak, the kamado-style grill does the trick. (And if you’re still wondering which came first, it was the chicken; the Egg’s only been around since the 1970s, but it’s built up quite a following since then).

And make sure you know when the meat is done. The Partnership for Food Safety Education’s fightbac.org suggests cooking roasts and steals to a minimum internal temperature of 145F, poultry to 165F, ground meat to 160F, and fish to 145F. A high enough internal temperature gets rid of harmful bacteria that can cause food-borne illness.

“An instant-read [thermometer] is a necessity for any kind of cooking,” Prescott said. “You’re always wondering if that chicken’s done, and that’s a necessity. We also carry the stick-and-stay, so if you wanted to monitor, maybe you’re doing a longer cook, you want to monitor the progress of it, you put the probe in and they all have displays so you can see how the temperature is growing and just keep an eye on it that way.”

Another key ingredient for a backyard grill is a way to clean it.

The National Fire Protection Association says that removing the grease and fat built up in the trays below the grill can go a long way in preventing disaster.

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“We sell different brands, and they usually have their own cleaner as far as cleaning your grates,” Prescott said. “Some have an exterior cleaner, a scrub brush. That’s typically what they put in there, maybe some type of polish to keep it looking nice on the outside.”

Between 2014 and 2018, the NFPA says that there were around 10,600 home MORE INFO fires sparked by grills, hibachis or barbeJim Prescott’s Barbecue Shop cues, leading to 1910 E. Fourth St., 10 deaths, 160 Sterling injuries and $149 Contact: 815-625-7778 or jpsbbcue@gmail.com million in propHours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. erty damage.

Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.“It’s important to make sure your grill is in 3 p.m. Saturday; Closed Sunday good working order and can be used safely, no Online: https://jimmatter what type of grill you use,” said Lorraine prescottsbbqshop.

Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy com/ and on Facebook for the NFPA. “For households that don’t grill in the winter months, now is the time to conduct a pregrilling inspection and ensure that the grill is clean and functioning properly.”

The NFPA also advises grillers to check for leaks or breaks on gas grills, and open the lid before lighting a gas grill. The group also wants people to keep their grills away from their house or deck railings and out from under branches and gutters, and to keep kids and pets away from the grill. n

Jim Prescott’s BBQ Shop in Sterling offers a wide selection of sauces, spices, rubs and brines.

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