SVM_Sterling Rock Falls Living_Summer 2022 by Shaw Media

Performing Harts: A Rocket took off and landed on TV

When volunteers clean up, they turn into real Rock stars

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inside Peforming Harts

A Rocket fueled by a passion for acting took off and flew all the way to Broadway and beyond, and into a hometown hall of fame.

Rock stars

A group of volunteers are bringing their RRDA-game to the table to keep local waterways healthy.

Photo opportunity The owner of a Quad City business is expanding his footprint into Sterling after stepping in and stepping up to keep a longtime local photo studio from closing its doors; now, Persona Studio is in new hands — and the Persona family is still in the picture, too.

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Something new at the Table

While strolling through a park one day, did you ever wonder how it got its name? Find out in part 2 of our series on Twin City parks.

Sophie’s family is growing. The Sterling storefront cafe has welcomed a big sister in Rock Falls.

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Frank Harts | PHOTO: FRANK HARTS FACEBOOK PAGE

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hen a Rocket fueled by a passion for acting took off, he flew all the way to Broadway and beyond, landing roles on stage, screen and TV — and as the first member of a hometown hall of fame By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media t didn’t take long for people to see that Frank Harts had something special. More than 25 years ago, the humble kid from a small town stepped into the spotlight and began to shine, and he found that the theater was a place that could make dreams come true and where happy endings weren’t just for the stories that played out on stage. If that sounds like a scene straight out of Hollywood, it is — and it all began in Rock Falls. But it didn’t end there. After Harts first began to tread the boards on the Rock Falls High School stage, he would go on to answer the casting call at the prestigious Julliard School, honing his acting chops at the performing arts conservatory that boasts an impressive group of alumni, including Robin Williams, Viola Davis, Christopher Reeve, Christine Baranski, Val Kilmer, Adam Driver and many others. From there, it was on to a career that would put his face in front of millions, on stage, TV and film.

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“Judy Thome was the greatest drama teacher and coach to ever come out of here,” Harts said. “She’s the one who really gave me a shot as a freshman. I was just a new guy, but she thought I had the talent.” Thome, who spent four decades as the school’s drama teacher, is shown here with Harts in a Rock Falls High School yearbook photo.

HARTS cont’d from page 5 But before all that, there was Tabor Gymnasium stage at Rock Falls High School, where people would fill the bleachers and folding chairs to see their sons and daughters and friends and family live and in person — and some of whom probably saw Harts doing his parts and thought: “This kid is going to go somewhere one day.” The 1998 RFHS graduate did go somewhere, but he never forgot where it all started, and he recently returned to Rock Falls where he was at the top of the bill, as the first member of the school’s Performing Arts Hall of Fame. “I come from humble beginnings, like a lot of us, and when I first entered the halls of Rock Falls High School I had no idea that this was going to be the journey, that I would end up as the first artist to be inducted into a hall of fame,” Harts, 42, said. “I thought that maybe I was going to end up in some sort of trouble, but luckily I had a great support system of family and teachers who really helped me.” Harts began performing in plays at Rock Falls Middle School under adviser Peg Hoffmiller, but he didn’t really become serious about acting until high school. It was there that Judy Thome, Rock Falls High School’s longtime drama teacher, saw Harts’ potential after only a few performances. She wasn’t the only one. Kelly Schaefer, who assisted Thome on several of the plays Harts starred in, saw something special in Harts, too.

HARTS cont’d to page 7

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HARTS cont’d from page 6 The two teachers kept in touch with Harts long after high school. In fact, Harts’ detective character on the Fox-TV drama, “Prodigal Son,” JT Tarmel, is named in honor of Thome, who died in 2020. “Judy Thome was the greatest drama teacher and coach to ever come out of here,” Harts said. “She’s the one who really gave me a shot as a freshman. I was just a new guy, but she thought I had the talent. So to receive this honor after our journey together for four years is really something.” During one of Harts’ plays in his junior year, “One Dead Dolly,” Schaefer stepped into the director’s chair. More than 25 years later, she continues to direct plays at the school and is the Thespian Troupe adviser, a role she’s played for the last 23 years, having taken over for Thome after she retired. “I don’t know if he’s really changed that much,” Schaefer said. “He’s really that confident. As a high school student, he really was. It doesn’t surprise me to know where he’s at. When I talk to him, it’s the same personality, it really is. He’s just older.” “I remember her being a bright spirit, dedicated to the craft,” Harts said of Schaefer. “She’s a fan of the arts, which to me, meant something.” Among Harts’ other high school performances were “Aladdin,” “Talk about Entertainment,” “Dirty Dealings in Dixie,” “That’s Entertainment,” “The Cave Cat,” “Stefanie Hero,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Rip’s Historical Review,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “I’m Not Rappaport.” He would also put his

acting skills to the test against his fellow thespians. In individual event short performance competitions, Harts performed in dramatic duet acting and oratorical declamation speaking, and advanced to the state finals his junior year. By his senior year, Harts was already studying for auditions at Julliard, and earning some yearbook-worthy praise, as “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Most Likely to be on a Talk Show.” The stage wasn’t the only extra-curricular activity Harts found time for. He also was a junior director of the school’s Key Club, a student council member, was involved with the American Legion’s Boys State program, and spent time on the fields and on the mat, in baseball, football and wrestling. Harts will be the first to admit he wasn’t very good at sports, but as any actor will tell you, the more you experience in life, the better you’ll be at your craft. For Harts, any time spent learning about life was time well spent; each step along his journey helped him grow as a person: being curious, being involved, and building a support system. Harts said his “head was always spinning in the spring” trying to do as much as he could. “The way I grew as a performer was with the way I grew as a person: I was involved in every sport that I could be involved in,” Harts said. “How I grew was by just seeking out, being curious, and trying to find my way to the next step, as opposed to saying, ‘This is it, this is all there is.’ That’s fine if that’s what you’re into, but I wanted more. I went out and kept looking for more, and I grew along the way.”

HARTS cont’d to pages 8 & 9

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Aclaimhometown to fame PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@ SAUKVALLEY.COM

From roaming the halls to the Hall of Fame ... Frank Harts returned to his alma matter May 5 for a ceremony to celebrate being the first person named to Rock Falls High School’s Performing Arts Hall of Fame. “I’m happy to see that the arts are being recognized,” Harts said. “We all love sports, we all love athletes, but it’s good to recognize the contribution of the artists as well, and I’m glad to kick that off for the Hall of Fame.”

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ABOVE: Harts shares a hug with Kelly Schaefer, RFHS Thespian Troupe 3439 adviser, during an awards ceremony May 5. BELOW: Harts is presented with his Hall of Fame frame during a presentation at Tabor Gym.

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HARTS cont’d from page 7 Even when school was out, Harts wouldn’t take a summer break from theater. In between school years, he often went to Timber Lake Playhouse in Mount Carroll, where he started out running the spotlights as an underclassman before appearing on stage for plays during his junior and senior years. At Timber Lake, Harts met Chicago-based director and casting agent Jane Brody, who would have a tremendous impact on the next act in Harts’ role as an actor. She helped him discover Julliard. “She’d tell me: ‘Make sure you read the New York Times every day, look at the arts section and look at a place called Julliard. Research it.’ I found out about it. I didn’t know a thing about Julliard. I researched it, fell in love with it, and said, ‘I got to get there” — and she gave him something else that helped him get there. “She said, ‘I believe in you,’” Harts said. After graduating from high school, Harts spent the next four years at Julliard in New York City studying under national and world performance professionals before graduating in 2002. It didn’t take Harts long to land his first big acting role: Just a year out of high school, Harts was cast as a young teenager for a bit part in the CBS comedydrama “Early Edition,” where the first line that a national audience got to hear him speak was, “So what’cha gonna do about it?” With that first bit of national exposure on his resumé, Harts took his talents further; two years later he played in the key role of George Murchison in the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of “A Raisin In The Sun,” opposite rapper Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs and Phylicia Rashad of “The Cosby Show” fame. Since then, he’s had recurring roles in “Leftovers,” “Billions” and “The Path,” and landed a main character role of Detective JT Tarmel on Fox’s “Prodigal Son” from 2019-21. He also has appeared on shows such as “Law and Order,” “The Blacklist,” “Bull,” “Blue Bloods,” and “Wiggles,” to name just a few; as well as a few movies and independent films, and numerous Broadway and off-Broadway shows. Harts currently is working on the Netflix drama “Rustin,” based on the life of civil rights and gay rights advocate Baynard Rustin. He plays civil rights leader James Farmer. In 1947, Rustin led the Journey of Reconciliation, an effort to challenge segregation on interstate buses in the southern United States. That effort helped inspire the first Freedom Ride in 1961, led by Farmer. “Rustin” is produced by former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground Productions, and also stars Chris Rock and Coleman Domingo. Despite being a long way from home, Harts never forgot where he came from, and his alma mater didn’t forget either. When Harts learned about being inducted into the Performing Arts Hall of Fame, he found time to come back home and receive the honor in person. He typically comes back to town to visit family once or twice a year. The ceremony took place May 5 during the school’s annual year-end awards ceremony. Schaefer introduced Harts toward the event’s conclusion to a roaring ovation. Even though Harts hadn’t been a student for 24 years, he felt right at home in the same place where he first fell in love with acting. During his speech he told students that nothing is impossible if they remain curious enough to explore the educational opportunities that the school provides. HARTS cont’d to pages 10 & 12

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All those

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Harts, left, played Aladdin during a fall play his junior year.

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ABOVE: Harts (top row, second from left) is shown here during an awards ceremony his sophomore year. RIGHT: Harts, as a sophomore, played Leland T. Bosco in "Stefanie Hero," about a young princess who cares for her siblings while dealing with Bosco’s evil distractions. LEFT: Harts’ senior yearbook photo.

RIGHT: In the senior yearbook, Harts was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Most Likely to be on a Talk Show.”

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HARTS cont’d from page 10 The Thespian Troupe presented Harts with framed photos from his high school days, and he posed with several students, teachers and local dignitaries for photos of their own. Some students asked him for advice on how to succeed at their own performances in high school theater. Schaefer was the driving force behind the Hall of Fame. While sports has earned the gold and glory in its own hall of fame, she wanted to see the performing arts share the spotlight, too. With the help of a couple of thespian alumni, she started the Performing Arts Hall of Fame for those who excelled in theater, band, choir and other performing arts activities. “They said, ‘How come we don’t have anything hanging up for people who have succeeded in the arts? Why don’t we have a hall of fame for that?” Schaefer said. “We were talking about it one day at a thespian meeting that we have, and this one guy who plays professional baseball [2011 graduate Jake Junis of the San Francisco Giants], but what about Frank? He’s doing all kinds of professional stuff for the arts.” “I’m happy to see that the arts are being recognized,” Harts said. “We all love sports, we all love athletes, but it’s good to recognize the contribution of the artists as well, and I’m glad to kick that off for the hall of fame.” Thespian Troupes are school-based honor society chapters sponsored by the International Thespian Society. Rock Falls’ troupe, No. 3439, began in 1982 and has seen alumni go on to perform and direct in regional theater, local theater and behind TV cameras. Several others have become high school drama teachers. Not all theatrical students are thespians automatically; each school society inducts new members based on a points system of practice and performance, as well as other requirements, which includes more than 100 hours of quality work in theater arts and related disciplines, according to its website.

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Harts likes to take time to visit with young thespians whenever he gets a chance, to help them along on the same journey he took as a young actor. During his visit home for the Hall of Fame ceremony, Harts (rear) joined Kelly Schaefer (second row) and the RFHS Thespian Troupe for dinner in Sterling.

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HARTS cont’d from page 12 Rock Falls High School is one of the few schools in northwest Illinois to have a chapter; they’re more common in larger metropolitan areas such as Chicago. Schaefer has taken students all over the Midwest and as far as New York City and even London to see professional shows and have her students learn about the arts first-hand. Harts lives in New York City with his wife, Shelley Thomas-Harts, a stage actress and longtime background singer for Vanessa Williams, and he also plays the role of Dad to his sons Hendrix and Brixton. He’s even been in shows in New York City that the school’s thespians have seen over the years, and makes it a point to visit with them when they are there. When he’s not performing, Harts also does some performance coaching on his own, teaching a new generation of aspiring performers the art of acting. “I always tell my drama students that you have to remember that there really is nothing new under the sun except you,” Harts said. “You need to find your signature, special code, whatever it is that makes you, you. Latch onto it, something you’re passionate about — you have to be passionate about it — and hold onto it and ride it until the wheels fall off. Don’t let go. Don’t let anyone take you off of it. You have to be passionate about it, you have to love what you’re doing, and the only way to find the passion is to explore when you’re young. Once you explore, land on something and go for it, don’t just stay up in the clouds floating.” When Harts told students that same thing during the awards presentation, Schaefer flashed back to the budding young talent she saw in Harts all those years ago. “What he said to the kids about grabbing onto something and not letting go, that’s what he did,” Schaefer said. “He just put himself out there. He put his all into everything.” All that work landed him an impressive resumé of roles, but perhaps even more special is the hometown high school honor. For now, Harts is the most famous face to grace that hall of fame, but if tomorrow’s troupe follows his advice, he won’t be the last. n

More info Online: Go to frankharts.net or follow him on Twitter (@ FrankHartsTruly) and Instagram (@FrankHartsTruly) to learn more about Harts Harts’ first role in a TV series was a bit part on “Early Edition” on CBS. Go toyoutube.com/ watch?v=SbRRvLwn_W0 to watch the episode “A Minor Miracle.” Want to learn more about Frank Harts and his journey into entertainment history? Watch episode 4 of Fox Entertainment’s “Making History in Hollywood” on YouTube, part of Fox’s celebration of Black History Month.

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BYCODYCUTTERSAUK | VALLEYMEDIA

ames Marks and Kyle Sommers love being out on the water. They love it even more when there’s no litter messing up the view. But when they do see something, they don’t sit around and just talk trash — they do something about it. Marks and Sommers are part of the Rock River Development Authority, an organization that brings together volunteers to conduct cleanups along both the local portions of the Rock River and Hennepin Canal, which are part of the Hennepin Canal State Trail Park.

RRDA cont’d to page 16

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PHOTO, PREVIOUS PAGES: The Hennepin Canal took 15 years to build, from 1892 to 1907, and between its main canal and feeder canal, stretches just under 105 miles. According to the DNR’s website: The canal “played an important role in our nation’s history” and today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The canal was the first American canal built of concrete without stone cut facings. Although the Hennepin enjoyed limited success as a commercial and industrial waterway, its construction involved a number of engineering innovations, and its waterway, locks, aqueducts and adjoining towpath continue to provide a beautiful recreational resource” — and the RRDA is helping keep it that way through its local cleanup efforts.

RRDA cont’d from page 15 Their work not only helps keep the waterways cleaner for the people who use them and the creatures that call them home, it keeps boaters safer and it supports the work of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “Everything that we do as an organization, we’re doing it as a supporting role with IDNR,” Marks said. “We work well with them. Sometimes it can be push-and-pull, and we just remind them that we are up here to help them, because they are a long ways from us down in Sheffield (where the Hennepin Canal Visitor Center is located).” Marks and Sommers are lifelong Rock Falls residents who’ve spent a lot of time cruising the canal and relishing the river, and they’re committed to helping maintain them. When Sommers, 37, bought a house a few years ago south of town near the canal he would ride his bicycle along the canal path to work at the Rock Falls Fire Department. Those rides gave him time to immerse himself in the scenery of a waterway that was born from a marriage of man and nature. He would later hear stories about how his great-grandfather, Gerald “Bud” Steagall, who shared a similar appreciation for the canal that was built during the late 1800s and early 1900s, would help maintain its as a member of the RRDA.

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Steagall was a well-known environmentalist and outdoorsman who wrote a popular column in the Daily Gazette for many decades, with some articles published by larger media outlets such as Field and Stream magazine. Sommers thought that following in his great-grandfather’s footsteps would be a fitting away to pay tribute to him, as well as others in his family who loved the outdoors. “We have a lot of outdoorsmen in our family,” Sommers said. “I got to experience quite a bit of that when I was a kid. That love for the outdoors has stayed with me, and I like to help out in the community, and so it kind of works perfect.” Marks, 49, also has roots in the river and canal. His mother’s father, Virgil Beckley, was the master of the canal’s first series of locks by the Second Street crossing during the 1950s and 1960s, and Marks grew up living along the Rock River. He has fond memories of the fun he had along the river, and he eventually came to know the people who had put in countless hours of their own time to help maintain the Mississippi River’s offspring that the Indians called Sinnissippi (“rocky waters”). “It was just a neighborhood thing for me, growing up along the river and having neighbors that were in the RRDA,” Marks said. “They would have RRDA meetings at their homes, and I’ve known about it since I was a kid. Our treasurer at the time talked to me about it, and I became the young guy in it.”

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PHOTO AT LEFT: RRDA volunteers also lend a hand to the Rock River, a local stretch of which is shown here. According the Illinois DNR, the river begins just to the west of the village of Brandon, Wisc., and flows southward to the Illinois border, ending 325 miles later at the Mississippi River at the Quad Cities in Illinois and Iowa. The river drains 10,280 square miles, with about half of this area in Illinois. ... [It] winds 155 miles through northwestern Illinois and is one of the main tributaries to the Mississippi River, providing a diverse fishery. PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/ SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

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RRDA cont’d from page 17 Marks got to know Steagall early on in his involvement with RRDA. “Being in the group as long as I’ve been, I remember him being active by the time I came on board,” Marks said. “I remember talking on the phone with him on multiple occasions. He was real positive and was always telling us that we were doing good and to keep up the good work.”

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Though Kyle Sommers (right), recently stepped into a role that James Marks (left) had held for the past two decades, as president of the RRDA, the two are still a team. “James has been very good to work with and has been very helpful ...” Sommers said. “Him being right there to help me along ... If I ever have a question on why something’s done a certain way, I know that I can go right to James.” The two are seen here during the Hennepin Canal cleanup April 23.

The RRDA was established in September 1984 by a group of local volunteers under the sponsorship of the Blackhawk Hills Regional Council. It began as one of several RRDA chapters along the Rock River around that time, but today the one based in Rock Falls is the last one in existence, and thus is widely known as the RRDA acronym, as opposed to being a separate chapter. The organization’s mission is to enhance and preserve the recreational areas in and around the Rock River and Hennepin Canal’s feeder line, which runs from Rock Falls to its junction with the main canal line near Sheffield. The RRDA projects that many locals are most familiar with are the annual cleanup events along the river and canal.

RRDA cont’d to page 19

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RRDA cont’d from page 18 Volunteers’ efforts have received numerous accolades from state environmental groups, as well as the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce, which has awarded them with their “Shoulder to the Wheel” volunteer award on three occasions. The group’s first river cleanup took place in 1985, and they added the canal cleanup in 1990. As many of RRDA’s founders began to age by the turn of the 20th century, Marks — who was in his 20s by then — stepped up to become its president, bringing with him a young perspective and new ideas for cleanups and other projects. Cleanup efforts expanded under his leadership, and as IDNR funding for parks and natural areas began to dry up, the RRDA became more visible in helping keep nature in order. Marks, who runs an information technology company, and Sommers are members of a five-person volunteers board who oversee the organization, with about 10 to 12 other active members, and several more who chip in semi-regularly. “We do some of the same work as IDNR, but we advocate more for the people here,” Sommers said. “If we find a problem, and we can’t take care of it, we can work with them and pass that information along. Likewise, they can do that with us as well and give us some resources that we can use for our projects.” This year’s cleanups saw a new man in charge. On Jan. 1, Sommers took over as president from Marks, who became secretary. After two decades in charge, Marks saw in Sommers the same kind of drive he had, and decided that the time was right

for a change. “He’s got fresh ideas for improvements and on how to keep our momentum going,” Marks said. “I expanded and changed a few things when I took over, and I see Kyle doing the same thing. We need to keep it growing and keep it fresh.” Sommers has been with RRDA for 3 years, and welcomes the latest opportunity to make a difference. And as for the challenges of being in charge, Marks is still there to help with the transition. “James has been very good to work with and has been very helpful with 20 years of knowledge,” Sommers said. “Him being right there to help me along, I think you can still call him a co-president. Just hearing him describe a lot of things along the canal, if I ever have a question on why something’s done a certain way, I know that I can go right to James and he can explain it.”

1,360 pounds of trash

This year’s canal cleanup was April 23 and more than 50 volunteers collected 1,360 pounds of garbage along the first couple of miles of the canal from its mouth at the Rock River going south. The event also attracted other local volunteers, including Boy Scout Troops 72 and 337, who helped out as part of their Earth Day efforts. Most canal cleanups wind up being near Earth Day and this year was no different, with the cleanup coming the day after. Having the two event close together helps attract local businesses and organizations to volunteer teams of employees to lend a hand.

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Former RRDA President James Marks looks forward to seeing his successor, Kyle Sommers, put his own stamp on his new role. “He’s got fresh ideas for improvements and on how to keep our momentum going,” Marks said. Among recent changes, the RRDA started a Lifetime Achievement Award this year, the first of which Sommers (left) presented to Tim Keller, one of the RRDA’s founders and preserver of several prairies around the Sauk Valley, including a patch of prairie he helped maintain that’s now the RRDA Natural Area.

“It’s a walk in the park, and people of any age can come to them,” Marks said. “We try to focus them around youth and families, and try to pass on some of this knowledge that we’ve learned over the years.” The river cleanups involve a little more effort and energy, with people on hand who have the know-how to navigate the river. This year’s river cleanup was June 4, and volunteers collected enough trash and debris to fill two dump trucks after only four hours out on the water. Their hard work was rewarded with a lunch donated by Moonlight Bay in Sterling later that day. River cleanups are generally done from the Upper Dam to around the area by Sauk Valley Community College, owing to the challenges presented by trying to host them elsewhere. The area between the upper and lower dams, and west of the lower dam, can be a little trickier to navigate and accommodate the trash pickups.

More than just cleanups

While the cleanups are the group’s most high profile events, nature’s beauty isn’t its only duty.

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buoys in a way where it’s going to help people avoid those obstacles and stuff like that. We’re thinking ahead to help prevent “Sure, we pick up some trash, but it’s really more than just an accident or an incident.” that,” Marks said. “The cleanups are our public facing stuff, and The RRDA also started a Lifetime Achievement Award this we like to get people out and get people familiar with our natural year to honor past members who have dedicated years to imresources that we have here.” proving the environment and ecosystem of the local prairies and Boaters have the RRDA to thank for safely being able to naviwaterways. Tim Keller, one of the RRDA’s founders and preserver gate the river, where the RRDA’s work can be seen in the channel of several prairies around the Sauk Valley for six decades, markers just before the Rock flows over the Upper Dam. The was its first recipient. He was presented with the dam was built in 1901 and created the small lake-like award April 11 during a ceremony near the Upper area known as Lake Sinnissippi, between Sinnissippi Dam, where a patch of prairie he helped mainPark, Oppold Marina, and the shores of subdivitain now is the RRDA Natural Area. sions along Dixon Avenue east of Rock Falls. Find the Rock River Develop“By sharing his vast knowledge of natural Before the dam was constructed, Lake Sinment Authority on Facebook or resources and wildlife with the next gennissippi consisted of the main river channel email rockriverda@outlook.com for eration, he has ensured that his efforts will and a smaller one nearby — somewhat simimore information about the orgacontinue to bear fruit into the future,” Marks lar to what people now see around Lawrence nization and its annual clean-up said at the time. Park, but on a larger scale and with several events of the Hennepin Feeder Both Marks and Sommers see themselves small islands. The dam’s construction put Canal and Rock River. continuing to help make their corner of the many of those small islands under water, and world a better place for years to come, and they created shallow areas near larger ones. The chanwelcome fresh faces and new ideas to help continue nel markers indicate the sides of a navigable channel RRDA’s mission. and help boaters avoid sand bars and other hazards. They “It helps you feel like you’ve done something for the environalso show where junctions with other channels occur, as well as ment, which has done something for me,” Sommers said. “The forks or splits in a channel. “If you’re on a boat, where would it benefit you to see a buoy?” environment is an important part of my life, nature’s an imporSommers said. “There are a lot of obstructions in the river now, tant part of my life, so I feel like if I’m gaining a lot from nature I and trees that float down, so we kind of try to position those can give something back as well.” n

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First Avenue A familiar site on the corner of -wrapped New and East Sixth Street, the vine serving the Persona Studio will still be pre present for future generations.

t’s not every business that opens its doors just so it can see what develops. But that’s exactly what a Sterling business did nearly a hundred years ago, and it’s been part of the local business picture ever since, developing into a photo studio that’s captured more milestones and memories than a person could count. Father and son, father and daughters, sister and sister … Persona Studio — and later, The New Persona Studio — has been putting the “family” in “family photos” for generations. They’ve clicked countless class photos, coaxed smiles from kids’ faces, kept their eyes on the prized moments in people’s lives, and helped tell the story of their community by chronicling local events. Chances are, if you’ve got a scrapbook, yearbook or family photo album lying around, a Persona’s work is in it. Now, it’s time for a new chapter in their own family’s story. Kathy Henson has been one of the Personas to carry on the family business, being part of the photo studio for almost 50 years and running it since 1989, supervising a staff that also includes her husband, Ron, and sister, Kris Austin. But on Aug. 1, the focus will be on someone else.

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After decades overseeing the family business, Kathy Henson is ready to focus more on family and less on running a business. She’s selling The New Persona Studio to Photographic Arts in Moline. She’ll still be keeping on eye on people, but it’ll be as a photographer and not as owner. “I’m not going to totally disappear,” she said, but “it’s been 47 years, and I’m just ready to have a little time to myself and AP my husband.” L/ AS

CH AL @S HAW MEDIA .COM

PERSONA cont’d from page 23 Ed Geskus, owner of Photographic Arts in Moline, will be taking over The New Persona Studio — but just because Henson is stepping back doesn’t mean she’s stepping away. She plans to stay on staff after the sale, along with the rest of the seven-member team. The Persona name isn’t going anywhere either, and neither will the picturesque flora surrounding the studio. “It’s been 47 years, and I’m just ready to have a little time to myself and my husband,” Kathy said, “but I’m not going to totally disappear.” PERSONA cont’d to page 26

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O M

As long as Kathy is willing to stick around with the new owner, there’ll be a Persona behind the camera, as there has been for as long as most locals can remember, but she’ll be the last, as the couple doesn’t have any Personas-in-waiting to take over the way she did when she followed in Henher father’s footsteps 33 years ago. son’s grandHenson’s grandfather and father, John Persona Sr. father, both named John Persona, (above), opened Persona Studio documented previous generations in downtown Sterling in 1934. “He of Twin City locals and happenwas super cool,” Kathy said. “He would ings for decades before Henson invent stuff, but they never went over clicked her first camera. John at the time. He used to make the heads Sr. was an immigrant from stick out in 3D and stuff, but back then Czechoslovakia who “came with people thought it was weird. He was nothing,” Kathy said, and began takvery, very talented. He was a masing pictures for a studio in Dubuque, ter of photography. He was an Iowa, before coming to Sterling in 1934 to be closer to his wife, Isabelle’s, family. awesome person and LE C . Like Kathy and Ron, John Sr. and Isabelle worked together in the business: He was X A very creative.” T. DI PA E behind the camera and she created light-tone color oil paintings out of browntone imM SC HAL AW /APASCHAL@SH ages, the closest method to color stock images before World War II. Kathy said her grandpa won several state and national awards in photo competitions while in business, and wasn’t afraid to tap into his creative side.

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“He was super cool,” Kathy said. “He would invent stuff, but they never went over at the time. He used to make the heads stick out in 3D and stuff, but back then people thought it was weird. He was very, very talented. He was a master of photography. He was AS CH an awesome person and AL @S very creative.” HAW MEDIA .COM The first studio was downtown, next to the former Randolph Hotel (razed in 1984) near West Third Street and Avenue A. By the time Kathy was in grade school, her father, John Jr. took over the business, and moved it across West Third Street, where its neighbors included Emil’s Toy Store and Eberley’s Drug Store. He would eventually sell the business to Kathy, and she moved it to its present location at 602 First Ave. 3 years later, adding “The New” to the business name. “Dad stepped in the business because Grandpa and Grandma wanted him to,” Kathy said. “Dad / AL CH PAS

had other plans, but I enjoyed it. I started working for him when I was 16, and I enjoy taking pictures and meeting people.” The full-service studio offers a full line of photo work. Its staff, many of whom have worked for Kathy for more than 20 years, share ideas with clients during consultations, and discuss location, poses, props and the variety of printing options available. Once a plan is set in motion, they work with their clients to help make sure each detail is taken care of.

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things haven’t changed, though, like making sure that every customer’s order is picture-perfect, something made easier by The team is heavily involved with shooting school photos having an experienced staff like the one at Persona. — portraits, proms, homecoming and other events. They’ve The business, though, almost went the way of the darkcovered about 15 schools per year recently, including as far room, when Kathy decided it was time to step away as Dakota, 10 miles northeast of Freeport. back. She considered closing it, but then Geskus They’ve shot sporting events for yearbooks at no came along. charge to the schools. Weddings were once part of Geskus is a second-generation photographer Persona’s offerings, but they no longer shoot them who ran a family photography business for nearly due to increased commitments in other areas. 50 years before selling it. Today, he owns PhoPosing for a portrait can be a daunting experitographic Arts in Moline and lives in Michigan. ence for a child — sitting still, being quite, smiling His current business, a much larger company, on command — and quelling those fears is anothwas looking for photographers, and since Perer skill photographers learn with experience, and sona’s unofficial territory of schools is next to his, Kathy’s had her fair share of that: “We just talk to Geskus believed having a committed group of them like they’re a human being,” she said. Ed Geskus photographers at Persona could also help out with One time, not too long ago, Kathy shot a dance New Persona Studio’s recital and one student just couldn’t stand to have new owner looks forward whatever Photographic Arts needed in or around to continuing the longtime Whiteside County. a picture taken. She then found out the child’s local business’ legacy Although the two companies are separate, havmother also had her picture taken by Kathy years ing them under one owner will help them tap into ago. each other’s resources. “She was like, ‘Now you know how I felt,’” Kathy said. “It’s too bad that there’s no heir to continue the company,” “We’ve watched a lot of people grow up. It’s nice to know that Geskus said. “That’s sad because it’s been around for almost people appreciate you. It’s a very rewarding job.” Keeping up with the times and technology has been an excit- 90 years and you’d like to see them hit 100, but at least someone else can get them there. We want to keep the name going ing challenge for Kathy and her staff over the years, especially the conversion from film to digital, relegating the days spent in and keep the studio operation going.” a darkroom to little more than a photographic memory. Some PERSONA cont’d to page 30

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together, and sometimes we fight and bicker, but she’s my boss. We get to do a lot of things, get to go to a lot of places and get to Geskus has served on national photography boards and see a lot of people. It’s been awesome. It’ll be hard for her not to enjoys being a hands-on owner behind a camera. His plans for be here all of the time because we’ve done a lot of weddings and Persona will bring together the business’ longtime legacy with a lot of families, and a lot of everything.” new ways of doing things — creating efficiencies while creatAnother thrill for Austin is seeing what some younger clients ing memories. Embracing technology and establishing a more have been up to since roaming the halls of high school. robust internet presence are part of his plans. On some occasions, when they think they’ve taken “We have a program that we’ve been doing for a picture of a future star, she and Kathy have more than 10 years where we just come to the set aside a couple of wallet photos and asked schools, take the kids’ pictures, give the kids for autographs, like they did with actor and a card that gives them a website where The New Persona Studio, 602 Rock Falls High School graduate, Frank they put in these two codes and they can First Ave. in Sterling, is open from 9 Harts (a story on him begins on page 4 of see their pictures,” Geskus said. “We then a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursthis magazine). just mail them home. That’s better than day and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “It’s fun to watch people grow up taking the pictures, bringing them back Saturday. Go to thenewpersonastudio. and see all of the different families that to the school, the secretary has to hand com or call 815-625-0801 for more stay around here,” Austin said. “It’s also them out to the teachers and the teachinformation. Go to pa-gpi.com or nice to hear when the kids go away and ers have to hand them out to the kids, and email info@pa-gpi.com to learn become famous.” the kids take them home in their backmore about PhotographCome August, The New Persona Studio packs. We’ve cut down on all of that and just ic Arts by GPI may feel like the “The New New Persona streamlined the operation.” Kathy said she welcomes being able to step Studio,” but Geskus enjoys preserving the history aside and let Geskus take the reins, and she looks forof smaller studios like Persona’s — and there aren’t as ward to seeing what he’ll bring to the table. So does Austin, who many around as there used to be — and keeping the same familworks mostly on the sales side of the business. Like her sister, iar faces in place to help ease the transition. Austin also worked with her father in the downtown studio and “Hopefully we can grow the business,” Geskus said. “The cool has enjoyed working alongside her sister. thing is that the people that are there all plan on staying through “I’ve enjoyed it immensely,” she said. “We’ve got to spend time the fall, which makes me very happy.” n

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rowing up in the Twin Cities, a trip to the park was a By Cody Cutter chance to Sauk Valley Media get out of the house, run wild in the wide open spaces and have fun. There were playgrounds to play on and trails to explore. We monkeyed around on the monkey bars and the jungle gyms and found fun hanging in the balance on a see-saw. And who didn’t wobble back and forth on the menagerie of spring-mounted animals planted in parks? In the winter, there were hills to sled and snowmen to build. For parents, parks were a place to enjoy the fresh air, take a break from the grind, relax and unwind. We flipped burgers and caught up with cousins at a family reunions. Or we wandered

down to the river, dropped a line, and waited for the fish to bite. Whatever you did, you had fun — but did you ever wonder where the parks got their name? For some, a park’s name may be all that preserves its namesake’s memory in most people’s minds. But there are stories behind many of those names, each one saying something about those who contributed more than just their name to a park; they contributed something to their community or their country. Nearly 20 different parks dot Rock Falls’ landscape, most are owned by the Coloma Township Park District, and another few by the City of Rock Falls. Some of their names were forged in steel while others keep long-gone local luminaries’ names in the spotlight. In the previous issue of Sterling-Rock Falls Living, we told the stories behind Sterling parks’ names. (If you missed it, you can go to saukvalley. com, select “online newspaper” from the dropdown menu, and scroll to the bookshelf to find the row of recent magazines). In this issue, we’ll take a look at Rock Falls’ parks and help answer the question: What’s in a name?

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Allan V. Sieglinger was a stockholder for the Rock Falls Bank and manager of the Prince Castle Ice and Coal Company in Sterling, where he worked until his retirement in 1951. Involved with the start of several youth programs in Rock Falls, he established a memorial and endowment just before his death in 1973. The endowment committee worked with the park district to have a park, at the south end of Ninth Avenue near Dillon School established in his honor in 1981. It features playground equipment, baseball diamonds and a shelter. RIGHT: A. V. Sieglinger and his wife, Fern. Sieglinger was a stockholder for the Rock Falls Bank and manager of the Prince Castle Ice and Coal Company in Sterling, on the northwest corner of East Second Street and Second Avenue (at right), where he worked until his retirement in 1951. Note the Lawrence Building and current Midland States Bank building in the background to the left.

The boat launch at the mouth of the Hennepin Feeder Canal is named for James M. Arduini, who was mayor of Rock Falls when he died of cancer in July 1991. Elected mayor in 1985, Arduini previously served as the city’s police magistrate, head of Whiteside County sanitation services, county health inspector, and also was president of the Illinois Association of Local Environmental Health Administrators. Also included on its grounds is a lookout pier along the bank of the Rock River, as well as benches overlooking the canal. Unlike Rock Falls’ other parks, this one is cared for by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

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Named for the street it’s on, Bennett Drive. The park was established in 1968, a couple of decades after the street, which is named after nearby property owners Clarence E. and Anna M. Bennett. The road was 11th Street in the late 1940s, but soon after the couple died just a few months apart in 1952 it was renamed in their honor of the couple. It features playground equipment.

This park, along the Rock River and just east of the lower dam, is named for the family of John W. Bowman, longtime executive vice president and vice chairman of Northwestern Steel and Wire. The park, highlighted by its gazebo, was established in 1990 with money from the A.V. Sieglinger memorial fund. Bowman, who died in 1993, was the husband of Crete Dillon, daughter of P. W. Dillon.

Along with RB&W Park, another of the city’s premiere parks is Centennial Park. Opened in 1967, it was named in honor of the city’s 100th anniversary that year. This 50-acre park near Avenue D and East 11th Street is the city’s biggest park, with plenty of space for gatherings large and small. It features shelters, restrooms, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, ponds (with fishing and paddleboats), a vintage fire engine, themed playground equipment in Storybook Village, access to the Hennepin Canal trail, and more. The Little Red Schoolhouse and Historical Museum is also located in the park. It was dedicated in 1985 and made possible by a gift from the Allan V. Sieglinger Memorial and Endowment Committee.

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This park was named for Northwestern Steel and Wire founder Washington Martin Dillon in 1954, not long after the Coloma Township Park District purchased it from his estate. Located at 19th Street and Ninth Avenue, the nearby elementary school also is named after Dillon. The park features playground equipment and a baseball diamond.

The tragic death of 12-year-old Joshua Nailor in 1991 presented the Rock Falls community with a challenge: find a way to memorialize the boy, and minimize the chances that other children would lose their lives the way he did — struck by a pickup truck while playing along the road in the Allen’s Addition neighborhood, where there was no park. The property at Riverdale Road and A Street was donated by Arlyn Lawrence. Its development took 18 years before it was finally completed in 2010. The park features a playground area, shelter, restrooms and a disc golf course.

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Adjacent to the Rock Falls Fire Department, this park at West 12th Street and Seventh Avenue has playground equipment, a shelter and a baseball field.

George Logan Sr. (left) wore many hats in local public service, but none more prominent than the fire helmet he donned for 35 years. He became fire chief before eventually retiring in 1988. The World War II veteran, who died in 2018, also worked for the Illinois Fire Marshal’s office, was in charge of the town’s Civic Fund and Optimist Club, and also served as acting county coroner, county board member, justice of the peace and constable. His son, George Jr., was an alderman. The park is on U.S. Route 30 in Yeowardsville, near McNeil Road. It features a playground, restrooms, basketball hoops, and a shelter.

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This park, maintained by both the park district and city, is named for the nearby dam along the Rock River. The land was donated to the park district in 1959 by the Sterling Hydraulic Company. It features a prime spot to enjoy the river scenery and fish. Located at 14th Avenue and Prophetstown Road, this park features playground equipment, restrooms and a baseball diamond.

The city’s newest park is also among its finest. It features riverfront biking/ walking trails, bicycle rentals, the Art in the Park sculptures, an amphitheater and more. It hosts several events, including Jammin’ on the Rock, Food Truck Fridays, Summer Splash, and more. The park was part of the city’s ongoing riverfront redevelopment efforts, having once been the home to the Russell, Burdsall and Ward Nut and Bolt Company, one of several industries that once called the riverfront home. The nut and bolt manufacturer, more commonly known as RB&W, opened in Rock Falls in 1907, and was named for company founders Issac Russell, Elwood Burdsall and William Ward — none of whom were native to Rock Falls. Though the company was named in honor of the company that once stood on its grounds, the city has embraced a more health-conscious take on the name, changing the initials’ meaning to Run, Bike & Walk Park.

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The land for this park, near East Third Street and Avenue E, was donated to the park district in 1940 by property owners Charles and Bessie Nims Schoaf, in memory of Bessie’s parents, Edward and Fredda. Charles Schoaf was a Rock Falls alderman at the time of the donation. The Nims lived in the neighborhood near Avenue E. The park features playground equipment, a shelter, disc golf course, basketball course, and easy access to the Hennepin Canal walking path.

Located off Eights Avenue and West 19th Street, near Dillon Elementary and Rock Falls Middle schools, this park is named after the high school mascot and is home to youth softball games on its quartet of softball diamonds. It’s maintained by Rock Falls Elementary School District 13.

At the east end of Minkle Street, this park features a shelter, playground equipment and a baseball diamond.

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This riverfront park off of East Second Street was originally called P.W. Dillon Park when it was established in 1951, named after the then-owner of Northwestern Steel and Wire. Now, it’s named in honor of park board commissioner Frank Seward, who served from 1939 to 1968. In 1931, he opened his grocery store and filling station on West Fifth St. and 11th Avenue and ran it for three decades. P.W. Dillon owned land that Sewards Park is on now, which used to be a town dump. It features playground equipment and plenty of seating where you can sit and watch the ducks.

Firemans Park was the original name of this park when it was established in 1941. The park district bought the property from the Rock Falls Fire Department in 1947 and later named it after its then-president, Ed Wallingford. He also worked at the Eureka Manufacturing Company in town. The land, bound by Seventh and Eighth streets and Avenue C, originally was platted to be a small subdivision called Rosedale, but that didn’t pan out. It features a baseball diamond, a playground, restrooms, shelter and half-court basketball court.

Bordered by Fifth Avenue, Fifth Street and Galt Avenue near Merrill School, the first city park in Rock Falls honors the city’s fallen soldiers, but was known as a couple of other names in years past: Tracy Park in honor of businessman George Tracy and Merrill Park for early resident Abner L. Merrill, who donated the land to be used as a park, and Triangle Park for its shape. The park features a bandshell (dedicated in 1959) and audience seating, as well as monuments dedicated to local service members.

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ome people just need that morning pick-me-up. Whether it’s a hot cup of fresh-roasted coffee, a cool taste of frozen latte, or a fruitflavored energy drink, Steven Papke and Alije Adams have been serving up the sparks to start people’s day since March 2021 at Sophie’s Cafe in Sterling — and as it turned out, it didn’t take long for them to find that their own cup would runneth over. Business steadily picked up at their storefront in Pine Tree Plaza on East Lincolnway. Customers liked what Sophie’s was serving and they kept coming back for more. The lines got longer and they realized they might have a little problem, albeit a good one, on their hands: too many customers and too little space. Cutting back on customers was out, but finding more space? That option was definitely on the table. “At our Sterling location, we were running into the problem where there just wasn’t enough space to give the people the type of service that we wanted to give them,” Papke said. “When you have a line to the door, people say that’s a good thing. No, it’s not. You’re upsetting everyone. They come to your establishment and they can’t relax and enjoy their cup coffee. When you have 30 people in the room, the totality of the experience is ruined. We don’t want to tell people not to come, so we decided to have another location to try and spread it out.

Steven Papke and Alije Adams opened Sophie's Cafe in March 2021 in Sterling, and its popularity led them to open a second location in Rock Falls this February. “We didn't expect a large following right off the bat,” Adams said. ... “It really took off quickly, and it's been so great." CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@ SAUKVALLEY.COM

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SOPHIE’S cont’d from page 41 It was around that time that they noticed the site of a former restaurant in Rock Falls needed a new owner. Since they needed more space, it was a match that went together like coffee and cream. “We didn’t expect a large following right off the bat,” Adams said. “Maybe it was the anticipation of something new, because everyone gets excited when there’s something new in town. It really took off quickly, and it’s been so great.” Today, the former Family Table in Rock Falls is home to a second Sophie’s. The larger location opened in February, just under a year after the first Sophie’s opened, giving the Adams plenty of room to keep those lines from getting too long. Adding a second location so soon is no small feat, but it tells the couple that they must have hit on a recipe for success, a recipe that includes their signature beverages as well as breakfast, appetizers, gourmet sandwiches, salads, sweet treats, made-from-scratch bakery items, and more. On most days, Adams runs the Sterling Sophies at Pine Tree Plaza on East Lincolnway, and Papke oversees the Rock Falls location on Decadent dethe corner of U.S. Route 30 and 12th Avenue. Though running two lights; coffee and a locations has kept the couple busy, and apart more than before, long list of lattes; teas and they’re willing to go the extra miles to build on their success. refreshers; comfort food; pastries “Right now, we’re good,” Papke said. “If we need to branch that are hard to pass up, and much off to a third, we will.” more — there’s plenty to pick from on Sophie’s, named after the couple’s daughter, Sophia, 3, Sophie’s menu. And if you want to enoffers dozens of different types of coffees, cappuccinos and joy some of Sophie’s coffees at home lattes, and customers are welcome to try a sample before oror need a gift for a coffee-lover you dering. All of the coffee is roasted in-house. know, stop by and pick up a Other hot drinks include an Americano, a combination of bag of beans. espresso and hot water; coffee with a shot of espresso, called the SVM PHOTOS red eye; and a matcha green tea latte, a blend of Japanese matcha with vanilla and steamed milk. Lattes include blends of caramel either salted or non-salted, white chocolate, chai, oat milk honey, and, of course, the traditional hot chocolate. Can’t get enough coffee at the cafe? Their grinds are available in 2-ounce bags, both the basics and blends such as highlander grogg, blueberry crumble, praline and honey, mocha java, jingle bell java, Jamaican me crazy, almond amaretto and a Seattle blend. Each bag comes with a short description of the blend. If you’re thirsty and hungry, Sophie’s has got you covered, from breakfast to dinner. Jumbo cinnamon rolls have been a big seller in the morning. There are also breakfast sandwiches, including The Richard: a sausage patty, egg, and peanut butter and banana on a ciabatta (“Don’t knock it ’til you try it!”, the menu says). Later in the day, you can start out with an appetizer or salad, or go straight to one of several gourmet sandwiches: chicken, ham and turkey, grilled cheeses, a banana Nutella Sammy (a decadent treat for breakfast, lunch or dessert), chicken pesto, pulled turkey and more. The mac-and-cheese bowls are a newer addition to the menu, each with blends of cheddar, cream and asiago cheeses. Each bowl has its own twist, such as the Smokin’ Mac, with pulled pork mixed in and barbecue sauce on top, as well as the Italian-themed Mobster Mac, with pepperoni and capicola, along with mozzarella and oregano cheeses. Adams once worked for her parents at family restaurants they’ve owned in Mount Morris and Elgin, an experience which helped when she was putting together her own menu. She also keeps her ears open to hear what customers want, too. While many of the recipes are her own, some have come from customer suggestions.

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SOPHIE’S cont’d from page 42 “We listen to the comSophie’s offers a munity and hear what comfortable and casual they want,” Adams atmosphere where customers said. “Each quarter can pull up a chair and eat or kick we’ve been adding back on a couch and enjoy a cup of more things to the coffee with friends. “We want to make menu and making this place as inviting and relaxing as it more fun and possible,” Alije Adams said. “It’s nice to exciting.” be able to sit down with friends ... If you want to and just feel at home.” CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@ keep your cool, cold SAUKVALLEY.COM drinks are available, from a simple lemonade to more adventurous drinks. Energy drinks are also in the mix, with more than 20 different fruit blends, such as the tropic thunder with coconut, mango and pineapple; a Fred Flintstone with apricot, peach and cherry; and a Blak-n-Yello with blackberry and lemon. Customers can come up with their own creations, too. “There’s an endless amount of combinations you can make here,” Adams said. “People can come here and be creative; it’s not just all from us. They can look at our list of syrups and concoct whatever they want. It’s fun for the baristas because we like to learn and try new things, and it breaks up the monotony, and the customers can also experiment, too.” If a new idea catches on, it might be added to the menu. “It’s so worth it,” Adams said. “It’s great seeing people happy and enjoy something we made for them. It’s fun to experiment with an idea that you never thought of, but a customer comes in and orders it, and you’ll think, ‘I never thought about putting those two things together,’ and yet it works.” Alcohol is also available at the Sterling location. Both locations have a comfortable and casual atmosphere: There’s the usual tables and chairs, but customers can also kick back and relax on couches, chatting with friends or watching TV. Free wi-fi also is available. The Sterling location also has small gifts for sale, and a room with six gambling machines. “We want to make this place as inviting and relaxing as possible,” Adams said. “It’s nice to be able to sit down with friends around a coffee table and have coffee, with music or a show in the background, and just feel at home.” The couple met while working as correctional officers at the Dixon state prison, Papke worked there for 6 years, and Adams for 5 before they decided to trade their uniforms in and wear a different hat, as business owners. Adams was itching to get back into the food business that she grew up around, and Papke was more than willing to utilize his business degree to make the idea become a reality. “There’s that transition period in life where we were working shift schedules, the same thing every day,” Papke said. “You hit a ceiling, and hit a point to where, even if you have energy and drive, you just can’t do it anymore. You want to go into something else where there’s no ceiling. We can work at our own pace, bring our own energy to the business, and there’s nobody slowing us down. I can work from sunup to sundown, no one’s going to tell me no. I can work 4 hours. I like that.” Another popular feature has been contact-free mobile ordering, for those who don’t want to dine in. The full menu is available on Facebook, and ordering can be done by downloading an app to your phone. Want to join the club? Sophie’s has a coffee club program where customers pay a monthly fee for a drink a day — espressos, brews, refreshers and energy drinks (no alcohol). Once you join the club, you just stop by for your drink and a flash your member card and photo ID. “It excites me when people get excited about our products and the things that we are doing,” Adams said. “That, honestly, is the fuel to my fire.” n

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Sophie’s Cafe is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, both in the Pine Tree Plaza shopping center, 4311 East Lincolnway, Suite F in Sterling, and at 1204 West U.S. Route 30 in Rock Falls. Cash, debit/credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay are accepted at both locations. Online: shopsophiescoffee. com and on Facebook or Instagram (@sophies.cafe. sterling) Contact: 815-718-8518 or sophiescafe01@gmail.com

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